Page 41 of Against All Odds

Max places a vodka and diet down in front of me and leans against the counter. “All right, Violet. Let’s hear it.”

I look into his warm green eyes. “Hear what?”

“What’s got you sitting alone drinking?”

I sigh and pull my phone out, showing him the wonderful gossip rag’s story. While I wish this was a lie, the big honking diamond ring on Whitney’s hand doesn’t exactly allow it.

Max huffs a laugh. “Let me guess. You’re devastated because you’re in love with him?”

“I was,” I answer and then take a sip.

He shakes his head. “The guy isn’t all that great. I heard he cheated on his wife to be with that girl.”

My lips turn up into a sarcastic smile. “Yeah, he did. He’s also pretty shitty in bed, but you know, no one wants to believe a heartthrob has a small dick.”

I bet I could make some money off that story.

His brows lift and he laughs. “You know this personally?”

I close out the social media post and pull up my wedding picture, then show him the phone. “I do.” I laugh. “No pun intended.”

“Wait, you were married to him? You’re the ex-wife?”

“Well, current wife, actually. We’re not divorced yet. I just need another three weeks before that is done.”

Max leans back. “I’m sorry ...”

“Don’t be, it’s why I’m in Ember Falls. I filed for divorce and came here to put my life back together, but ... that was the happy news I learned today with my entire class.” I take another sip. “You know, I’m starting to think that’s the way he communicates. That’s also how I found out that he and little miss America’s Slutheart were banging during our marriage. Why not learn about their upcoming nuptials the same way?” I lift my glass in a mock cheers. “Here’s to the happy couple.”

“Who are we toasting?” a deep voice asks from beside me, and I gasp.

When I turn to look, it’s Everett, a strange look in his eyes.

Immediately warmth rushes to my cheeks, and I can’t even blame the alcohol, since I’ve only had two sips. My stomach has been upset since I arrived, and when I took the first sip, I almost puked. “Everett.”

“We’re toasting to me? Well, that’s something since I don’t think I did anything worthy of it, but I’ll go with it.”

I clear my throat, dropping my glass to the bar. The last thing I want to do is show him what a loser I am.

I came here hoping I could avoid seeing him. In fact, I was hoping I’d never see him again, because then I don’t have to think about the horrific way he walked out of my room after I almost kissed him—again.

Although the almost kiss at the dinner was worse. Maybe.

Yeah, they’re both bad in their own way.

That magical moment in time when I could’ve had a romantic and beautiful kiss with a man I once loved and who loved me after he called me beautiful, stunning, breathtaking, and I—froze.

Like a loser.

The second one wasn’t as charged, but still bad. I was so grateful that he thought of me, wanted to make me happy, but then he pulled away.

Max speaks first. “Do you know Violet?”

“I sure do. We go back a long time.”

“Really?” Max asks.

Everett rests one arm on the bar. “Her grandma was Doreen Stewart.”

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