Page 95 of Ruin
I shake my head, unsure of what else to say, and he studies me for a few beats.
“What do you want to do?”
I snort. “Pretend I never met him?”
The look he gives me is full of sympathy, even as he shakes his head. “Besides that.”
I’m quiet for a while, trying to work out what the best way is to handle my volatile husband.
“I guess… I guess I’ll need to talk to him.” The idea makes me feel sick, but there really is no other choice.
As long as Joseph thinks I’m his, he’s going to keep showing up, and I want him out of all of our lives.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Daniel replies, while Sebastian’s intense gaze remains on my face.
“He never did anything to me whenever anyone else was around. So if we do this where there are witnesses…”
“Do what?” Sebastian asks.
“Tell him it’s over and I want a divorce.”
His expression softens slightly. “We can set it up. You don’t even need to be in the same room. The joys of modern day technology - it can all be done remotely.”
I shake my head. “No. It needs to be face to face.” I lift my chin and square my shoulders. “I want to look him right in the eye so he can see that I’ll never let him hurt me again.”
The look he gives me is a mix of pride and concern. But I know he will leave the choice up to me.
Daniel lets out a breath, squeezing me in a side hug. “We’ll support you in any way you need.”
“Good. Because I’m tired of living in fear. So let’s get those lawyers ready.”
Sebastian nods, rising to his feet to reach for his phone on the table beside the couch. Daniel and I listen as he talks to their lawyer about what needs to be done to organise a meeting.It’s obvious that they really did have them sitting on the information until I was ready, because the conversation is over pretty quickly, and Sebastian sits back down, looking exhausted.
“So… I guess I’ll have travel buddies,” Daniel says with a grin. “And we have all this together time for you two to tell me all about all the fucking that you did last night and this morning.”
My face heats up and I bury my face in my hands.
Sebastian sighs. “Really, Daniel?”
“What? Yesterday you were telling me that this couldn’t be a thing, and then last night I’m woken up by the pair of you moaning through the incredibly thin wall. And then again this morning. Of course I’m going to ask questions.”
“You truly are a giant pain in the arse sometimes,” Sebastian says, but I keep my face in my hands.
“Not my fault your contractors didn’t bother with soundproofing.” I can hear the joy he’s taking from stirring his brother up, and I finally look up to glare at him.
“You are such a shit-stirrer.”
“Guilty as charged.” He looks between Sebastian and I for a moment, before shrugging. “Look, whatever this is, I think it’s a good thing for you both. You both were dancing around each other for years and it was really fucking annoying. So as long as you’re both on the same page, I’m happy for you.”
Sebastian rolls his eyes and gets back to his feet. “I’m going to have a shower.” He heads into his bedroom, and I stay where I am for a moment, before getting up and following him, ignoring Daniel’s chuckle.
“Hey… Are we okay?” I ask, coming up behind him as he digs around in his drawers for a change of clothes.
He turns towards me, before moving to close the doorbehind me. He sits on the end of his bed and tugs me over to stand between his legs.
“We are perfectly okay.” He slides his hands up and down the back of my thighs as I run my hand through his hair.
“Okay. Good.” I bend to kiss him gently, and he pulls me down so that I’m straddling his lap.
