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Reid braces himself on the island between us, letting out a long sigh. “Sarah wants to get back together.”
My head jerks back, surprise rolling through me. Again. “What?”
“She texted me when my phone was dead, so I didn’t see it until we got home. When we got on the phone, she wanted to get lunch, but I told her I had plans, and she started asking about you. She seemed upset so I figured it couldn’t hurt for her to come over so we could hash some things out.”
Of course, I have a million questions, but I keep my mouth shut, knowing I should let him finish before I interrupt.
“She asked me if I regret the divorce because she does, said she wants to get back together, she misses what we used to be.”
I hate it. Hate her.
She had her chance and she fucked it up, big time. Now she wants him back?
Well tough shit.
I cross my arms and glare at Reid. “And what did you tell her?”
He leans forward, his eyes pouring into mine. “I told her my heart already has a home.”
My eyes narrow. Well isn’t that fucking romantic.
I tilt my chin up. “You said that?”
Reid’s lips tilt up on one side and he nods. “I did.”
“In those words?”
“Verbatim.”
I watch him carefully, looking for any signs that he isn’t telling the truth but seeing none. That’s something I love aboutReid; there isn’t a dishonest bone in his body. A refreshing change from the men in my past.
“Sarah and I are friends, sure,” he continues. “But there isn’t anything in me that wants to get back together with her. I’veneverwanted that. From the moment she said she was out, I knew that was it for us, knew any trust or love we shared was shattered beyond repair.”
Reid clears his throat, and I see emotion rolling through him.
“You can’t abandon someone in their darkest moment and believe you can come back to them later like they’ll be unchanged.”
My heart aches, knowing what he’s been through. I can’t imagine what it was like for him, finding out his diagnosis and then having his wife want a divorce so immediately. Like he was somehow defective, and now that she knew, she wanted a refund.
“I’m so sorry you went through that with her,” I tell him, reaching out and placing my hand on his cheek.
He closes his eyes, his head tilting to the side, leaning into my caress.
“I’m sorry you saw us like that,” he says, opening his eyes. “I hope you know we were just…saying goodbye. I told her we needed to move on from our friendship, told her it felt right at one point but doesn’t anymore. Not now that I have you.”
Reid pauses then chuckles, my hand falling away from his face.
“Not that Ihaveyou. But now that…you know, we’re figuring things out.”
Licking my lips, I step back from the island and lean back against the counter behind me.
“I appreciate that. I do,” I tell him. “But I feel like if I hadn’t walked over and seen you guys together, I wouldn’t have gottenany of this information. Were you planning to talk to me at all about this?”
His head tilts to the side. “Honestly, I didn’t see the point.”
I nod, crossing my arms. “Maybe it’s unfair of me to expect this from you, considering the fact that we haven’t established what we are yet. But…” I pause, shaking my head. “I’ve dealt with secrets in the past, and they’re something I can’t handle. Earlier this summer, I talked with Sarah. I met her at Marie’s. And she made it sound like you guys talk regularly or get together often.”
Reid watches me, an unreadable expression on his face as I dump out all this…shit I’ve been carrying around for months.
