Page 182 of Mr. Infuriating

I gave my head a little shake and closed my eyes tight as I replayed his words in my head to make sure I wasn’t hearing things.

“What? Are you kidding? I’d say, Cora would have a problem with that.”

“We broke up. When she realized I wasn’t going to marry her, she filed a sexual harassment suit against me with HR, and they fired me.”

Gee, who knew banging your subordinate wasn’t allowed?

“They fired you? So, that’s what this is about. You’re broke.”

“I’m not broke, I got hired the next day by Dylan and Associates making more money.”

I made a mental note of that for the next child support adjustment hearing.

He clasped his hands between his legs and leaned forward.

“I miss you, Gretch. I miss our little family. I fucked up, but it didn’t take me long to realize Cora could never be you.”

My head was whirling. Was I in theTwilight Zone? He couldn’t possibly think I’d take him back.

I wracked my brain for something to say, and he continued.

“Give me another chance, Gretch. Let me come home and be your husband again. Jake needs his father.”

Nowhe’s worried about my son needing a dad?!

I gave him my patient smile—the one I usually reserved for belligerent seventh graders or their parents.

“You’re right, Jake does need a dad. And I’m glad you’re interested in getting to know your son. But we don’t need to betogether for you to do that. I wouldn’t keep you from seeing him. In fact, I’d love to set a schedule for you to spend time together.”

****

Gabe

Derrick looked over at me as I sat down at the bar.

“What are you doing here on a Wednesday?”

“I was tired of getting drunk at home alone.”

He pulled out a mug from the freezer but stopped short before pulling the tap.

“You’ve been getting drunk—alone—at home?”

I snarled, “Yeah, so?” and he pulled the lever to start the flow of beer.

“Wanna tell me what’s going on?”

“Beau is an asshole, that’s what’s going on.”

He put a bar coaster down, then set the draft on top of it.

“We all know that. I’m going to need some context.”

I gave him the abbreviated version of what had transpired over the last ten days, then added, “And I thought I’d show up to her house tonight, anyway, but there was a red Jag F-Type in her drive.”

“So? That could be anyone.”

I took a long pull, then set my mug down with a thud.

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