Page 111 of Wed to You-
Jagger laughed derisively. “You never believe me about anything.”
“I’ve seen you two together. I see you now. I see her. You’re both miserable and brokenhearted. You can fix it. Jesus, Jagger, a perfect life is sitting right there, all you have to do is reach out and grab it.” Mitch made a grabbing motion with his hand.
“I’m telling you, it was a marriage of convenience.”
Mitch sat back. “If that were true, you wouldn’t look like this.”
Jagger’s gaze was red hot. “I lost Kaden.”
“No, you didn’t. He’s right out there.” Mitch pointed back toward the big house. “So this pity party you’re throwing can’t be about that. You’re making the biggest mistake of your life if you don’t fix this. Trust me on this, Jagger. I nearly lost out, but I got a second chance. You may not get another chance at the happiness I know you’ve been seeking all your life. Go to Chelsea.”
Jagger didn’t say anything. He knew Mitch would keep harping on him, but it would be a waste of breath.
Mitch studied him a little longer. He stood, disgust etched on his features. “Then why couldn’t you have left her alone like I asked you to? You’re a selfish jerk, you know that? How much loss can one woman take?”
That last statement sent a pang of guilt through Jagger. Chelsea had lost more than her fair share. Her brother. Her mother. But Jagger couldn’t let the guilt affect him. Finding his inner bastard, he turned his cool gaze on Mitch. “She still has the house.”
If Mitch was ever going to punch Jagger, that moment probably would have been it. His fingers balled into a fist, and his green eyes turned dark and hot. “You’re an ass.”
“So you’ve said.”
“And a coward.” Mitch gave Jagger one last glare and then stormed from the cottage.
Jagger should have felt relief at Mitch’s departure. Instead, he felt guilt and agitation. He was seriously rethinking the drink.
The truth was he wanted to go to Chelsea. He wanted...no, needed her. He knew she’d be able to support him through this change of custody. She’d distract him from his feelings of failure that he’d let Kaden down. But he couldn’t learn to rely on that. All his life he’d longed for love. To be a part of a family that genuinely cared for each other. For a short time, he, Chelsea, and Kaden had had that. That was until it imploded.
She’d betrayed him, but he knew, deep down, that was only part of what kept him away. He could forgive her and maybe they could forge a real relationship. But what happened when she betrayed him again for some other reason? Or maybe he’d betray her. The truth was, while love was nice when it worked, when it failed, it cut through the very soul. He didn’t think he could risk that. He’d put everything he had into caring for Kaden. Into keeping him as his own. By the end of their sham marriage, he’d begun to think of it as real. Now both were gone. No. It was easier to not love. To not risk.
Chapter 21
Chelsea let her friends in the house and then resumed her spot on the couch. She only left it to get food and take care of nature. She slept there, because her own bed reminded her of that perfect afternoon with Jagger. She showered, but that was about as far as her personal care went. She knew she looked it too, in an old pair of sweats and an army shirt of her brothers, and her hair looking like it had been combed with an eggbeater.
Over the last few weeks, her depression had taken on a life of its own. She had no energy. At times, she' felt physically ill. All she wanted to do was sleep.
“You look terrible.” Lexie entered the living area with Sydney following her.
“Thanks.”
Lexie planted her hands on her hips and gave her a, “get your lazy ass up” look. “Have you talked to him?”
Chelsea shook her head. Why would she talk to Jagger? He’d tossed her out. She expected divorce papers to arrive any day. She couldn’t figure why they hadn’t come yet. It had been two weeks since he’d kicked her out of his house and his life.
Sydney sat on the coffee table in front of Chelsea. “We’re worried about you, honey. Mitch is beside himself.”
“I just need time.”
“For what?” Lexie sat next to Sydney on the coffee table. “Because, as far as I can see, you have way too much time. This is not the Chelsea Beemer I know.”
Chelsea wanted to pull her blanket over her head but it wouldn’t do any good.
“Why don’t you get dressed and we’ll take you to lunch.” Sydney patted her arm.
Chelsea shook her head. “I don’t feel like it.”
“Have you been eating?” Sydney’s doctor eyes inventoried Chelsea. “You do look like you’ve lost weight.”
“I’m okay. I just don’t feel well.”
