38. Kaitlyn
THIRTY-EIGHT
Kaitlyn
THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN.
There’s no way that happened. I did not just see my ex-husband in a Boston bar, six years after I ran out on him and disappeared without so much as an explanation.
And there’s no way in hell that he actually works there. Why would a multi-billionaire be working in a college bar, for Christ’s sake? That makes absolutely no sense.
None at all.
Zero.
Even less sense than Went wanting to marry you in the first place.
Managing to find a small table near the pool tables, I planted roots while Jill and the rest of my former co-workers melted into the crowd and disappeared without so much as a We’re going to the bar—want anything?. Instead of feeling used because they obviously invited me along because of who I work for now and I was the best chance they had of getting through the door, I feel relieved. Even an hour fielding their questions about Conner and comments about what a nightmare it must be to work for Ryan would’ve been entirely too much. Like they’d believe or even understand that a sexual relationship with Conner was never the goal and that the last few months of working as Ryan’s private nurse—while frustrating at times—has been the happiest I’ve been for a long time. I’d much rather sit here quietly and nurse my beer while helping Tess fill Grace’s tub with ice.
“Where’d your friends go?” Tess asks. It’s just us for the moment, Grace and Logan heading for the back office to pull cases of beer up from the basement.
Giving her a shrug, I pick up a bag of ice. “Gone,” I say, giving her a wry smile before dumping the bag of ice into Grace’s tub. “I served my purpose.”
When I look back up, Tess is scowling at me. “You want me to find them and kick them out?”
Laughing, I pick up another bag of ice and rip it open. “Conner told me once that I needed to find better friends,” I tell her, handing her the open bag of ice when she gestures for it. “I guess I should’ve listened.”
“You did listen,” Tess tells me, matter of factly, while she dumps the ice into the other side of the tub. “You found us.”
Because I don’t know what to say to that and even if I did, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t actually say it without bursting into tears, I don’t say anything at all. Instead, I spend the next forty-five minutes with Grace and Tess while Grace sold longnecks and Tess hustled a couple of finance bros out of their Christmas bonus at the pool tables. It was probably the most fun I’ve had in years until Declan shows up.
“It’s almost midnight, Tiny,” Declan says before leaning down to kiss Tess on the forehead. “I need you back on the door and I need your dickhead ex back on the floor.”
“ Dickhead ex ?” The corner of Tess’s mouth twitches a bit when she says it. “You know he used to call you the same thing, right?”
“I don’t give a fuck what he calls me,” Declan says with a laugh. “As long as he does his job and remembers, that unlike me, he’s still your ex.”
“No meet to get jealous, baby.” Tess lifts herself onto the toes of her boots to press her lips against the underside of Declan’s jaw. “You’re the only dickhead for me.”
“Better be,” Declan growls at her before dropping a quick, hard kiss on her mouth. “If you need anything at the door?—”
“No worries,” Tess reaches into her back pocket and pulls out a crescent wrench almost as big as her forearm. “I’ve got back-up.”
“Jesus.” He barks it out on a laugh as he backs away from her. “The fact that you haven’t caught assault charges by now is beyond me.” Without waiting for her reply, Declan pushes himself deeper into the crowd while Tess looks at me and laughs. “Like some cheesedick frat boy wants to admit he got his ass handed to him by a hundred-pound girl.” Shoving her wrench back into her pocket, Tess tells Grace she’ll be back to check on her when she can before heading for the front of the bar. Telling Grace I’m going to the bathroom and I’ll be right back, I follow after her.
Finally managing to fight my way across the crowded bar, I cue up in line outside the ladies’ room. Pulling out my phone, I shoot Ryan a quick text.
Me: How’s it going ?
Ryan texts me back almost immediately. A picture pops up of Molly and Mookie passed out on the couch, surrounded by a sea of buttered popcorn.
Ryan: Don’t worry about Mook until morning. He’s good here.
Laughing, I send a reply.
Me: Okay. I’ll be home soon.
Ryan: I’d rather you just wait and walk home with Grace.
Because I don’t want to argue with him, I don’t answer. Shoving my phone into my back pocket on a sigh, I settle in to patiently wait my turn to use the bathroom while the girls behind me chatter and gossip about people I’ve never heard of.
Did you hear about McKayla? Tanner caught her in the bathroom at the Kappa house with Justin Babbit.
I was there. It wasn’t just Justin—it was Justin and Ian.
I hooked up with Ian over spring break—I get it. I’d risk it all for a piece of that too.
Holy shit. Don’t look but that hot as fuck bouncer is standing about ten feet away and looking right at us.
Which one? They’re both hot as fuck.
The tattooed one at the door—the one who was flirting with you earlier.
Oh my god—are you serious?
Curiosity getting the better of me because I know that the hot as fuck bouncer without tattoos is undoubtedly Declan, so that would mean that the one with tattoos must be the ex he and Tess were talking about, I toss what I hope to god looks like a casual glance over my shoulder to sneak a peek?—
And there he is, staring back at me.
Went.
As soon as we locked eyes, I watched his dark, straight brows slam down over his devil back gaze and his mouth open like he was about to say something but before he could make a sound, a fight broke out to his immediate left—some guy threw a beer bottle and hit another guy in the face—Went turning away from me and toward the commotion, only when a woman, caught in the middle, screams.
While everyone who was in the line behind me gathered around to watch, I somehow managed to uproot my feet from the floor and run, sliding and weaving my way through the crowd. When I got to the door, I didn’t even look at Tess. I just pushed my way past her with a see you later and kept moving. Didn’t stop until I was home.
That was nearly three hours ago and I’ve been working at convincing myself that it was just wishful thinking or maybe just full-blown craziness. After years of looking and searching for a glimpse of Went, I finally lost my shit and started hallucinating him. I nearly convinced myself that I was crazy but then Grace texted me and ruined everything.
Grace: hey—did you leave? Is everything okay?
Me: Yeah, everything’s fine. I started feeling a little claustrophobic and wanted to get out of there before the real craziness started. I’m already home.
Grace: LOL – don’t tell Ryan. He already texted me to tell me that I’m supposed to make Went walk you home too.
Went is the co-worker that walks Grace home from work.
He’s also Tess’s ex-boyfriend.
Heart flopping around in my chest, I tap out a reply with shaky fingers.
Me: I won’t tell him if you won’t.
Grace: LOL – deal.
Grace: It’s not too late to come back. Patrick called last call about an hour ago. Tess is hungry so some of us are heading to Benny’s for breakfast. I can ask Went to come get you.
Me: I appreciate the offer but I’m already in bed. See you tomorrow.
Hands still shaking, I just stand here, in the middle of my apartment, unsure of what to do next.
Shower and go to bed.
Go get Mookie even though Ryan said he’d keep him until morning and bring him home.
Run away.
You’ve done enough running, don’t you think?
Yes, I suppose I have.
Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I snag my car keys off the coffee table and walk out the door.