Page 64 of The Seven Month Itch
“I don’t know what to say. Thank you for trusting me with your story. I hope you’re able to find love like that again.”
He smiles and nods, in thought about the one who got away. “I know you’re back with your husband, but your story—and the one-in-a-million chance you two found yourselves here, of all places—gives me hope. I haven’t felt that in a long time.”
I blink back tears. Whoever is lucky enough to get this man’s heart will have it for a lifetime.
We ease in and out of conversation like old friends who haven’t seen each other in years. Terrence walks in with Madison when the food arrives. He looks business casual in a black button-down and dark jeans. We lock eyes, and I give him a quick nod to let him know things are okay. He smiles before he and Madison go to the bar. Guess they aren’t getting dinner.
Preston follows my line of sight and stares longer than expected.
“Hey. Is everything okay?” I ask. My eyes shift between Preston and the direction Terrence went.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He pushes a smile. “I take it that was Terrence and the woman he’s about to let down.”
“It is. Her name is Madison. They dated for a few months in college. She broke up with him, believe it or not. We met not too long after, and the rest is history. Anyway, we got married, and she…well, she’s been pining after him all these years in a not-so-subtle way.”
“Terrence must be a catch if that’s the case.”
I can’t help but smile. “He is a great guy.”
Our evening ends with a walk back to my room after dessert. We exchange a hug and well-wishes. Things went better than expected. Silence hangs in the air to let me know Emma isn’t here. I kick off my shoes and pad over to my room for an evening in the soaking tub.
Chapter 29
Terrence
Istep off the elevator at seven thirty to a small crowd gathering for the pop-up restaurant in front of the ballroom. The place is wall-to-wall people. The decision to grab a drink at the bar is proving to be a good idea. Sweat glistens my palms, which smooth over my shirt for the fourth time. I’m thankful I chose to wear dark colors that will conceal any stains if Madison throws a drink at me. Doubt it will happen, but you never know.
She arrives with a smile that fades once she meets my eyes. “Hey.” I give her a quick hug. There’s no reason to be more of an asshole than she already believes me to be. We haven’t talked since I ran out on her, and I’m sure she wants answers.
“Hey yourself.”
Dinner with Madison didn’t sit right with me. Justice and Preston should. I trust her. Unlike Jay and the billionaire, Madison and I have history, years of it. A bar is more casual, and it gives us space to talk without waiting for each course to arrive.
I gesture for her to go inside. “I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to go to the bar tonight.”
“Sure, that’s fine,” she says, though her face reads otherwise. Madison can’t hide her disappointment.
We pass the hostess, and a sensation in my chest tugs me to look out the corner of my eye. I catch a glimpse of Justice near the window, beyond rows of tables. Madison remains by my side near the wall, unaware of my wife’s presence or tonight’s intentions. Justice has her hand on Preston’s, but the gesture looks more like comfort than romance. We lock eyes briefly, and I smile at her when she nods she’s okay.
Inside the bar, Madison and I grab a high table and scan the menus.
“Interested in a whiskey flight? You didn’t finish yours at the tasting,” she says.
My neck tenses at the memory. “I forgot about that.” It’s not a lie. Ididforget about the whiskey tasting, because my focus was on my wife and the twist of betrayal that sliced through me at her decision to end our relationship. An awkward silence passes between us. I need to rip off the bandage in a way that doesn’t do more damage. “We need to talk.”
“We sure do,” she snaps.Here we go. “What the hell happened last night, Terrence? You just up and left me on the dance floor to run after your ex-wife. Then I don’t see you at the private dates.” Madison sits back in her chair with her arms crossed. She deserves an explanation.
“I’m sorry about that, and I’m sorry for my behavior these last few days.”
She frowns. “What are you talking about? I thought we were having a good time together? Did I miss something? And that kiss in the movie theater was…wow.”
I reach for one of the glasses when the flight hits the table. “My separation from my wife has been rough, to say the least.I haven’t been in a good headspace.” I sigh. This next part will come with either understanding or a public scene. “When I kissed you, it was a reaction to seeing Justice with another man. I snapped.”
Oh man, here it comes.
The anticipation of a slap, a fist, or a drink to the face lingers with each second. Aside from the kiss, I didn’t lead Madison on. I never called her to go out or checked in to say hi. Our time together was by chance, not intention. Still, I have to own up to my part.
She stares back at me with a face that’s hard to read before she knocks back a glass of whiskey. That’s a good sign, right? “I guess I should’ve seen this coming. You weren’t exactly banging down my door to be with me.”
