Page 53 of The Soul Never Forgets

“Clearly, Devin has not made the decisions that an engaged woman should make, but I’ve also not been the fiancé I should have been even before you came along. I can’t be angry with her for seeking from someone else what I wasn’t giving her. She’s a good person, and she deserves to be happy. I wish her all the happiness in the world.”

Everyone wishes they could have an ex like Dawsey. But then if all of them were like him, they wouldn’t become exes. “You’re one of the good ones, Jude Dawson Wescott. And I’m so happy to call you mine.”

His phone vibrates again. “She’s asking if I’ll meet her for coffee.” Of course she wouldn’t ask him to come back to the scene of the crime. That would add insult to injury.

We came here with a mission. I knew this wasn’t exactly a romantic getaway for us, but I was hoping he could tie up loose ends with her and come back to me so we could enjoy some time together. Going back to her for a second time today is cutting into the time I selfishly wanted to spend together this afternoon.

“Go have a coffee with her and ease her conscience. I’ll hang out by the pool while you’re gone… and try very hard to not stare at the hot cabana boys for too long.”

“I’m your soul mate. I thought you only had eyes for me.”

“I may be your soul mate, but I’m not blind.”

“Come with me.” He must really want to keep me from looking at the cabana boys.

“Go with you to see Devin? Are you kidding? That’s a terrible idea.”

“It was a terrible idea an hour ago before I walked in on her getting reamed from behind by some other dude. Things are different now.”

Won’t it make him uncomfortable if I’m there? “A breakup is a very personal thing.”

“Having you by my side will put me at ease.”

“But won’t it make her uncomfortable?” Not that I really have concerns for her after this.

“She’s already going to be uncomfortable, and it won’t be because of you. I think seeing me with you will ease her conscience. She’ll see that our breakup was inevitable, and she hasn’t broken my heart. I think she will be happy to meet you.”

“Everything about this is weird.” I’m not sure I want to meet the woman my soul mate has spent the last five years with.

“No one ever said that being reborn and loving the same person over and over again wasn’t weird.”

He’s right about that.

“We aren’t normal.”

“No, we are not normal. And I plan on thanking God every day for that. I was normal before I met you, and it is so overrated.”

I’m not sure Dawsey was ever a true normal.

“I’ll go but I want to sit at another table while you have the breakup conversation. I think it’s important for you to have a moment alone with her before you throw me into the mix. I don’t want her to be caught off guard and feel confronted or challenged by the new woman in your life.”

“No, I wouldn’t want her to feel attacked in any way.”

“You’ll cue me to come over when the time is right, or you’ll signal me to stay away.”

“Sure, that’s a good plan.”

* * *

The bellon the coffee shop door rings. I’m sitting at the table in the corner and I watch Devin walk in and search for Dawsey. She takes a deep breath and exhales when she spies him at a table on the opposite side of the room.

Devin. My soul mate’s fiancée. Those words don’t belong in the same sentence.

She’s even more beautiful in person. The pang of jealousy that I suppressed returns, and I remind myself that Dawsey wants me. Only me.

He gets up from the table when he sees her enter the coffee shop. He smiles and holds out his arms. I’ve no doubt that she’s confused by his warm, kind gesture after the scene he just walked in on.

Devin launches herself into his arms and her sobs fills the quiet cafe. “I’m so sorry, J.D.”

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