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“Brook, that’s a little dramatic.” Her phone rings again and she glances down.
Kirk again. I see his name on the screen as I start to walk backward toward my truck. “Call me if you think of anything else, okay?”
She nods. “Okay, talk to you later.” She turns and answers the phone as she walks away.
Fucking Kirk. What kind of a name is that anyway?
Jealousy rears its ugly head as I try to push thoughts away of the two of them together.
It’s more than possible she’s been with other men besides me, in fact, I’d bet on it. I mean, it’s been five years since our split, and three since our actual divorce. She wouldn’t go that long without sex…would she? I’ve never seen her with anybody local in town, but that isn’t Eden’s style anyway. She wouldn’t just go around sleeping with anyone. There are some guys that come through town though, on the way to the Smoky’s or Nashville, so it could’ve happened here. Not that I can see her having a one-night stand, but then again, how would I know? And how come I’ve never paid more attention?
Now it’s irking me.
I climb into my truck and grip the steering wheel. I need to get a fucking grip already.
I can’t keep thinking about Eden this way.
While she was ticking things off in that notebook of hers, I could barely keep a straight thought in my head. I wanted to pepper her with questions about Kirk and how serious it was. Then again, it has to be semi-serious if she’s calling him her boyfriend and inviting him to our daughter's birthday party.
I rest my head on the steering wheel, hoping that might bring some clarity. I’m never going to get through this fucking birthday without ringing someone’s neck. And I’m not even a violent person.
I don’t like the idea of him being around the things that belong to us as a family. The farm. My home. The barn. My daughter. My wife.
I suck in a breath.
Breathe, you fucking idiot.
This isn’t the way to keep in Eden's good graces, in fact, it’s a sure fire way to get in her bad ones. And after the non-divorce papers, I fear that her annoyance is well and truly forecast in my direction. And that forecast is a shit storm.
Tell her after the party.
I will. I’ll tell her after the festivities are over and hopefully she’ll just blow it off and we can laugh about it somehow. Maybe I’m dreaming.
Though, it would be funny to just rub it in Kirk’s face just a little. Not with the children around, of course, but man to man. I’m sure he’d have a few things to say about that.
And I’d sure as shit love to tell him to stay the fuck away.
I crack my neck and start the engine. I can’t sit here all day or I’ll tear my hair out.
I put the truck into reverse, making my way to work, vowing to erase all thoughts of Eden from my mind so I can get through the meeting with my family.
I can already tell it’s gonna be a long ass day all round.
My cell buzzes while I’m driving, breaking my reverie about the past and everything I just discussed with Eden.
It’s Gray.
“Hey, man.” I put him on speaker.
“Hey, Brook. Where are you?”
“Just heading in. I was with Eden discussing Blake’s birthday coming up.”
“Oh, yeah. I heard Mom and Georgia talking about the party and using the barn.”
“Yeh, Eden just said the same. Probably a good idea, testing out the venue on eleven-year-olds and family could be a good test run.” The barn is almost complete, so it couldn’t hurt to get a feel for things.
“Are you trying to distract yourself from the meeting today?”
