Page 45 of Twisted Contract

“Look, you were upset.”

“Of course I was upset. She wanted to divorce me and didn’t give a fuck about my damn feelings. God, I sound like a little bitch.”

“Grow a pair and tell her how you feel. Apologize and explain that you didn’t mean to be so damn insensitive and that you didn’t want to divorce, so you might have been a dick about it. It’s not like she doesn’t know you’re a dick.”

“True.”

“Look, there’s a picture.” Inside, there’s a picture of my mother at an event and with her is Saunders. It’s an older picture, but I’m not sure when it was taken. I flip it over, wondering the year, but there’s no damn Kodak stamp on the back with the date. She didn’t even write the year on it. Maybeshe didn’t need to know. If it’s when they met, she knew it by heart.

“I’m going to go speak to that asshole.”

“Don’t kill him.”

“Hell, I wasn’t planning to off that fucker until after your wedding and since that’s not happening any time soon, he’s safe.”

I hug him, and then he adds, “Go shower. You smell like a campfire.”

“Good idea.”

It’s four hours later before I arrive at the bakery, which is still closed, but I see my pretty little wife is bustling around in the front, looking so adorable. I unlock the door, and it dings.

“Connor,” she gasps before she turns around.

“That’s right, Trouble. I’m here, and I’m not leaving without you.”

“Then I suggest you roll up your sleeves because I have a lot of work to do. I planned to bake some cupcakes to take to the hospital today, and they’re only half done.” She raises her brow at me with one hand on her hip.

“As long as I don’t have to eat them.”

“You are definitely not a spokesman for me.”

“You, I’ll eat all day long, but I’m not recommending anyone else try.”

“But the div—”

“If you use the ‘d’ word one more time…”

“Di…ck.”

“You’re going to get a dick, all right. Right between those bratty lips of yours.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Yes, I would, but first I’ll take you in the back area where I feel it’s safer. This place isn’t giving me the best vibes.”

“I got a good vibe upstairs.”

“We’ll save it for later,” I wink and then pull her into my arms. “Claudia, I love you. I’m a fool and I should have told you sooner, but I do love you.”

“I love you too.”

“I’m not going after your father.”

“I know. He called me.”

“He did?”

“Yeah, he said he put in the good word for you.”

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