Page 139 of Red King

“There you are, Paisley.” Arctic puts his arm around me and then leans in for a kiss. He puts his tongue in my mouth and deepens the kiss. My arms go around him, too, and I moan. I melt. I die and am reborn. I forget everything, including my own name.

I think I might stagger when he lets me go because, holy fucking shit.

“Who is this?” Jim sounds pissed off.

My eyes are a little hazy. It takes me a few seconds to focus them again.

“Hi, there. Arctic.” He puts out his hand. “I’m lucky enough to call this beautiful lady my girlfriend.”

Say what now?

Act normal.

Be cool!

“Jim,” my ex says in a high-pitched, nasal voice.

They shake hands, and Jim’s eyes bulge. He starts to sink down to his knees…down, his eyes on his hand, which is clutched tightly in Arctic’s fist. Just as Jim’s about to scream, Arctic lets him go.

“You’re Paisley’s ex.” Arctic snorts. “Thank you very much.”

“For what?” Jim has sweat on his brow. He is nursing his hand.

“For leaving Paisley.” Arctic’s voice drops a few levels. “If you hadn’t been such a complete fucking idiot, I wouldn’t have been the lucky one who snagged her.”

I hold back a laugh.

Jim opens and closes his mouth a few times. He looks completely bewildered.

“Heeeey.” It’s Lexi. She has the baby in one arm.

“Hi, Lexi,” I say, sounding a little too bright and breezy now that I know she isn’t as nice as I thought she was. Not nearly as perfect.

She looks like she wants to hug me, but I step in closer to Arctic to avoid it. “It was a beautiful ceremony. Congratulations.” My voice is cold.

The more I think about it, the more I am certain they were seeing each other before my marriage officially ended. It was all just too quick. Them meeting, moving in together and getting married. It happened in the blink of an eye.

“Thank you.” She looks unsure for a few seconds before smiling. “This must be your boyfriend.” She looks up at Arctic. “He’s handsome for an accountant,” she whispers behind her hand, loud enough so we can all hear.

Arctic frowns but quickly schools his expression. His arm tightens around me.

“You must be Reese?” she asks him.

I cringe.

Crap, this is where all of my lies catch up with me.

Why did it have to be this moment? Why?

“I’m Lexi.” She holds out her hand.

They shake. “It’s an absolute pleasure to meet you,” Arctic says. He gives me a quizzical look that lasts all of a second but doesn’t say anything more.

I keep smiling like everything is just great.

“You guys simply must come for supper,” Lexi says.

“I’m sure they have better things to do, Lex-sweety,” Jim says, smiling broadly. It doesn’t reach his eyes.

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