Chapter 22 #2
Holden pursed his lips. “I think he’s mad that I gave Juliette legal advice,” he said, no guilt, no apology.
“On how to divorce me,” I huffed.
“What?” A vein in Dad’s forehead tried to explode. “Holden? Why would you do that?”
“Because she asked me to.” Holden shrugged like he didn’t know what the big deal was. “I didn’t file for her. I simply told her the basics.”
I glared at him.
He cocked his head. “I also hoped that if she told him she was thinking of getting a divorce, it would light a fire under him. And look—” he gestured at me, “—he’s here. You’re welcome.”
I slow-clapped. “Your little scheme worked. Too well. Because yes, I’m here. But my wife actually filed for divorce. So thanks for that.”
Holden blinked.
“It’s not Holden’s fault Jules wants to divorce you,” Ashton said. “You know that, right?”
“Oh-kay.” My nostrils flared. “I officially strip you of the title Funcle. It now belongs to Blue.”
Ashton muttered something under his breath. But Blue did a small touchdown dance. Technically, he was my cousin by marriage slash brother-in-law. But I was out of uncles, so he’d have to do.
“So Jules wants a divorce,” Ford said simply. “What’re you gonna do about it?”
They all perked up, mouths twitching to fire off advice they’d been saving up since I left.
I held up a hand. “I’m gonna stop you right there.
This—” I pointed to them one by one, “—is not an intervention.” They all went wide-eyed and innocent.
Dad included. “Yeah. That’s right,” I said.
“I know how this family works—meddling and conniving and then acting shocked when it goes your way.” I cut my eyes at Ford.
“I mean, it’s worked every time so far,” he said.
My fingers flexed. “Well, I don’t need the come-to-Jesus y’all think you’re about to give me. The complaint for divorce I was served—at work, no less—did the job. I know where I went wrong, and I’ve already hit reverse.”
“Good for you.” Dad clapped my shoulder. “But maybe since we’re older and we’ve lived more life—”
“No, thank you.” I shook my head. “I know how to win my wife back.” Total lie.
I knew nothing except that I was going to figure it out.
Giving up Jules was not an option. “So you can spare me the lecture. Also, before you ask…” I folded my arms across my chest and raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not telling you my plan because it’s nunya. ”
Bowen chuckled, but everyone else looked confused.
Everyone but Blue. He snapped his fingers. “I know this one. My kids say it all the time. Nunya. As in ‘nunya bidness.’ As in keep your nose out of it.”
I pointed at him. “Exactly. I think my marriage has had just about enough help from certain people in this family, and I will be taking it from here.” I glanced around the room. “Now where’s Jules?” It was seven a.m. on a Saturday, and I knew she liked to sleep in. “Is she staying in my old room?”
Dad rubbed the back of his neck. “No. Willow’s in there.” But he said nothing else.
I threw up my hands. “Well, where is she? She’s obviously not staying in here right now.”
Ford’s chuckle came out wrong.
Bowen found the ceiling extremely interesting all of a sudden.
“Dad?” Did Jules have a boyfriend? Had she moved in with him?
Chill the freak out!
Ashton shrugged. “She’s staying with Theo. He had a spare room since James moved back in with your parents, and he needed the rent money.”
The relief of knowing she hadn’t shacked up with some Seddledowne loser only lasted a split second before the anger of learning she’d shacked up with Theo kicked in.
“Are you kid-ding me?” My voice cracked. “How long has my wife been living with Theo?”
Ford’s eyebrow cocked like he thought I’d lost it. “The entire time you’ve been gone, dimwit.”
“What?” I roared. I turned on Dad and Bowen. “You let me think she’s been living here this whole time.”
Bowen held his hands up by his head as if absolving himself from all wrongdoing. “It’s nunma. I don’t get up in your love life, bro.”
That was probably wise. Fine, I’d let him slide.
“Dad?” I asked.
“She didn’t exactly give us a choice, son,” he said in the same tone he used to gentle a horse. “She knew if you found out, you’d get on a plane and fly straight back here. She said if that happened, she’d leave.”
I sucked in a breath. She hated me so much that she’d adios if she knew I was coming? I knew I’d hurt her when I left, but she couldn’t see my side at all?
Holden’s brows raised. “I think if you’re wise, you’ll calm down before you go tearing into Theo or Jules.”
He was right, not that I’d tell him so. Losing my crap would only prove that I wasn’t husband material, and I didn’t need to incriminate myself any further.
“Where’s Cash?” I asked. He’d talk me down.
Ford leaned to look around me, searching for my best friend. Then he swore. “I didn’t even realize he’d snuck off. That little—”
“Watch your language,” Gramps said, voice firm. “Don’t make me smack you on the back of the head like Granny.”
“He needs to get back here and help,” Ford snapped.
Bowen laughed. “He’s probably up at the house making out with Charlie again.”
“Making out?” Holden chuckled. “I think they’re doing way more than making out.”
“Stop,” Ashton ordered. “Stop right there.”
“Cash is a grown, married man.” I looked Ford right in his meddlesome eyes.
“A smart man who makes his own choices.” I tapped my temple.
“Especially when it comes to his marriage. And he doesn’t need your permission to do the hippity dippity with his wife.
You gotta stop treating him like a teenager and let him live his own life. ” I hoped he caught the double meaning.
I turned to walk over to hug James, who was so engrossed in either his work or his worries that he still hadn’t noticed I was here.
“Are you gonna let him talk to me like that?” I heard Ford say to my dad.
I slowed, wanting to hear how this panned out.
“I mean, he has a reason to be upset,” Dad said. “This is mostly your fault. And Holden’s.”
“Hey!” Holden shouted.
I grinned.
The others chuckled.
“No loyalty whatsoever,” Ford grumbled.
“Sorry to burst your bubble, bro,” Dad said, “But you got bumped further down my loyalty list every time Clem gave birth.”
“Seriously?” Ford said.
“He’s my offspring,” Dad shot back, like use your head.
“More like your evil spawn,” Ford grumbled.
“M’kay,” Dad said, signaling it was over.
James’s head snapped up when I was five feet away. With no smile, no joy, just that permanent grief behind his eyes, he opened his arms. He, Willow, and I shared a three-way hug.
“Griff,” he whispered. “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.”
Okay, add insensitive, selfish, unfeeling, World’s Worst Brother to the list, right behind Top-Tier Terrible Husband.
“I missed you, too,” I said. “A lot.”