I turned and banged my forehead into the cabinet. “Damn, I wish I’d never met him. Why did I have to take that job at the club? I could’ve worked at Wendy’s and this never would’ve happened. What’s wrong with me? How can someone spend their whole life in love with someone who doesn’t even think they exist in his world? I mean, I’m nothing, the girl who made sandwiches at the club he belonged to. Not a woman. Not a person. Definitely not worthy of being his partner.”
“Bex, honey, that was his dad, not him. You existed in his world. But he had to make a choice, and he went with his gut. Or his mom, however you want to look at it. Did you hear me when I said existed? You existed for him, but your lives went separate ways. I know it’s always been him for you, but you really need to move on. Even with your secrets, which, by the way, are pretty obvious to anyone who knows you.”
Blowing out a breath, I said, “Existed. A long time ago, I know. Although he had a funny way of showing it. Now I don’t matter at all. You’re right. As for my secret, be quiet. I did what I did, and you know why and all that. I can’t rehash it.”
I poured some half-and-half into my shitty coffee and took a sip.
“Listen to me, Bex, he didn’t have a choice. His dad ran roughshod over him, held his dreams in the palm of his hand, and made it clear he’d squish them if Aston didn’t bend to him. The company was his future livelihood, the retribution his mom wanted him to have. This is how rich people act.”
“Blah, blah, blah.” I slammed my coffee mug down on the counter.
I thought about my good friend, my lifelong sister from another mother, and how our lives had veered down separate roads. Milly had bought into the high life, with her glossy hair with highlights, big houses, and expensive jewelry. Her weekends were filled with fancy events and activities at the club.
“Milly, I thought you wanted to talk about me, and now you’re taking up with him? Defending Aston, taking his side. Why? Because you’re one of them now, the rich people?” I couldn’t help it, the last part came out on a sneer, but I was hurt and defensive.
“It’s not that. I’m trying to explain how things are on the other side.”
“You mean the richie side. Do you forget you used to be like me?” I leaned my hip into the counter and prayed for the call to get disconnected.
“If that’s what you want to call it, the richie side, then fine. And no, I didn’t forget. You can live in both worlds. I do.” A small laugh escaped Milly, but I barely heard it as it floated in the dead air between us on the phone.
I resisted the urge to laugh. Milly wouldn’t survive a day in my suburban subdivision.
“Well, I’m glad you got a chance to cross over to the other side, Milly. Really, I am. Sorry I had to settle for a middle-class existence after growing up dirt poor. It’s not all that bad. At times, it seemed pretty damn good to me.”
Milly sighed. “We’re getting sidetracked. What I mean is, Aston didn’t have a choice. His whole life, he was groomed for that damn business. He’d be nothing if his father took it away from him. I suspect he always wanted to grow the business himself, sell out, and come and get you.”
“Still not about me or how Aston is actually doing right now. I gotta go . . .”
“I’m in the car. What if I call Mike and tell him to deal with the kids, and then come and be with you?”
Of course, Milly snagged her perfect guy and tied him up in a nice big red bow. Like in a fairy tale, she married Mike Richards. She fell for him, and he fell back. Now they lived a good life in Tahoe, where he owned a large construction company. She had the dream house and the kids to fill it when they weren’t at private school.
“No, Milly. Don’t. I’m fine. Honestly, this doesn’t even affect me.”
“Bexley.” She growled, and I heard her honk her horn as she muttered, “Bastard.”
“Don’t get into an accident.”
“I’m not. Some ass cut me off.”
“You can’t come here. All I’ll end up doing is begging you to tell me what Aston told Mike, and we know how that went after your wedding. Not good. I shouldn’t have even asked you if they’d spoken. So, no. Let me be, and I’ll be fine in a few days.”
It was hard to keep the relationships separate, but I’d done it for a long time and I’d continue to do it. Milly was my oldest friend . . . I owed her my loyalty. This time around, though, I needed to deal with things on my own.
“I’m calling you later,” she said.
“Okay, I gotta go now.” I ended the call and dumped the crappy coffee in the sink.
I needed to make up my mind, for good, that this thing with Aston was over. This being something that never was.
On my way to the shower, I tossed my clothes in the hamper and considered calling Seth to see if he wanted to have dinner with the kids and me.
It wasn’t until I washed the conditioner out of my hair that I remembered what a bad idea that was. After all, that’s how I ended up married to him.
He was available, and Aston wasn’t.
Aston
“I didn’t do it. Again, let me repeat, I had nothing to do what they’re saying I did. Drug trafficking,” I said, then laughed out loud. The words had already tumbled out of my mouth so many times. Each time, they sounded almost as ridiculous as I felt.
I stuck my hands up in the air,
