Page 83 of Bad Husband

He sighs, too. “She said Madison’s crying all the time.”

I saw Madison yesterday when I stopped by to tuck the boys into bed. I try to recall her face and the expression on it. At the time I thought maybe she was frustrated I kept showing up every night, but it wasn’t that. It was one of sadness. And then I thought, okay, well, I’m sad, so she’s probably sad too. You don’t spend eight years of your life with someone and just stop caring. I knew that much.

“Did she say anything else?”

“That Madison is probably going to come talk to you about it.” He gives me a sincere look. “I don’t think she wants it to be over.”

His words make my stomach dip and my heart pound in my ears. Part of me is angry by what he’s saying because if she didn’t want it, why’d she file for divorce? Why was nothing I did good enough these last two months?

THE DRIVE TO my dad’s house in Boulder City takes us about five hours. He owns a hotel in Vegas. Not one of the nice casinos. Think like the Pink Flamingo with trashy women and disease-infested pools. That’s not really the case, but whatever. He has a big-ass mansion in the hills, and I intend on crashing it for a couple days to clear my head.

I’m assuming by now you know my father and I don’t have the greatest relationship. And your assessment would be spot on. Now, before you meet my father, his interpretation of our relationship and mine are completely different. Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Only I’m not entirely sure who’s who because we change roles a lot.

Do you see the man who looks like he’s spent the last twenty years tanning every day? Not the woman with the leather skin beside him hacking up a lung, look to the left, around her, though their skin is fairly similar. He’s the one with a white button-down shirt with his thick chest hair sticking out. He’s also smoking a cigar and wearing board shorts. Classy huh?

That’s Mike Cooper. My father. Looks can be deceiving but in this case, what you’re thinking about him is probably pretty spot on. A man who’s spent too much time beside the pool might possibly have an STD and thinks highly of himself. If you’re thinking that, then you’d be correct.

Did you ever see the movieWeekend at Bernies? My dad is exactly like Bernie Lomax.

The woman beside him disappears inside the house and he smiles when Brantley and I make it to the door, my bag on my shoulder. “I’m glad you came. Why didn’t you bring Madison and the boys?”

“They’re at home. Callan has school.”

Brantley snorts beside me. “Uh, hello? What about me?”

“I saw you last month.”

I turn to look at Brantley. “You saw him last month?”

He shrugs, appearing guilty. “I was in town?”

“Bullshit.”

“Well, I’m glad you decided to come see your old man,” my dad says, attempting to change the subject. I’m really not surprised Brantley comes to see my dad. He’s like his hero and I’ll never understand why. Probably because they both think they’re Hugh Heffner. “It’s been too long since we’ve had guy time.”

His idea and my idea of “guy time” are completely different. Believe me.

When we’re inside, he grabs his gun from the safe. “Come on, boys. Let’s go hunt some pigs.”

See what I mean? We just got here after driving five hours, and he wants us to go hunt pigs.

“Who’s that woman?” I point to Leather Lady in the kitchen.

Dad shrugs. “My housekeeper.”

More like maid he fucks on the side. My dad has never ever been faithful to one woman. I think it’s impossible for him to remain monogamous.

Setting my bag inside, Brantley and I follow him out the door when he hands the both of us a rifle. I’ll never pull the trigger, but I won’t tell him that. “How’re the boys and Madison?”

“They’re good.” I get inside his truck and close the door while Brantley gets in the back. “Callan’s playing soccer and doing great in school. Noah runs around the house with a cape screaming he’s Wolverine. Typical shit.”

Did you notice I didn’t say anything about Madison?

My dad does too and quirks an eyebrow at me but lets it go.

“So what about you and what’s her name?” I say what’s her name because I honestly don’t know who his ex-wife was or is or if he has a new one or not. Hell, knowing him he might marry Leather Lady next week and I wouldn’t know about it until he tells me they’re getting a divorce.

“Laura?”

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