AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ben got a smug look on his face. “Fine. Amy decided that I needed to see a sex therapist. It was the only way I could keep her from walking out on me after she found out about you and me.”
Beth felt Seth stiffen beside her, but otherwise he didn’t react.
“I’m supposed to confront my addiction and that included tracking you down and telling you that . . .” He glanced over at Seth and then back to her. “That letting you do those things to me was a way for me to get back at my wife. That was all it ever was.”
She blinked. “Anything else?”
Ben looked to be considering his next words.
Seth must have picked up on the same thing she did. Ben was out to hurt her, embarrass her, or maybe a little of both. “I think you’ve said enough. You can leave now.”
“Pfft.” Ben rolled his eyes and took a step back toward the alley. “Good riddance. I did what I said I’d do. I hope you have fun with your new plaything while I’m having a real relationship with my wife.”
With those parting words, he was gone. He disappeared around the corner, presumably to the back of the building where she’d been not long ago. Beth wondered if he’d planned to ambush her when she left the café or if he was planning to follow her home. Neither sat well with her.
“So that was your ex?” Seth asked.
“Yes. Unfortunately.” At that moment, Beth realized that any feelings she’d had for Ben were long gone. She’d been able to view his words for what they were—an attack. He was angry he was being made to jump through hoops to save his marriage and he was lashing out. It didn’t look like therapy was working. Then again, it only worked if the person committed to the process. Ben had proven that commitment wasn’t one of his strong suits.
“Want to explain?” Seth asked.
“No.” Explaining the meaning behind what Ben had said to Seth, someone who already didn’t seem to care for her, was the last thing she wanted. Beth was starting to think that she and Drew had a real future together and she didn’t want to create any more bumps in the road with his family than she had to. “If there isn’t anything else, I have things to do tonight.”
She began heading toward her car.
“Hot date?”
“No. I’m meeting a friend at a club. The only hot dates I have these days are with your brother and you already know he’s working.” She waited until she was at her car before addressing him again. “In case you didn’t pick up on it, my ex is a vindictive, manipulative bastard. I think that is all you need to know.”
Not giving Seth a chance to respond, she climbed into her car and drove away.
Beth was pulling onto her street when her phone rang. Not wanting to deal with Ben or Seth again, she made sure to check the caller ID. When she saw Drew’s name on the screen, the stress of the last half hour disappeared. “Hello, handsome.”
He laughed. “Hello. You sound like you’re in a good mood.”
Pulling into the driveway, she maneuvered her car into the garage. “I am now.”
She heard some noise in the background and then movement. “Sorry. I’m upstairs trying to get some privacy, but that doesn’t seem to have worked out very well.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Anyway, I called to let you know that you might be getting a visit from my brother. He stopped by earlier today.”
“I know,” she said. “He’s already been to see me.”
A muffled sound came through the phone that almost sounded like a grunt. “I’m sorry. I was going to call you as soon as he left but a call came in and I couldn’t.”
Beth shook her head even though he couldn’t see. “Don’t worry about it. I can handle your brother.”
“I have no doubt. Even so, I know he can be a pain in the ass when he has a bug up his butt about something.”
She loved that Drew was feeling protective of her, but in this case, he didn’t need to be. “Your brother may never approve of us, and I’m okay with that as long as you are.”
“Seth’s opinion doesn’t matter to me.”
“He’s your brother.” Beth felt the need to point that out. Especially considering that Seth was there to hear Ben’s rant.
“And you’re the woman I love.” There it was. Right there. Her chest clenched and she felt moisture fill her eyes. When Drew said he loved her, she knew he meant it. The words weren’t just window dressing or said because he thought it was what she wanted to hear.
