Page 44 of I Wanna Dance

“The reason they’re talking to me, Kevin, is because they’re my children. The reason they felt they couldn’t earlier was because you manipulated them. Now, they’ve seen who youare, a man so petty and bitter that he’ll ruin his children’s relationship with their mother.”

If we were washing our dirty linen in public, I would also want the undies with skid marks out there.

“Marco and I talked about you,” Kevin continued, now grasping for straws. I was starting to enjoy this.

“Yeah, he told me how you’re still panting after me.” I had no idea what Kevin had said because I lost my shit before Marco could tell me, and now I’d probably never know.

Damn it! I had to apologize to Marco for being a grade-A bitch.

“You are the one doin’ the panting. You think I don’t see how you chase after me? You’re not over me. You’ll never be over me. You’re still the insecure little woman I walked out on five years ago.”

I laughed, and Alana joined me.

“You think he’s drinking too much and that’s why his memory is faulty?” Alana mused, tapping her chin with a finger.

“Probably because I remember clearly filing for divorce on grounds of infidelity. I even named…what was her name?”

Alana shrugged. “Mindy, Cindy, Candy…something?”

“You bitch.” Kevin moved again to get close to me.

“Hey, buddy, you need to close your tab and walk out of here.” The bartender could see trouble was brewing, and since I was stone-cold sober and Kevin wasn’t, he knew where thetroublewas coming from.

“Do you know how much money I spend here every month? More than your Goddamn salary,” Kevin barked at him.

“Christ, Kevin, you’re such a miserable little shit.” I pushed my barstool back and stood up. “You’re notthatwealthy. In fact, my boyfriend has abiggerportfolio than yours…a biggercocktoo.” I looked at his crotch with some disdain.

So, that was really petty and so fucking satisfying.

Kevin blinked, clearly not expecting that. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” I took a step closer, challenging him like I never had before. “Do you honestly think I’ve spent the last five years pining after you? Because let me tell you something, Kevin—you’re not worth it. You never were.”

The bar had gone quiet now, the murmurs of conversation fading as people began to listen.

“You cheated on me, you dipshit,” I continued. “You lied to me and betrayed your marriage vows. And you dare to act like I’m the one who can’t let go? Newsflash, Kevin—it’syou. You’re the one who can’t stand that I’ve moved on, that I’m happy without you.”

“Like hell you’re happy,” Kevin sputtered, his composure slipping.

“Oh, I am. I am, after all, the Best Divorce Lawyer in Atlanta, and I’m dating one of the hottest CEOs in the city.” I sneered at him and added, “You couldn’t handle a strong woman then, and you can’t handle one now.”

“Heard that Brittany dumped his ass because he couldn’t perform,” a woman called out from the back.

I grinned. “No kidding. Really?”

A few people at the bar chuckled, and someone muttered, “Ouch.”

Kevin’s face went beet red, but I wasn’t done.

“And for the record,” I said, my voice rising, “Marco didn’t leave even though you tried to poison him. We’re stillvery much together.”

The bar erupted into applause, the sound filling the room like a wave. A few people booed Kevin, who looked like he wanted to sink into the floor.

I stepped back, my chest heaving.

Kevin pulled out his wallet, dropped cash on the bar, and stormed out.

“Drinks on the house for that one!” A bartender called out, pointing to me. “Darlin’, if you ever get rid of that other guy?—”

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