Chapter 44
DEX
“Where is she?” I asked, storming into Mav’s huge house and out the open back patio doors. Scout barked and circled my legs. Absently, I gave him a pet and glared at my brothers, the two that I didn’t expect. “What are you doing here?”
Theo and Silas.
Theo was still around, obviously, but Silas had shown up, too. Great.
They were on the outdoor couches, drinks in hand. Dirty dishes were strewn across the glass coffee table in the center. The scent of grilled meat lingered on the air. This place had an amazing view of the entire valley, and they were enjoying it.
“What are you doing here?” Silas countered. “I thought you were in Vegas.”
“With my sister,” Bridget added, sitting up out of Mav’s hold.
I looked around. No Lindy. Unless she was in the house…
“Is she here?” I ran a hand through my hair and turned toward the door.
“No. What happened?” Mav asked, and I spun back around.
“Is she okay?” Bridget added, looking worried.
“Why are you wearing a wedding ring?” Silas put in.
“Lindy and I got married.”
“What?” Bridget practically screeched. Birds startled and flew off.
Theo laughed, which I didn’t even know was possible these days.
“Then where’s your wife?” Mav wondered, his voice low.
“I don’t know! We had a fight and she ran off.” I began to pace.
“You left her in Vegas?” Silas asked, eyes wide.
I set my hands on my hips. “Of course not, you fucker. She stormed out of our suite. All she took was her purse and I texted her like a stalker. After a few hours, she never answered. I called Bradley because well, he takes care of fucking everything. Eventually, he confirmed she got a commercial flight back to Missoula and was already halfway to Salt Lake.” I had no idea how he had access to flight records, but I got the info I wanted and didn’t really give a shit. “I finally took the jet back.”
Bridget was on her phone, hopefully texting Lindy to find out where the fuck she was.
“You already got in a fight? Nice going, dumbass,” Silas added.
“Why the fuck are you here?” I countered.
“Because Theo told me the shit that was going down and I had to see it for myself.” He turned to Theo who was sitting next to him. They fist bumped. “You’re right, this place is better than any of those reality shows.”
“Why are you married?” Mav asked.
“Um… because I love her.”
“And she loves you back?” Bridget winced. “Sorry. I… I’m just surprised.” She popped to her feet and came over and hugged me. “I’m happy for you.”
I didn’t hug her back because there was nothing to celebrate.
“Don’t be. It was a drunk mistake.”
“You love her, and you think it’s a mistake?” Mav asked.
I shook my head. “No, not me. Lindy. I’m a fling. I’m not Mr. Right.”
Bridget stepped back and studied me. “You’re Mr. Right Now.”
I blinked at her. “What?”
“You’re only here temporarily, Dex.”
“Why does everyone keep telling me that?” I shouted.
Mav took Bridget’s hand and tugged her back and onto his lap.
I began to pace some more.
“Yes, I’m not living in Hunter Valley. I have a job, a career that keeps me from that. I travel. A lot.”
“The Silvermines is pretty much your wife, Dex,” Theo said. “You know this.”
“I want Lindy as my wife!” I tugged on my hair.
“You can’t have both,” he added.
I spun about, glared. “Why the hell not? At least half the players on the team are married. A bunch more have girlfriends. They make it work. Why not me?”
“Because you can’t give the woman you actually want everything she needs,” Silas added. All earlier kidding was gone. He was dead serious.
“I’ll give her anything,” I said, dropping into a chair, propping my elbows on my knees and holding my head.
Everyone was quiet for a minute. “You can’t. You literally, and legally, can’t. Not with the Silvermines. Maybe in a few years after you retire. Maybe. The only thing you can give her now, Dex,” Bridget said, her voice soft and cautious, “is a divorce so she can find Mr. Right.”
I had enough money to give Lindy anything she wanted. Anything. A plane. A small island. Except the man she deserved.