Page 22 of Pick Six
“Yeah, well I learned my lesson the hard way.”
“I don’t really want to gossip about her like a couple of teenagers, so is there a point to this?”
“Yes. I want to get our shit straight on this. Clear the air. Especially if the two of you are going to be putting on this show.”
“How she and I interact really isn’t any of your business anymore.”
“She was my wife, and you’re one of my closest friends and a client. I’m pretty sure I get a fucking opinion. Especially since I’m covering for you.”
I don’t like the hint of a threat in that statement.
“You can have an opinion. Can’t stop you from that.”
The server drops off his drink at the table and he frowns at it for a second before he speaks again.
“I’ll get to the point—I want her back. I fucked up, majorly. But I want her back, and I’m going to do everything I can to show her I’ve changed. I thought this could work in both our favors—you pretending to date her. It keeps you out of trouble, and as long as she’s dating you, she can’t be dating anyone else. That gives me time to get my act together again. Try to show her I can be better for her. Be the guy I should have been all along.”
“You had years to do that, Drew. Literal fucking years to prove to her you were the right guy while she wore your ring on her finger.”
“Yeah, well I never felt like I deserved her. I always felt like she was too good for me and—”
“So you showed her by sticking your dick where it didn’t belong?”
“I had a fucking problem. I know. But the women I slept with… weren’t her. You know? They were soft and easy, and not nearly so… everything she is. Not a force to be fucking reckoned with like her. I run multi-million-dollar accounts, and I still feel like I lived in her shadow. She’s always so fucking smart and clever. Everyone loves her and on top of that, she’s such a do-gooder. Helping with community events. Doing donation drives. Working with Violet and the rest of them to help support local initiatives and charities. I couldn’t keep up with all of that… I just wanted to sit on the couch and watch a game. Drink a beer. So yeah, I sunk to vices that made me feel better. And you know as well as I do that fucking someone who thinks you’re amazing just for existing is good for your ego.”
“What I know is fucking your wife who loved and adored you, and did anything and everything you asked for, including putting up with your fucking family and schedule and all your vices with a smile on her face should have been the only thing you were doing. I honestly can’t fucking believe you’re trying to defend this to me.”
“Because you’re so much fucking better.” There’s a bitter sarcasm in his tone.
“I don’t have a wife. Trust me, if I did—especially one like you had, I wouldn’t have a problem keeping my eyes on the only thing I cared about.”
“One like I had? Ortheone I had? You gonna finally admit you have a thing for her?”
“What I have or didn’t have is none of your business.”
“What you had was my business if it was when she and I were married.”
“It was before you were married.”
“What?” The color in his face drains.
“She wanted me first.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I met Harper before you did. Violet introduced us. I spent a whole fucking night with her.”
“You slept with my wife, and you didn’t tell me?”
“I didn’t sleep with her, and she wasn’t your wife then. I spent a night with her. We were up talking about life, dreams, and all that kinda shit. But I was hard into my one night only phase at the time, and I told her I couldn’t offer more than that. She said she deserved more. She was right.” I press my lips together, staring out the window for a minute. “When she and I figured out that the two of you were dating later, and who we were to each other, we decided it wasn’t worth saying anything. She told me she had feelings for you and didn’t want to make things weird. ‘Nothing happened between us anyway except for kissing a few times so why tell him.’ So I agreed. She seemed happy with you, and I didn’t want to fuck that up for either of you. Now I feel guilty I didn’t speak up when I had the chance. Could have saved her all your bullshit.”
“I got what you couldn’t have, and you couldn’t fucking stand it. Now it all makes sense. The way you looked at her. Why you were saying the shit you did on our wedding day. Jesus Christ that’s fucked. You know that’s fucked right?” He looks at me like I’m revolting, and then his eyes shift like he’s had an even worse revelation. “Did anything happen between you after we were together?”
“No.”
“Did you try?”
“No. I told you. I’m not a fucking asshole. I thought the two of you were in love and I respected that.”
