Page 73 of Best Kept Vows

“Anyway, so my friend, let’s call her Marcy, yeah?”

I gave him my best withering look, learned from the queen of such looks, Dolly Boone.

He let out a slow, soft laugh. “Anyway, Marcy is doing her thing, raising the kids, running around. And her husband, let’s call him Mark, yeah? Anyway, Mark is working like a dog, climbing the ladder, and all that jazz."

Javier slid the popcorn between us. I popped one into my mouth just to shut the hell up because I wanted to tell Lev to either get to the point or fuck off.

We weren’t friends. Hell, this was the first time I was meeting the guy.

“Marcy is tired all the time. Mark is tired all the time. They’re in what one calls the rut of marriage.” He raised a hand then. “I wouldn’t know. I’m not married and don’t intend to fall into the institution.ButMarcy is a friend, and she told me, and I trust her to know her marital stuff.”

I ate some more popcorn, trying hard not to seethe.

“One day, Marcy is at Whole Foods, shopping, and she meets one of her kids’ friend’s dad. He’s a single guy. They get talking, and he tells her,gosh, you’re so beautiful.” Lev grinned when Javier set a plate of truffle fries between us. Lev took his time chewing one, and then took some more time wiping his hands on a napkin.

“No one’s told Marcy she’s beautiful in a long time—especially not Mark. He’s always tired, you know, too fuckin’ worn out to notice.” Lev’s voice shifted from playful to serious. “Then along comes Single Dad. He notices. He pays attention. He tells Marcy she looks great in that new dress or that her haircut suits her. You think Mark’s saying that to her? Not a chance.”

“I get your point.” I gave him a carefully neutral lookand tried not to grind my teeth as I wanted to. “But like you said, you don’t know shit about being married.”

“True,” he admitted and then chewed on a fry thoughtfully. “But the thing is, I can see this stuff better because I am on the other side, you know?”

“Idon’tknow.” I was being rude but so was this guy, making sweeping judgments about my marriage and this Marcy woman’s as well.

“I’m like the Single Dad. Not that Iama single dad, but you get the point.”

I shot him a glare brimming with frustration. He was a long-winded asshole, but he had a point. I didn’t remember the last time I told Lia she was beautiful. I did remember the last time she told me I looked handsome. It was for some work event. I was wearing a tux. I was rushing out the door and didn’t even thank her for it.

This single son of a bitch had a point.

“So, what happened to Marcy and Mark?”

“I got no clue, man. I made that shit up.” Lev raised his hands, palms up. “But it’s an oft-heard story in long-term relationships. Now, I’m not married, but I did haveonelong-term relationship, which lasted six years. I was too busy studying and then taking over the business from my father—now she’s married to my best friend, who isstillmy best friend, and has two kids, and he tells her she’s beautiful every fucking day. You feel me?”

I sent him a sideways glance that could’ve lit a fuse. “Yeah. You’re subtle as a fucking sledgehammer.”

“Audrey is a catch.”

I stared at him. “Audrey is the name of your ex?”

Lev grinned mischievously at me. “Audrey is what I callyourwife.”

Now, I gritted my teeth.

“Your wife is gorgeousandfun. She’s charming. Now, if she were single….” He gave a low whistle. “I’d be all over her.”

“She’swayolder than you.”

“That’s what she said! But look at me. Do I look like I give a shit?

I gave him a dry once-over, not bothering to hide my irritation.

“She’s sad. I saw it the minute I met her. She’s sad that she’s away from her husband. She’s sad that she’s happy about living alone. She’s sad that she loves her job. Fuckin’ hell, man, she’s living her best life, and she’s moping around because she thinks she owes your sorry ass something.”

“You hardly know her,” I growled.

“True. But I know women, and that woman is….” He made a chef’s kiss gesture. “I respect marriage…other people’s marriages, that is. My father fucks around on my mother, and she’s high on whatever gets her through it.”

“Lia and my marriage are our personal business.” I knew I was a little late in handing this decree out since he’d been yapping away about my wife to me.

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