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Chapter 12

Harlow

It was five fifty-five when I pulled into the parking lot of my favorite restaurant, Antonio’s, and by the look of things, the place was already packed. Knowing David as I did, I was certain that he’d made reservations. Because the lot was so full, I decided to valet park. Seconds after pulling up to the front entrance, my door was opened, and I was slipping out.

“Thank you, Porter.” I addressed the valet by the name on his tag.

He was young, clean cut, and his smile was welcoming and sincere. “Evening. Are you dining alone?”

“I hope not,” I laughed, accepting the ticket he handed me.

Someone else opened the restaurant door for me and I entered the dimly lit, romantic atmosphere that was the perfect setting for couples wanting to have an intimate, candle-lit dinner. The owners loved the old classics, so it wasn’t unusual to hear Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, or Sammy Davis Junior crooning in the background. It was rumored that Antonio’s family had known the famous rat pack celebrities back in the day.

“Good evening.”

I had reached the podium and was greeted by the hostess.

“Do you have a reservation?”

“I don’t, but I’m meeting someone here. David Cogan?”

She was good at her job, because she didn’t even have to glance down at her roster. “Yes, they’ve already been seated. Please follow me.”

They.I was a little bit nervous about meeting David’s girlfriend for the first time, but also just as excited. I wanted him to be happy. I wondered how much she knew about our marriage. If she would be jealous of our friendship. Some women didn’t like the ex hanging around. I suppose it was the same for men.

As I followed the hostess through the room, I took note of my appearance in the wall of mirrors behind the bar area. I’d chosen a lightweight, off-the-shoulder romper that had a ruffle across my breasts and wide pant legs that flowed around me like a long skirt when I walked. My hair was done in a thick, messy braid, and I was wearing my favorite Pandora bracelet.

I spotted David as we got closer to his table, and when my gaze swung over to his companion I stumbled slightly with astonishment. Since David was facing me he was able to catch my reaction and smiled wide in the face of my shock. I quickly pulled myself together before his friend witnessed my surprise. David rose to greet me and when he did, his friend finally looked my way and came to the conclusion that I must be who they were waiting for.

“Right on time, honey.” David took my hand in greeting. “Harlow, I want you to meet Scott.” He glanced down at Scott. “Scott, this is my soon to be ex.”

I rolled my eyes and sat down after David pulled out my chair. “Nice to meet you, Scott.”

“Same,” Scott responded. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

I glanced over at David with so many questions on my mind. To say that I was shocked was an understatement. I mean, I’d known him since high school, I’d been married to him for years. Never once had he even hinted that he preferred the opposite sex. I hadn’t been looking for it before, but now some things started to make sense. Like why our sex life had been so lacking.

“I just heard about you last night,” I admitted, meeting his smile. He was a handsome man, well put together with his stylish haircut and expensive clothes, and I could tell when he reached for his glass that he’d had a manicure. He was clearly a professional, and I wondered if he worked with David.

“So David told you about me?” Scott asked with a look of amusement on his clean-shaven face.

“No. Um...” I glared at David for a second. He was clearly enjoying my discomfort. “He told me that he’d met someone and wanted us to meet, but that was all.”

Scott nodded with understanding and turned his dark brown eyes on David. “I see you decided to go for the shock factor,” he chastised my soon to be ex playfully. Scott turned his gaze back onto me. “You had no idea?”

I knew what he was asking and shook my head. “None whatsoever. But some things are beginning to make sense to me now.” I gave David a meaningful look. “I just wish you’d told me sooner.” I was suddenly overwhelmed with guilt. All those years wasted when he could have been happy with someone else. Had he been afraid to tell me? Or had he been afraid to admit it to himself?

“There was really no need to, honey. I hadn’t met anyone until recently.” His gaze shifted to Scott, and I saw a softness in his eyes that revealed what he felt for the other man. “Besides, you and I had a good, comfortable thing going, between our careers and our home life. We meshed.”

We meshed? That was a strange way of looking at our marriage and the reasons why we hadn’t dissolved it before now.

“And, honey, I’m not gay.”

This caught me by surprise.

“I’m bisexual.”

I released an amused snort. “It doesn’t matter what you are, I just want you to be happy.” That was the truth.

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