Page 60 of Purr For Me
Chapter Eighteen
Aweek later, Lexie was up early. She was picking Kade up to go running. She wore a new red and white sports bra and matching shorts that she’d splurged on since her other set was looking dingy.
She was getting her water bottle ready when someone knocked on the door. Thinking Kade was surprising her, Lexie smiled as she pulled the door open. “What are you…”
Her words died away when she saw Jason lounging against the doorjamb. The lopsided smile that had once made her heart race made her stomach curdle.
Pure fury swept through her, and before she knew it, her hand connect with Jason’s cheek in a loud slap. A red splotch appeared on his cheekbone, satisfying Lexie’s bent up anger and pain a bit.
“What the fuck?” His blue eyes blazed with anger and confusion.
Lexie forced herself to keep her hands at her sides so she didn’t hit him again. “What? Were you expecting a warm welcome after all the shit you pulled on me? I can’t stand the sight of you! All I want from you is my money and a signature. Sign the divorce papers and give me back my money, or I’ll—”
Lexie slammed the door in his face and stood shaking with rage and pain as all the misery he’d put her through resurfaced. She knew she couldn’t report him to the police, so best she not threaten that.
There was another knock, and Jason’s voice came through the door. “Lex, I know I screwed up, but I’m not the same guy. Give me a chance to explain. I have some money for you.”
Lexie wanted to tell him to go to hell, but the possibility of getting some much-needed money from the asshole made her reconsider.
She yanked the door open and glared at him. “How much money? Enough to save my cabin?”
Jason’s triumphant smile made her want to punch him again. “I knew that would get your attention. I can give you a check for twenty-five hundred, and I’ll talk to Kade about getting your loan repaid.”
That wouldn’t come close to paying the mortgage backlog, but it was better than nothing. Lexie crossed her arms. “No check. Cash only. I don’t want to take a chance that it’ll bounce. And you need to sign the divorce papers.”
His expression darkened. “I’m not signing anything. I want to work things out.”
Lexie let out a sarcastic laugh. “There’s nothing to work out. It’s over. I’m overyou. I want to make a clean break and get on with my life.”
Giving her a coaxing smile, Jason stepped closer. “C’mon, Lex. You don’t mean that. I know you still love me.”
She really didn’t. Tears burned behind Lexie’s eyes, but she didn’t let them show. Tears never moved Jason. “You’re wrong. You killed any love I ever had for you. I see now that I had stars in my eyes when we got married. It didn’t take long before I discovered what kind of man you really are, though. But I put up with it because I loved you so much and thought you would change for me. I was an idiot. I tried to ignore all the times you cheated on me, but the drugs and you draining our bank accounts to support your habit was just too much.
“And when you stole from me by mortgaging the cabin,” she swallowed hard, “any feelings I had left for you died. So there’s nothing to work out except the terms of the divorce. Pay me back my money, sign the papers, and we can go our separate ways.”
“Look at me. Can’t you see?” Jason’s eyes filled with regret. “Lexie, I know how much I screwed up, but I’m not the same guy. I’m clean. In fact, I just got out of rehab, and I haven’t gotten high once or even touched booze. I have a sponsor and everything. That’s what I spent the money on, the best rehab in the country.”
Lexie said, “I’ve heard you sing that tune too many times, so forgive me if I don’t sing along this time.”
Jason moved closer, and the only effect he had on her was that she wanted to back away from him.
“This is different,” he insisted. “I OD’d and almost died. It was a hell of a wake-up call. I decided right then to go to rehab.” He rested a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sober, and that’s the way I’m going to stay, no matter what it takes.”
Lexie eased out from under his touch. The sincerity in his eyes and voice was unmistakable, and she wanted to believe him this time—for his sake and Kade’s. It didn’t matter, though. She wasn’t the same person, either. The woman who’d been in love with Jason was gone, replaced by a stronger, wiser one, who was too smart to ever go back. It was too late.
“Jason, I’m glad you really seem to want to turn your life around, but I don’t want to stay married to you. It’s too late for any kind of reconciliation. I’ll never forget about all the cheating you’ve done, all the pain you’ve put me through. So please, really hear me when I say it’s over.”
Jason backed off and nodded. “I hear you—but your thing with Kade factors into this, right?”
Lexie’s breath hitched and her eyes went wide. He’d caught her off-guard.
He laughed, and the sarcastic sound raised her ire. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out? Kade and I have mutual friends, remember?”
Lexie’s temper spiked higher. “My life is none of your business. You gave up that right the day you left me.”
He waggled a finger at her. “Last I checked, we’re still married.” His smile turned snarky. “Isn’t it weird, screwing my brother?”
“And you wonder why I don’t want to take you back,” she said through clenched teeth. “We don’t want to hurt you, but my relationship with Kade is none of your business.”
