Page 101 of Whiskey Chase
Scarlett stilled and glared at me. “Devlin McCallister, if you even think for one second of getting back together with that frosty, pearl-wearing beanpole, I will hold you down, shave your head, and... and...”
She was so mad she couldn’t even string together an insult.
“I’m not getting back together with her, Scarlett. I’m with you.” I probably should have chosen a less exasperated tone because she was now snarling into the carpet.
“Where’s your self-respect, man?” Gibson demanded.
“Fuck self-respect. Where’s his survival instinct?” Bowie wondered.
I shoved my hands into my hair. “I don’t even know what’s happening. Why is everyone mad at me?”
“Because you’re an idiot,” the Bodine men said together.
“I’m letting her up,” Gibson decided. “He needs some sense knocked into him.”
He slid off of Scarlett, and she jumped to her feet. “What the hell is wrong with you?” she demanded, shoving her finger in my face.
“I’m not really sure. Maybe you could help me figure it out?” I suggested.
She let out a groan of frustration and took the throw pillow off the couch and hurled it into the kitchen.
“On that note...” Jameson headed for the door.
“Why don’t we take the steaks and eat them anywhere but here,” Jonah suggested.
“Good luck,” Bowie said, clapping a hand on my back.
They disappeared through the trampled screen door, leaving me and the seething Scarlett alone.
39
Scarlett
“Why are you so mad?”
Devlin’s stupid question pissed me off even more.
“I walk in and find you and your ex-wife talking about giving it another try. And you ask me why I’m mad?” I shrieked. The pitch hurt my own ears.
“Shewas talking about reconciling.Iwas not!”
“I didn’t hear a resounding ‘oh, hell no’ from your mouth,” I shot back.
He sank weakly into the plaid wingback chair and rubbed his hands over his face. “Scarlett, I’m a little overwhelmed right now.”
“Do you want to get back together with Johanna?” I asked calmly, quietly.
“No! I don’t. That’s not an option or a possibility or something I’d ever want to revisit no matter what.”
I thrust my arms into the air. “Then why in the everlasting hell didn’t yousay so?”
He frowned, confused. “I was trying to explain to her—”
I cut him off with a wave of my hand. “Devlin, I understand that seeing her was a shock, and I get that you’re required to be professionally courteous in most situations, but that woman lied, cheated, and deceived you and then decided you should take her back.”
“Wait,” he said, holding up his hands. “You’re not mad because she showed up here—uninvited, I might add?”
I looked up at the ceiling and prayed for patience. The etiquette was bred bone deep in this man. “No! Who could blame her? You’re a fucking catch, and she’s only just now realizing what a stupid disaster she’s made of her life because she got greedy! I’m mad because you felt like you needed to break the news to her so gently she still thought she had a chance!”
