Page 62 of Bad Husband

I look back at her over my shoulder as I head to my office. “You really need to break up with that guy.”

I find the permits on my desk where she said they were next to my phone. No missed calls from Madison, like I was hoping there would be, but Kennedy’s right. She sent me a message saying she’d be late.

I guess I’ll let her lateness slide this one time.

“Why are you wearing a dress today when you look like that?” I ask, handing the permits to Brantley so we can place the order for the flooring.

“Going to my sister’s wedding tonight.” And then she holds up two lipsticks. “What shade of lipstick clearly states, I’m only attending this wedding for the drugs and the best man?”

I laugh and point to the hot pink lipstick. “I take it you’re not close with your sister?”

“Fuck no. She’s a whore.”

Brantley perks up. “Likereallya whore?”

“No, not really, B.” She points in his face. “Stay away from her. She’s getting married. Pretty sure she’s only sucked one cock her entire life. And that’s just sad. But anyway, you stay far away from her wedding.” And then she looks at me. “I just don’t like her. She used to steal my Barbies.”

I know why I hired Kennedy. We’re a lot alike.

SINCE MADISON HASN’T kicked me out entirely—just to the couch—when I get home from work that night, I don’t bother telling her I’ve already booked our trip for tonight and arranged for Brantley to watch the boys. He’ll be here in an hour.

I know what you’re thinking. One, how could you book it without talking to her, and two, why in the fuck would you have Brantley watch your kids?

He’s actually great with kids as long as women aren’t around.

“You look amazing today,” I say when I see Madison in the kitchen cutting up chicken nuggets for the boys.

Gag me. Just fucking wrap a noose around my neck at this point. Who is this guy? I’d like to punch myself and ask if I’m getting my balls back for Christmas.

“Shut up,” she mumbles, looking out to the backyard where the boys are playing with each other. Noah’s on the swings while Callan has a book in one hand and he’s pushing him with the other. At least they’re playing together.

“How about we go away for the weekend?” I push the brochure toward her, sliding it across the granite countertop between us.

Madison glances down at the brochure and then back to me. “What’s this?”

“A resort. We can get away and remember why we fell in love.”

She rolls her eyes and throws it in the garbage. “No.”

Do you see my heart in there with it? It’s buried at the bottom where she keeps kicking it aside.

Where’s that noose again? Listen to me! I sound pathetic.

“Come on.” I grab her hand and pull her toward me, trapping her against the counter and my body. “I told you I was sorry about the other day. Iam.” Her eyes search mine and I’m confident all she sees is honesty from me. “I was just caught off guard and didn’t know how to react. And I’m man enough to admit I reacted horribly.”

“You think?”

“You have to admit Kip was an asshole.”

She nods. “He was. You didn’t deserve that.”

I lean in a little more, but I don’t kiss her despite desperately wanting to. “If you have any ounce of love left for me, you’ll come with me, and we’ll try.”

“I don’t know….”

She didn’t say she didn’t have an ounce of love left, so there’s some hope, right?

And then she draws in a weighted breath and lets it out with a sigh. “When?”

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