Page 89 of Paper Roses

I feel him shrug, his skin sliding wetly against mine. “Answer the question.”

“Yes, I told him that what we had was gone.”

His hand clenches on my leg. “So, he did come to get you back?”

“Violet is his mum’s cleaner.”

“And she told them about the clause.” He puts it together as quickly as I expected him to.

“You can relax. I told him we were already together when Laura died. He believed me.”

“And he was trying to get you back? Iknewit.”

Why is he focusing on that, rather than possible legal ramifications? “It actually came as a surprise to me.”

“Of course it did. You don’t see yourself.”

“And how is that?” I ask breathlessly.

He’s silent for a second. “You’re brilliant. Clever and funny and sweet as sugar with a snarky bite to you that stops you from being too sweet.”

“That’s actually the nicest thing I’ve had said to me.”

“Well, that’s just disappointing. Men should’ve been falling over you.”

“I’m not sure I’d like that. It sounds painful and ultimately very irritating.”

There’s a second’s pause, and then he bursts into laughter and drags me against him, kissing the side of my face. “Never change.”

“Well, I did change towards Ben. I told him that he was selfish in our relationship.”

After a moment, he simply says, “Good,” and takes up the sponge again.

After a few minutes, he says, “Mick didn’t like baths.” I hold my breath, unwilling to distract him. “Said he couldn’t abide lying in your own filth. He liked showers.” He chuckles. “He used to love these shower steamers with essential oils. You throw them on the floor but unfortunately, they are by nature oily, and one day I stepped in after him and fell flat on my arse. I broke my collarbone.”

I snort. “I’m so sorry.”

“Save it. He laughed, too.”

“He sounds nice,” I say when his words seem to have dried up.

“He was.” He pauses. “He was also incredibly strong-willed. He’d been on his own for too long and was also very rich, so he was used to getting his own way.”

“I bet he was surprised with you.”

“Then you’d be wrong. I was very malleable with him.”

“You?” His mum’s words about their relationship suddenly come to mind.

“Yes, me. He was so much older and worldly, and he lived in a part of society I didn’t know and couldn’t get used to. His friends were the same.” He runs the soap over my arms, his voice distracted. “They thought I was just his latest—something different to excite him. They couldn’t believe it when he married me.”

“I completely understand why he did.” I can imagine a young Jed, and I bet he was gorgeous.

He kisses my shoulder. “Thank you. It was a good marriage. Not always easy and definitely not what I expected.” He taps my arm and says slowly and almost reluctantly, “Remember in the future to be honest about what you want from the bloke you end up with, or you’ll have problems when the shine wears off.”

I wonder how he can say that to me at this moment. Ihateimagining him with other men. He falls silent, and I can feel his body tense behind me. Is he thinking of another bloke with me?

I sag a little. He’s probably just thinking of Mick.

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