Page 76 of Traitor

“December, but I had to have an emergency cesarean because—” she paused. “Um, because he came early.”

She still couldn’t talk about it. Even after months of therapy. I couldn’t say that I blamed her.

Jimmy was quiet for a few seconds before responding with, “You know, you could have some abdominal wall separation, so let’s try some less invasive ab exercises for now.”

“Jimmy,” I stage whispered. “If you’re not careful, they’re going to try and offer you a job here.”

He laughed it off, but I still wasn’t sure what it was he did for a living. It was nine-thirty in the morning on a Tuesday, but he didn’t act like he had anywhere else to be. I’d asked him once and he’d just given me a strange look before asking why I was trying to get out of my workout.

While they worked on modified core exercises, I took the opportunity to fill my water bottle at the drinking fountain.

“Lauren?”

I turned around, just as Jimmy leaned in. We ended up doing some awkward moves that made it appear as if we were debating whether or not to kiss each other.

“Jesus, Jimmy. What are you doing?”

He rolled his eyes. “Sorry, I’m just wondering why I know that you’re moving in with Mike, but your best friend over there thinks that I’m dating you and wants to know when the four of us can all go out together.”

I inhaled sharply, sucking the water that was in my mouth into my lungs. My eyes began streaming as I coughed and sputtered. “What?”

He pounded my back several times. “Yeah, Elizabeth thinks we look so good together. I know why you haven’t told Mike about us—and I get it. But, she’s your best friend. Why doesn’t she know?”

I was going to tell her, just as soon as things settled down. Once we’d moved in together and gotten into a routine, then I’d invite them over for dinner and jokingly admit that Mike and I couldn’t stay away from each other.

Moving in together was a big step and I didn’t want to invite anyone into our relationship until I was sure that we were on solid ground.

Soon though.

Soon, I would shout it out to the entire world.

Chapter Nine

May 2016

“What do you mean you’re getting married? You’re already married.”

David took a swig of beer from his pint glass and grinned over the top of it at me. “Thank you for stating that, Captain Obvious. We’re renewing our vows—with everything that happened, I thought it’d be good for us. An outward display of an inward change.”

I winced. “Jesus, you sound like one of those fucking inspirational greeting cards now. Is this what marriage and having a kid does to you? If so, do not sign me up for that shit.”

I was just fucking with him. I wanted the stability that having a wife and kids brought with it; didn’t mean I wasn’t going to give him hell when he brought it up though.

He flipped me off with a smirk. “Say what you want, asshole. Beth was kind enough to agree to you being the best man again, in spite of the speech you gave at the last one.”

I clapped my hands together. “Does this mean another bachelor party? More strippers?”

“Jesus, Mike. You never change. You’re in your thirties now—don’t you want to do more than just fuck around?”

The anger behind his words made me pause. I’d been screwing around with him under the assumption that he knew I was back with Lauren. I hadn’t bothered telling him myself because I figured Elizabeth had beaten me to the punch.

“So, Lauren—”

David sighed. “She’ll be there, okay? From what Beth said, she’s hot and heavy with some guy at the gym. Bring a date if it’ll make you feel better about things, but for the love of all that is good and holy, do not fuck this day up for us.”

The blood left my face and I sat there in stunned silence. Lauren had been living with me for seven months. Seven months of being in the same bed every night. I didn’t know where Elizabeth had gotten her information, but it was wrong.

I held up a finger. “Excuse me for a second.”

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