Page 181 of Mr. Infuriating

It’d taken every ounce of strength I had to turn down Gabe’s offer to come over that night.

I missed him with every fiber of my being.

But I thought if he showed up without the kids, Jake might get confused. I think my son had a basic understanding that I was helping Brayden, but if Gabe came by himself, Jake might get the wrong idea.

Hell,Imight get the wrong idea.

So, when the doorbell rang that night at seven-thirty, after I’d put Jake to bed, my heart skipped a beat. Gabe knew Jake’s bedtime, maybe he was coming by to see me.

As I put my hand on the doorknob, a thought popped in my head.

He knows Jake’s in bed. He wouldn’t risk waking him up by ringing the doorbell.

I looked out the window and instead of a black, Ford 150 in my drive, there sat Troy’s red two-door Jaguar. The one a car seat wouldn’t fit in.

What the hell? Why is he here?

My emotions went from nervous excitement thinking Gabe was at my door to dread now that I knew who it really was.

I slowly unlocked the door and found my ex-husband, in one of his fitted black suits with his red tie loosened, sporting a tan like he’d just come back from a vacation in the Bahamas.

I swear to God, you better not be here to ask about lowering your child support.

“Hey, Gretch,” he said with a sheepish smile.

I nodded my head. “Troy.”

He didn’t say anything else, just stared at me until I finally asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Can I come in?”

Against my better judgment, I opened the door and allowed him inside.

Chapter Seventy-Six

Gretchen

We sat in the formal living room that, as far as I was concerned, was a waste of space. Back when we’d been married, I’d had plans to knock some walls down once the kitchen was finished.

It looked like I was going to have to just change the furniture and décor if I wanted a different use for the room now. But who knew when that would be in my budget.

Troy sat on the edge of the loveseat and flashed his toothy smile that I used to find so handsome. I’d always thought he was sexy in his suit, but apparently work boots and tool belts were my real weakness because I felt nothing as I looked at him.

He reached for my left hand and caressed my empty ring finger.

“It’s weird to see you without my ring on your hand.”

I snatched my hand back and absentmindedly rubbed the digit as if trying to cancel out his touch.

“Speaking of that, can you tell me where you bought it? I’d like to see if they’ll buy it back.”

“You want to hock your wedding ring?”

Duh.

“It’s not doing me any good sitting in my jewelry box, and I have bills to pay, Troy.”

He glanced at the ground and murmured, “What would you say about me moving back?” before looking up at me expectantly. “You wouldn’t have to struggle to pay your bills anymore. I could take care of you and Jake.”

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