Chapter 41
Cori
“It’s like stealing candy from a big, stupid baby.” I look around Seven Heaven, but no one is paying attention to us.
Selene reaches across the table and gives me a high-five, but Eden shakes her head in disapproval.
“That’s what that idiot deserves.” Selene nods at my plan.
“So, you’re playing nice so you can get him to fall in love with you?” Eden asks.
“Yes, and it’s so easy. The other night, he had Ruby.
” Both my friends' brows crease together in confusion. “He likes babies,” I offer as an explanation. “And it took all my willpower not to go off on him. This fool knows when it comes to Devin, I don’t do him no favors. I bit my tongue and didn’t say anything, but I didn’t lift a finger to help.
He was so frazzled by morning that he dropped her off, came home, and dragged me into bed.
” I leave out the part about his connection to Ms. Hazel.
“You’ll never guess what else I found out. ”
I shove a piece of bacon in my mouth.
“What?” Selene asks.
“He got into medical school. He was supposed to go to UCLA.” I gesture for them to come closer. “I looked it up, and it’s the eighth-best medical school in the country.”
“Eighth?” Selene asks. “See, if he wasn’t a dummy, he would have gone to the first.”
“Girl.” Eden balls up her napkin and tosses it at Selene, who dodges.
“Okay. Whatever. It’s impressive,” my cousin concedes. “But don’t you dare tell him I said that.”
“How on earth did he end up with Ruby?” Eden wants to know.
“No idea. My guess is Devin asked him to watch her because he knows Dax has a soft spot for her. I know his ass barely slept. She kept me up, too, but I pretended to be asleep.”
“And what happened when you got in bed after he dropped Ruby off?”
“Eden, you’re a married woman. Everything that comes naturally happened.” I throw both my hands up and do a slow grind at the table. Both girls cackle. “I have zero complaints about the man’s dick.”
“Then what happened?” Eden asks.
“He made us breakfast in bed. We talked. It was raining, so we spent the day fucking and napping. We finally got up in the early evening, and I made us dinner.”
“I hope he choked. And do you know if he’s allergic to anything? You can put it in the food and pretend you didn’t know.”
“Selene!” Eden admonishes. “Are you nuts?” Eden’s head whips around to look at me. “Don’t do that. Allergies are serious.”
“I don’t want to kill the psycho. Only make him suffer, and I think a broken heart is the best pain. Remember in the ninth grade when Jalen dumped me? I couldn’t get out of bed.” I look around the table while I wait for them to remember the pain I once endured.
“Girl, please.” Eden waves her hand around. “You were depressed for half a day, then my grandma gave me some money, and I took us out to lunch. After you inhaled a burger and slurped down that vanilla shake, you were over that loser.”
“Okay, well, it won’t be that easy for Mr. Hunt. I will break him.” I take my straw out of my water and bend it in half.
“And when you’re doing all of this, what is he doing?” Eden asks.
“Being thirsty,” Selene answers on my behalf.
“We already know his ass is thirsty, but I want to hear what he’s doing behind closed doors.” Eden looks at her watch and gestures for me to continue.
“Listen, if the man wasn’t a manipulative ass who blackmailed me into a marriage I didn’t want, I would like him. We—”
“Didn’t want?” Eden probes. “Does that mean you want it now?”
I clear my throat. “Hell to the no.” I shake my head at the thought.
“As I was saying, we probably would have been a couple. I’ll admit, he can be very sweet and romantic.
Even though I gave him a lot of attitude, he never reciprocated.
If that baby belonged to anyone but my brother, I would love how he is with her, but I’m not about to open the door for Devin to dump his child on me.
” I brush my bangs to the side. “I digress.” I wave my hand around in dismissal. “I guess he aight.”
“Well, while he’s being aight.” Eden does her best to mimic my voice. “Make sure your ass doesn’t fall in love with him.”
I pretend to clutch my pearls. “He would be so lucky.”
“Yeah, he would,” Selene raises her water glass.
“Oh, and guess what else? He keeps insisting I go to fashion school to get my credentials. He says I’m talented, and I shouldn’t give the haters the opportunity to say I’m untrained.” I cackle, but those words hit home. I’ve had the same thoughts, but he’s the first person to voice them.
“He’s correct,” Eden agrees. “Remember what happened to me? Things ended with my ex. I had to come back home to start over. You know what I had? My degree and my license to practice physical therapy. Yes, I had a setback, but I also had my education.” Eden takes my hands.
“And did you hear what you just said? The man is pushing you to get an education. He’s not telling you that you don’t need it.
That kinda sounds like good partner material to me.
” I try to pull my hands from hers, but she holds on. “Do you think he meant it?”
Eden’s words are soft, almost soothing.
“Yes,” I reluctantly admit. “But all that shit he did—”
Eden holds up a hand, and I shut up.
“It’s unconventional. I won’t defend it, but you’re married now.
Stop pretending to make it work and make it work, girl.
Everything that you wanted that slipped through your fingers is back on the table.
Stop playing games, Cori. But real talk.
You ready?” I sit up and brace myself for what Eden will say next.
“Okay. Real talk.”
“It was a bribe, which means you could have said no and walked. You made the choice to marry him.” I open my mouth to answer, but Eden speaks first. “Don’t you dare bullshit me,” she warns. “You could have told him to take his bribe and shove it.”
“I couldn’t let my mother stay in that chair,” is all I can say in my defense.
“You could have, or you could have appealed the insurance company’s decision.
You could have asked Sam Armstrong to sue them.
You could have told Daxton Hunt to kiss your brown behind, but you chose to marry him.
” I look down at the table and remain quiet.
“Same situation, but he’s five feet tall with a lazy eye, body odor, halitosis, and six missing teeth. ” I gasp. “Front teeth,” she clarifies.
“Oh, hell no.” Selene almost coughs from her laughter.
“Fuck no,” I agree. “You think I’m gonna be with a man with stank breath?” I put a hand to my throat and make a gagging sound.
“Breff,” Selene clarifies. “If it’s stank, it’s breff, not breath.”
“So, a bribe is okay because he’s tall and sexy?” Eden ignores Selene’s nonsense, but I can’t help but laugh at my cousin. “Don’t you dare tell my husband I said that.”
“He has to pay. He forced Cori to marry him,” Selene adds, but Eden’s words strike a chord. Bribe marriage aside, no one has ever treated me like Daxton Hunt.
“Cori seems pretty happy to me, Selene.” I drop my smile and scowl. “Oh, stop that.” Eden waves her hand. “Your ass is happy.”
“Well, only because my plan for revenge is working.”
“That’s complete bullshit. Look, I’m not one for revenge.
I think it’s best to move on and live your best life, but we already kicked his ass on your behalf.
” Eden gestures to herself and Selene. “There’s still time for you to drop this plan.
Just be, Cori. Take Dax up on his offer to go to school.
Let him be your husband without these games. You’re better than that.”
The phone buzzing is a nice distraction. After leaving lunch, I returned to an empty house and closed myself off in my sewing room, which is almost as big as the house I grew up in.
My grandmother’s sewing machine sits in the corner, but it’s the soothing whirring of the Bernina that my new husband bought me that brings me contentment today. But my lower back aches, so I move away from the machine and answer the phone.
“Hi, Mom.” My voice catches, and I feel a sudden bout of guilt for resenting my mother a little bit. I push that aside.
“I’m coming home tomorrow, baby.” I can hear the relief and excitement in her voice. “And I stood for forty-three seconds today. I could have done more, but I’m supposed to take it slow.”
A stray tear rolls down my cheek, and I quickly swipe it away.
“That’s wonderful. I can’t wait to see you. I’ll come to the house and make dinner.” I’d invite them here, but I’m sure Mom will be too tired from her trip.
“How are you, baby? How are things with Dax? I’m sorry I haven’t called to check up on you before—”
“Mom, you just had major surgery. Don’t worry about me, but things have been fine.” I don’t give her more than that. I know she probably wants details, but the last thing I want is to tell her how good he’s been, only for this to end in a few months.
Only it doesn’t have to end.
If I decide to leave him, I’ll need to have a backup plan before the divorce is final. I’ve changed my mind about Shadow Cove. My life and best friends are here. This is also where I want to open my business. The problem is, my husband seems to own the entire town.
“He’s been good to you?” She lowers her voice, and I sense a bit of trepidation. Part of me wants to lie and tell her he’s terrible. I know she’ll tell my dad, and he’ll feel awful, but I can’t find it in me to tell that tale.
“Yes, he has.” Mom audibly exhales.
“I’m so glad, and I’m so thankful to you for bringing him into our lives. The doctor is pleased with my progress, but I’m anxious to get home. I miss my kids and Ruby.”
I don’t speak for my brother or Ruby, but I say, “I miss you, too. Can’t wait to see you when you get home.”