Page 2 of Husband Material
Gray and I had come here more times than I could remember, right to this vaulted-ceiling corner with the slightly tippy table. Our usual spot for catching up on the latest news in our lives. He'd heard all about the perpetual Cassidy issues that had plagued my life over the last two years, so I figured it was past fucking time to find a new topic of conversation with one of my best friends, who also happened to be married to my cousin, Reese.
"She's definitely right about one thing," I said suddenly. "I'm not husband material, and I think I'm meant to be single. For good."
Chin in his hand, Gray tilted his head toward me, raising a brow.
"I mean it." I chomped on an ice cube, annoyed. Already, I could guess what Gray's reaction would be. "I know how things ended up working out for you and Reese, but that's not in the cards for me. I thrive on working hard and, to be honest, I probably haven't viewed any of my relationships as more than a convenience for getting laid."And I can't even remember the last time Cassidy and I fucked.
Over the rim of his crystal glass, Gray regarded me. "Has it ever occurred to you that you haven't met the right person yet?"
I shrugged. "With the number of women I've been with? No."
The other part I didn't mention to him. That last line of Cassidy's hatefully penned rant, the one telling me to enjoy being alone forever. Reading that part had sent a shiver through me like the unmistakable precision of a very sharp fucking blade. An omen of sorts.
My gaze absently left our table and spanned the familiar faces arranged within the white-walled, white-floored room. There was my old gym teacher, Mr. Cho Mi, with the perfectly spherical bald spot on his hair and too-bright, darting eyes. There was Laney, one of the many girls I'd dated, doing her best to keep her pointy chin turned well away from me. There was even a third cousin of mine, Paulina, who also wasn't looking at me, since she'd taken Cassidy's side in our breakup—for reasons that still escaped me, since they'd spoken to each other all of maybe two times.
As I sucked on an ice cube, my gaze snagged on one of the last people I wanted to see.
Mrs. Bardot–-aka—Cassidy's mom, whose stick up her ass was roughly the same size as her daughter's. Her chlorine-colored eyes locked on me with nothing short of absolute hatred. Perhaps I should have paid more attention to her, given that the apple certainly hadn't fallen far from the tree.And why the fuck is she angry with me? Cassidy fucked off and stopped the wedding.
I emptied the rest of my water glass. "Think it's time to hit the waves."
Gray shifted uneasily in his seat. "You okay?"
I felt my brows knit in irritation. I'd always liked Gray's no-bullshit attitude. But ever since he and Reese had gone all BMCF—my business partner, Reid's cheeky invention, Best Married Couple Forever—he'd reached obnoxious heights of openness and transparency.
Which meant that right now, he was annoying the shit out of me by asking a question I didn't want to answer.
"You know, it's been four weeks since the letter." I picked up a napkin, tossed it up a few inches, then let it fall. "It still feels like yesterday."
I squared my shoulders as I rose.
There. I hadn't told theI'm finelie. The one, which in the past month, had become my refrain to the point of sounding glib. But I hadn't told the truth either. I was fucking weeks, probably years away fromfine. Because although I didn't miss Cassidy and knew I could get laid easily enough if I bothered to go out and find someone for the night, I didn't want to be alone forever.Which is possibly why I asked her to marry me in the first place. Idiot.
"Gage," Gray said sharply.
He smiled apologetically. "I am sorry. But you may want to stick around for another fifteen minutes or so."
I eyed him warily. "Why?"
He glanced at the door, then back at me. "It was Reid's idea. Lena's fresh out of her divorce, so we thought maybe that you two could…"
I shook my head. "Ohhell,no."
I'd heard enough horror stories through Reid to know that his psycho half-sister, no matter how chastised from her failed marriage she may have been, was the last thing I needed.
Demandingandover the topwere not things that would make me a happy camper right now.
"Sorry, man." I tossed two twenties on the table. "But I've got to go. Glad we could meet while you were in town."
I barely gave him time to say "Bye, Gage" before my legs rapidly weaved me past rows of round tables toward the door. I was practically through its heavy frame when I nearly collided with her.
Lena raised her drawn-on eyebrows at me, to which I gave her a curt nod. She's lucky she'd even got that before I continued out the fucking door, the adrenaline ricocheting inside me fueling me forward.
Most of my relationship with Cassidy had been on her terms, and I wasn't about to subject myself to that doomed experiment again. Over the course of the time we'd been together, Cassidy and I'denjoyedweekly yell-fests, monthly breakup threats, and quarterly out-and-out walkouts. Cassidy had also been especially skilled at meticulously outlining every single one of my faults.
Faults, which, as it turned out, were as numerous as the fucking stars in the solar system…apparently.Fucking socks on the floor?All her complaints had circled back to one overarching theme: I never opened up to her, and I hadn't truly appreciated her.
Heading to my Mercedes-Maybach with the wise owl of hindsight on my shoulder, I had to admit it was possible that she'd had a point there. Whatever the case though, she should've made up her mind then—either accepted me for the disappointment I was—or left me a long fuckin' time ago.And it now makes me wonder if Parker is the first? Ah, who gives a fuck.
