Page 11 of The Comeback Road
So I did. I told her all about what we talked about, how he called meStarlight—she positively swooned and screeched at that little tidbit of knowledge. Magnolia’s screech had Sloan running into the kitchen, looking every bit a hot mess.
“On that note, I’m going to head to bed, considering I have to be up in…Well, five hours now.”
I was only met with Magnolia’s laughter as Sloan scolded her for making loud noises like that outside of the bedroom. I had to choke back my gag as I made my way upstairs.
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I should have been exhausted the next morning, but instead, I didn’t even need to hit my snooze once. I felt like I was floating on cloud nine,evenwhen making my bed. I headed downstairs for breakfast, where I ran into Sloan as he held out a cup of coffee for me.
“You know, you’re a pretty good third roommate.”
He choked on his coffee. “What?”
“A good third roommate. You don’t hog the shower, you cook, you clean, and you always have my coffee ready in the morning.”
“I don’t live here.”
“Uh…You and yourdogsliving here say otherwise. See you later!”
I left a frozen, puzzled-looking Sloan in the kitchen as I left for work. I thought about texting Magnolia about the conversation,but I thought we were all on the same page—he clearly was living there. No, Magnolia hadn’t said he was.But his dogs live with us, for gosh sake! He even does our grocery shopping! He bought me tampons!
Even though I was up at my first alarm, I still somehow found myself a few minutes late for work. I had expected that Jace would be at my desk, demanding to know where I was, and felt momentarily disappointed when he wasn’t.
Frowning but trying my best to conceal it, I opened the schedule for the day, wondering if perhaps a meeting had been scheduled last-minute that I wasn’t aware of. I took a quick look. I didn’t see anything, but the blinds were closed. The lights were on and his truck was in the parking lot, so I knew he was there, but I didn’t want to intrude.
Oh, god, what if something is wrong?
I couldn’t help the coil of dread that started to pool in my gut, telling me that something wasn’tright. That I was missing something. I didn’t even feel Dexter creep up beside me, and for the second time in a matter of a few hours, I was scared half to death.
“Sorry, Lex, didn’t mean to scare ya. I was just wondering if they came out yet.”
“They? I didn’t see a meeting scheduled.”
I didn’t miss the pity on Dexter’s face, and I felt that coil of dread travel to every part of my body, from my fingertips to my toes.
“She stormed in only a few minutes before you came in.”
“Who did?” I felt the bile starting to rise in the back of my throat.
“Jess. Jace’s wife. She’s back.”
Chapter Eight
Lexie
I felt myself wince as Dexter’s admission washed over us. The silence that followed was stifling. His face held a look of worry and something else I knew all too well—pity. I felt frozen in time, unsure what to do. Part of me wanted to bang on the door and demand an answer, but we’d only gone on one date. Even if that date had felt like a promise of what was to come, a promise of the future. But the look on Dexter’s face was a warning if I ever saw one.
“Lexie…” he spoke softly this time. “Why don’t you go home?”
Go home? Why would I go home?My mind blanked at his words as warning sirens started going off. “I—uh, why? What if she’s just here to sign the papers?” I didn’t like how soft my voice sounded, but I was shocked I was able to form words at all.
Dexter shot me a look of pity once again. “Look…Jace’s relationship with Jess is…complicated. But I can tell you, she isn’t here to sign the papers.” He reached out and gave my shoulder a squeeze, but I couldn’t help but flinch at the contact as I absorbed his words. “What do you mean?” I hated that I whispered, that my voice sounded small. But I felt small. Small and confused.
Dexter sighed. “Look, it isn’t my place…” He looked around, mildly uncomfortable, and ran his hands through his hair. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I just—I felt like you deserved a warning. If she’s back, it means nothing good. Not for Jace, and unfortunately, not for you.” He kept his gaze on Jace’s door as he said those words. I suddenly found myself feeling like an outsider, like someone who shouldn’t be there, like I wasn’t welcome anymore.
I found myself shooting up, my cheeks heating at my obvious emotional outburst, willing myself not to cry.No tears, no tears, no tears,I kept repeating to myself. “Okay, Dex, I’ll go home.” I heard the crack in my voice. Saw him pale at my words, but only nod in acceptance. The entire painful encounter had lasted a good twenty minutes in between our uneasy silences and words, and if she hadn’t come out and Jace hadn’t tossed her out…well…I had an uneasy feeling that Dexter was right. Jess wasn’t there for a divorce. She was there for Jace.So, where does that leave me?
I didn’t have the desire to stick around and find out; the bubbling in my gut was telling me all I needed to know. Jace knew I’d be at the office by then, but he’d kept his door firmly shut, and I knew he hadn’t tried to message me yet that morning.Home.I needed to get home. But was it home? It was Magnolia’s house. One she shared with me and Sloan.
