Page 254 of My Temptation (Kingston Lane)

I have to let this fear go. This isn’t who I am.

Juliet

“So I guess that’s it.” Rebecca shrugs.

We’re having drinks at my house before we go over to the street party.

“I mean, what did he expect me to do?” she continues.

Chloe and I listen intently. Rebecca met with John today, and she asked him for a divorce.

“What happened then?” Chloe takes Rebecca’s hand in hers.

“He cried and begged for another chance.” She exhales deeply. “And the pathetic thing is that if I didn’t know for a fact that he was still seeing her, I probably would have tried to forgive him.”

We fall silent, lost deep in our own thoughts.

“I feel like a shitty failure of a person.” Rebecca sighs.

“You’ve done nothing wrong, Bec. You know that, don’t you?”

“I put a tracker in his car. That’s not okay. I’m not innocent in all of this. I was spying on my own husband. I still am.”

“Because he was sleeping with somebody else,” Chloe gasps. “Give yourself a fucking break. What were you supposed to do, just believe the lies and stay married to an adulterer for all of your life? And as far as not telling him now, you’re damn lucky you didn’t. You would have forgiven him only to have your heart broken again when you caught him out. He’s never stopped. He’s been seeing her the entire time. Sure he’s fired her from work, but he’s still going around there every night. It’s not just sex—they obviously have some kind of relationship going on here.”

“I know. I can’t believe after all this . . . he’s still lying.” Rebecca’s eyes fill with tears. “I just never saw myself as a divorcée kind of person, you know?”

“I know, honey.” I smile sadly. “I don’t think anyone ever does. But the good thing is, this is a great lesson as to what you don’t want in life.”

Rebecca widens her eyes. “You got that right.”

Chloe charges her glass in the air. “No more sleazebags.”

“None.” I smile over at Rebecca, so beautiful even when she’s so broken.

“That’s it . . . I’m done with men, so done.”

Chloe scrunches up her nose. “I wish I could be done . . . problem is, I like dicks.”

We all giggle.

“What’s with Henley having the street party tonight?” Rebecca frowns. “It’s so unlike him to play host.”

“I know, I thought the same thing.” I shrug and glance at my watch. “We should go over soon.”

“One more drink.” Chloe refills our wineglasses.

“You’re going to be okay, Bec,” I tell her.

“Am I?” Rebecca smiles hopefully.

“We’ll make sure of it.”

Henley

“Okay.” I look around my living room. “Cocktails are done, canapés are out.” I rub my hands together. “I think we’re all set.”

Blake looks around as he sips his drink. “Where are the girls?”

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