Page 46 of Let Me Love You
“Doesn’t seem like it took very long for her to let you fill my spot between her legs.”
Without thinking, Ren cocked his fist and hit Randy on the side of his jaw. His head snapped back. Stacey screamed. Searing pain shot through his wrist and up his arm. He hadn’t hit someone in years and never really enjoyed being in that position anyway. He wasn’t a fighter. But Randy’s words infuriated him. The fact that he could talk about the woman he had loved and been married to in such a derogatory manner had Ren seeing nothing but red. Surprisingly, the Coronas were still intact in his left hand.
Randy rubbed his jaw. He squinted, his face reddened, and his lips pulled back revealing teeth like a snarling wolf.
“If you weren’t a fucking kid, I’d pound you in the ground.”
Ren set the beers down on the table near the door. He shook out both hands, readying for whatever came next. “I’m not a kid anymore. And if you continue to talk about Stacey in such a demeaning way, I’ll poundyou.”
“You sucker punched me the first time, but I promise it won’t happen again.” Randy stretched his neck back and forth, then rolled his shoulders like he readied for a boxing match.
“Stop it. If you lay a hand on him, I’ll have you arrested, Randy.” Stacey stepped forward. She sounded exasperated and angry. “Do either of you need an ice pack?” She looked from Randy’s face to Ren’s hand.
Both shook their heads.
“Good.” She inhaled deeply and blew the breath out. “There’s no reason for you to be here. None.” She stood to the right of the door with her hands on her hips. “Shouldn’t you be home with your pregnant girlfriend?”
“I wanted to talk with you.” Randy still rubbed the side of his jaw where he’d been punched. The fact he still felt the hit made Ren smile. Randy glanced at him and glared. He took the meaning “if looks could kill” to whole other level. “Can we talk in private?” His voice morphed into something softer with his request as his gaze found Stacey.
She shook her head. “We have nothing to talk about. Everything is final.” Her lips drew into a tight line. “I’m doing fine. Amazing, actually.”
“I fucked up, Stace,” he blurted. Desperation dripped from every word. “Shit. I made so many mistakes over the last year I can’t even keep track.” He tilted his head toward Ren. “Don’t you have something you can do so she and I can talk?”
Ren straightened his back. He didn’t want to appear intimidated despite the wave of jealousy that rolled through him. They shared a lengthy past. Ten years of marriage. They had planned to share their lives together, have a family. Surely, feelings still existed. His stomach turned at the thought of her giving him another chance. The idea of losing her broke him, but losing her to Randy would kill him.
“Whatever you have to say can be said in front of Ren.” She weaved her fingers through his. The boulder of fear sitting on his chest lifted and he relaxed his shoulders. Randy’s gaze dropped to their joined hands and his face scrunched in anger.
“Is this for real?” He waved a finger between them. “Or are you just pretending to piss me off?”
Stacey smirked. “Super cute of you to think I’d pretend to be with someone just to piss you off.” She rose up on her tiptoes and placed a soft kiss on Ren’s cheek. He closed his eyes briefly to relish in the attention. “This is the most real relationship I’ve ever been in.”
“But he’s just a kid, Stace. For Christ’s sake.”
Ren stiffened again. If he didn’t stop calling him a kid, the top of his head might blow off. This conversation was getting old. “Do you have something you’d like to convey to her or is this conversation over?”
“Don’t be an asshole.” Randy placed his hands on his hips, trying to intimidate him. He clearly took care of himself, was muscular and fit. However, so was Ren and he had youth on his side.
“I’m losing my patience. We have plans this afternoon and you’re interfering with them.”
She squeezed his hand, letting him know she supported him.
“Just say what you need to say, Randy,” Stacey blurted.
“Fine.” He wrung out his hands in front of him, looking at the ground, then back up at her. “I always imagined it’d be the two of us. From the moment I met you, you were the one.” He swallowed hard. Ren almost felt bad for the guy. Almost. He’d messed up his marriage to the most incredible woman and had finally realized what he lost.
“I wasn’t the one, Randy. Otherwise, there would have never been a Misty or Christie or whatever her name is.”
“I made a mistake,” he pleaded.
“Yes, you did.” A half-smile slipped over her lips. She looked vindicated. Pride surged through him. She’d had her heart shattered in a million pieces by this man and now she stood strong. God, he loved her. “We all have to live with our mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes turn into regrets, but you still have to live with them. This is yours to live with.” She leaned her head against Ren’s shoulder. “It’s not okay for you to come here. Nor is it okay for you to harass Ren, especially inmyhouse.” She pointed to his black Mercedes SL Roadster sitting in the road next to the driveway. “You should get back to your girlfriend.”
“Stace. Just let me talk to you,” Randy begged. He’d clasped his hands together in front of him, almost in a prayer position. “I was jealous of you. Your career skyrocketed. You made twice as much as I did and I guess it made me feel small, less of a man. Like I couldn’t take care of you. Like you didn’t need me.”
“Your girlfriend is pregnant with your child. You being here is unfair to me, her, and your unborn baby. Please go.”
“Stace—”
“Bye, Randy.” She shut the door in his face.
