She frowns. “I know you and your dad aren’t on the best of terms right now. What about your mom?”
“My mom lives in California. Something called Family Day wouldn’t really be her thing.”
“Understood.”
I just want to get back to work and my depression, but I remind myself that conversations need to go both ways. “What about you? What’s your family like?”
She gives me a wry smile. “Oh, you don’t wanna crawl down that deep, dark hole.”
I lift an eyebrow. “I think I might.”
“My mom and all her siblings went in together on a lottery ticket that hit big, and now they own and run a casino where we’re from in Biloxi, Mississippi.”
“That sounds amazing.”
“Redneck as hell. I have twenty-seven cousins and most all of them work there. I’m the black sheep because I’m here, and none of them let me forget it for a second.”
“Sounds like they just want you there with them.”
She shrugs. “I guess, so they can meddle...especially in my love life. They’re always getting married and want the same for me. I can’t take another wedding. You wouldn’t believe how many I’ve been to just this year. My closet is full of ugly bridesmaid dresses.”
I fumble with a pen on my desk. “That actually sounds really nice.”
She gives me a smile, but I can tell her heart isn’t totally in it.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
“It’s fine.” She winces. “I just really wish I could invite you out with us tonight.”
My heart stings. “It’s totally fine. It’s more important for you to take care of Brett right now.”
“I know, but you’re important, too.”
Bailey has been great about getting me out of the office for lunch a couple of times a week this past month since Brett’s grandma died, and I really appreciate her efforts. But her allegiance is to Brett, and I understand a hundred percent. I’m the new girl, and they’ve known him for years. And besides, he needs them more than I do right now.
“Maybe we’ll plan a girls’ night,” Bailey says.
My gut wrenches as I remember what happened the last time we had planned a girls’ night.
I know none of the women in the group want to be seen as siding with me. And I hate more than anything that there are sides. I just want to be with him, but I also want to respect what he’s going through and remember my fault in it.
Bailey squeezes my shoulder and then steps away. My text alert dings, and I check my phone. I let out a sigh when I see Joshua’s name.
I’m in town to see you. Can you spare a few minutes for me?
I drop the phone in my lap, closing my eyes.
“Boy.” I look up to see Jack standing there. “That looks serious. You okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s just my ex. He’s here in town.”
“I’m guessing he wants to meet with you.”
“I’m just so exhausted these days. I don’t think I have the fight to say no.”
“I was coming over here to tell you that Easton and I are going to grab something to eat after work at the Circle. If you want, you can meet him down there and we’ll be around if you need backup.”
I look up at Jack and all his good-guy glory. “I don’t know what I would’ve done this past month without you.”
“I wish I could say I’ve done something. Honestly, it feels good to have a friend again.”
“Easton’s your friend.”
“Yeah, but he’s also an idiot.” He smiles, revealing his lie.
“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea, actually—not that I think he’s going to do anything nefarious, but I may need a drink after dealing with him.”
“Sounds good. We’re about to head out if you want to wrap up.”
“Okay.”
It gives me no small sense of joy to walk up to the entrance of the Circle flanked by Jack and Easton, two big, good-looking guys. Joshua shuffles his feet, crossing his arms over his chest and then putting his hands on his hips, clearly rattled. Good.
We all walk up to him, frowns all around. “Are you okay, Kylie?” Jack asks.
“I’m okay,” I say.
“We’ll be right around the corner when you’re done.”
“Or if you need us,” Easton tosses in.
“I’m her ex, not a rapist,” Joshua says.
“We’ll see about that,” Jack says, and he and Easton head off.
“You brought in the cavalry to see me?” Joshua asks.
I point to a bench. “Let’s just get this over with.”
He sits down, glancing around. “You’ve done okay for yourself. This place is pretty nice.”
“I think so.”
“But our house is a lot nicer.”
“We don’t have a house. You have a house.”
“It was getting ready to be your house, too.”
“Yeah, I wonder what happened there?”
“Look, I know I fucked up royally. I just got caught up in the secret of it all. I really didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Out of curiosity, were you going to continue that affair well into our marriage?”
“I swear, I told her it had to end on our wedding day. You can ask her.”
“No, thanks.” I consider him. “How’s that going, anyway? I’ve been following some of the group’s Instagrams, and I don’t see her in their posts.”
He shuffles in his seat. “It’s over. Bryce kicked her out after you exposed us. She didn’t want to move in with her mom and dad, so I let her stay at the house until she could get something figured out. I guess in her mind, we were going to be together.”
“You suddenly didn’t want her anymore?”
“Not for a wife. It was only about the sex.”
My stomach rolls.
“Sorry,” he says.
I wave him off. “If it was about the sex with her, what was it about with me?”
“You’re exactly the kind of girl I always wanted to marry. You’re sweet and kind and loving. You’re devoted and dedicated and you love taking care of people. I really couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
“Then why did you have
