Page 112 of Reckless

“Babe. Want you to meet someone.” Ethan turns and smiles down at me. That smile pierces myheart.

Will he look at me the same way once he knows what happened? And that it happened withhisfriend?

Oh, God, I slept with one of Ethan’s friends. I told Ethan the broad strokes of what went down with my ex, but nothowI found out Jamie was married and certainly not how my life imploded afterward.Fuck, fuck,fuck.

I take the doll Mila was trying to hand me, and she bolts for her friends who are surrounding the swing set. The one Jamie just setup.

Dusting off my shins, I slowly stand on unsteady legs. I feel all knobby-kneed and light-headed. Maybe I’ll pass out or die from a heat stroke and spare myself thisconversation.

Swallowing, I let Ethan take my clammyhand.

“James, this is my girlfriendTori.”

I steel myself and look at the dirtbag, who seems almost as shocked as I am to seehim.

He’s hulkier than when we were together, which is silly because he was already a big guy. Now he reminds me of a beefed-up bulldog, all bulky mass punctuated with a tinyhead.

“James, is it?” I ask, not bothering to hide the venom in my voice. “Not Jamie?” Asshole was full of lies. I’m not surprised he goes by a differentname.

He laughs uneasily and shifts back and forth. “Tori. Jesus Christ, girl. It’s been awhile.”

Ah, the fucker is going to admit he knows me? This should befun.

Nausea is swirling in my gut, acid thick in the back of my throat. “Not since your birthday last summer,” I addhelpfully.

Ethan looks back and forth between us. “You guys know eachother?”

I open my mouth to spew forth all the waysJamescan go to hell when helaughs.

“Yeah, I know Tori. She used to bartend at this place in Austin my buddies and I used to go to sometimes, but it’s been a while.” He gives me a pointed look to keep my mouthshut.

That’s how you’re going to playit?

Ethan wraps his arm around my shoulder. I’m so grateful to have him next to me, I couldcry.

James’s eyes narrow as he watches us together, the cool smile spreading on his face making me more anxious. “I thought you were trying to get Allison back. It’s a shame you spent all last year wanting to make it work, hoping to win herback.”

Fuck my life, he did not just saythat.

Ethan coughs. “We went south a long time ago. Not sure there was anything to workout.”

“Huh. That’s weird. Pretty sure I just heard her tell Felicia that you guys might reconcile.” He points his chin to the other side of the tent where Allison is talking to a woman with long black hair.Jamie’s wife.Yes, I remember her naked ass as she blew her husband. Isn’t this a festiveparty?

“No, man.” Ethan squeezes my shoulder. “You must’vemisheard.”

I’m going to hurl. Would it be wrong to shank Jamie—I meanJames—first?

Beverly waves everyone over to the buffet table, and I skirt out of the way, a potent mixture of shame and contempt rounding the curves of my heart like a ragingriver.

“Tori, dear,” Beverly whispers, “can you do me a favor and grab more napkins out of thekitchen?”

I’ve never moved so fast in mylife.

Except for the cake cutting,I manage to hide out in the kitchen. Whipping up more fruit salad or dip. Washing dishes. Making sure the kids make it to the potty in time. I eventually fall into the familiar routine of making a few guests mixeddrinks.

When Beverly asks if I’m okay, I tell her I have a headache, and she pats my hand sweetly and offers pain relievers. When Ethan asks if I’d like to join him outside, I use the same excuse, even though lying to him makes me feel guilty. But there’s no telling what I might say to Jamie right now, and I won’t let myself make a scene at Cody’s birthday party. Not with so many of Ethan’s business associateshere.

This is where my sister would tell me to lock down the crazy. That it’s not worth the repercussions of beingunfiltered.

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