Page 41 of The Manny

Her candor surprised me, and I turned to study her pinched face. Since she was being so forthright, I decided I could be too. “Are you still in love with him?”

A muscle worked in her sharp jaw. “Maybe.”

I glanced over at Aiden, to be sure he wasn’t aware of our conversation. He seemed distracted with Percy, so I turned my attention back to Barb. “Can I ask you something?”

“Yes. I guess.”

“Aiden said you wanted the divorce. Is that true?”

She winced. “It’s true.”

“Then I’m confused by why you care who he’s sleeping with.”

Crossing her arms, she said, “I want my family back.”

“Oh.” I frowned. “Is Aiden aware of your feelings?” If he was, why was he trying to date me?

She clenched her teeth, looking uneasy. “I’m working up to it slowly.”

“I see.”

“I can tell he’s attracted to you.”

“If he doesn’t know how you feel, I suppose he’s trying to move forward?”

She sighed. “That’s what I’m afraid of. If he sleeps with you, I might never get him back.”

Wincing inwardly, I said, “Again, I really think this is between you and Aiden.”

“It’s not easy to admit I was a fool.”

“No.”

Watching her as she observed Aiden and Percy, her pain was obvious. While this conversation was coming out of left field, I had no desire to get between her and her ex-husband. I thought Aiden was sexy, but I wasn’t in love with him. If she felt she could put her family back together, I was all for that.

“I’m sure it’s hard, but if you truly want Aiden back, you need to tell him that. I can guarantee from the little he’s said, he has no idea you still love him. He thinks you’ve moved on and are happy with your decision.”

She frowned. “That’s because I pretend I’m happy.”

I laughed gruffly. “Well, that won’t get you what you want.”

She nodded, and said in an anguished voice,“I know.”

Aiden had said Barb was the love of his life, did I dare disclose that? Probably not. That was too personal. I could encourage her to fight for him though. “The way he talks about you, I think he still loves you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But you didn’t hear that from me.”

“Even if he does still love me, I’m not sure he can ever trust me again.” She lowered her head. “I hurt him so horribly.”

“I think when you love someone, forgiveness is possible. There might be a part of him that will neverfullytrust you again. But I think he’d be willing to trybecausehe loves you.”

She gave a gruff laugh. “You’re being so nice about this. You could have just told me to fuck off.”

I sighed. “If I was in love with Aiden, I probably would tell you to fuck off.”

“Oh.”

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