Page 54 of This Woman Forever

Why aren’t I surprised? I don’t have any energy to spare right now, but I can promise I’ll rip Dan a new arsehole if he’s got anything to do with this. “What’s happened?”

“Good fucking question,” he says over an exhale, sounding beat. “Apparently it really was just a bit of fun to her.”

“What?”

“And now she’s had her fun, she’s done.”

I narrow an eye on the illuminated road ahead. That’s bullshit. She caught feelings, so did Sam. What the fuck do I say? Fucking Dan.

“Has Ava said anything?” he asks before I’ve had a chance to figure out if I should talk and what I should say.

I breathe out. I like Kate. I do not like how she’s handling this. And I am a fine one to talk. “I think she and Ava’s brother were a thing once.”

“You think?”

“I know.” Silence. I cringe. “I didn’t mention it before because you and Kate seemed okay.”

He laughs. “No wonder the prick was hostile.”

“Don’t feel singled out. He’s a dickhead with me too.”

“I think something happened at your wedding between them.”

“Have you asked Kate?”

“What’s the point? We’re over. Are you driving?”

“Just popping to the shop.” Since when do I pop to the shop? “We’re out of milk.” What the fuck am I saying?

“So what do I do now?” he asks.

He’s asking me? Jesus fucking Christ, I’m hardly an ambassador for doing the right thing. Besides, he just said they’re done. Clearly. “Give her space,” I say quietly, my grip of the steering wheel getting tighter. “Give her space and let her figure out what she needs to figure out.” And how long will Ava take to figure it out?

“So just wait while she decides if she wants me or him?” He snorts his disgust.

Is that an advantage for me? There’s no other man in the frame, no competition. But every man is competition. I don’t think Kate wants Dan. Who would, he’s a bellend. “If you have feelings, yes. Give her space. You can’t force someone to be with you.” I clench my eyes closed briefly, discreetly sniffing. Something I’ve proven. Again.

“I hear you,” he says. “I’m sorry, you don’t need my life dramas forced on you a day after your wedding. It was a great day. How’s married life?”

I brace my arms against the wheel, forcing my back into the leather. “Great. Listen, I just pulled up at the store.”

“Sure. What are your plans this week?”

Trying to convince my wife of one day not to divorce me. “This and that,” I muse.

“When are you going on your honeymoon?”

“Ava’s got some work stuff to sort out.”

“Have you spoken to Drew?”

“No, he left the wedding without saying goodbye.”

“I’ll call him. Speak later.” Sam hangs up, and I exhale, my cheeks ballooning, my sweat real. It’s only a matter of time before everyone finds out Ava’s left me. I smack the steering wheel hard, wincing on impact, seeing the aftermath of my encounter with the handcuffs glowing in the shadows.

Deserved. All the pain, deserved.

Ava, however, didn’t ask for any of this.

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