Chapter 17 #2
“I’m playing golf in Greenport with some clients, so I figured I’d do you a favor,” he said, with a smug tone, looking past her and into the house. “I’ve tried to call you several times. It’s not my fault you didn’t answer or call me back.”
“I did call you back,” she hit back, wanting to bite her knuckles.
“You should have left a voicemail.” She was still bitter with him for hiding Lil’s deed.
Who does that? Especially when you’re a serial cheater who clearly doesn’t want to be married.
Yet another way he tried to control her.
She wasn’t sure what had prompted him to do it; she guessed that he didn’t want to lose the comfort of having Dahlia take care of him.
He was oddly dependent on her as a wife and mother to Daisy.
But that was where it ended. One can only take feeling invisible for so long.
Toward the end, she’d felt like she was dying a slow death in this off-kilter, one-sided relationship.
“I shouldn’t have to.”
What had she ever seen in this entitled, arrogant man? “Well, I surely would have called you right back if you did,” she said with a blasé tone.
“What have you been doing out here the past few weeks?” He stepped back, scanning the exterior. “Doesn’t look much different than it did before.”
“Thanks. The papers?” Dahlia felt her eyes narrow. Although this was an inconvenience, at least it saved her a trip to town to print. She had never been more eager to sign the damn things.
“They’re all signed. They just need your signature.” He handed her the large manila envelope. “This has been the longest fifteen years of my life.”
Dahlia rolled her eyes. He had no idea how long those years had really been. She took them from his grip, hearing footsteps from inside draw closer.
Noah stepped onto the porch—shirtless and damp—with Harry. “Everything okay out here?”
Dahlia did a double-take as Harry started to bark at Spence. Her first instinct was to make herself smaller and explain. But instead, she stood taller and said in a firm tone, “Harry, come.”
“Got it. Now I know what you’ve been up to.
Well, that didn’t take long.” Spence eyed Noah up and down and puffed out his chest, trying his best to claim the alpha title.
“Real classy. And robbing the cradle, I see. My family was right about you all along. I did marry beneath me,” he said, staring at Noah’s shoulder. “Nice tat.”
Dahlia shuddered at his condescending tone out of habit. She prayed he didn’t mention Daisy. The last thing she wanted was for Noah to find out this way.
“Come on, man, don’t belittle her. If you have something to say, say it to me,” Noah said.
He was standing up for her. Dahlia’s heart swelled. No one but Lil had ever done that for her. But she knew, too, that she needed to do it herself.
“That’s rich coming from a serial cheater.” Her hand landed on her hip as she inched closer. “What I do on my time is none of your business. And as far as your family is concerned, I may not have your status, but I sure as hell have a heart and a conscience.” There—that felt good.
Noah nodded once. “I think you need to go, bro.”
Spence stood there blinking. Rarely did anyone challenge him. Dahlia’s insides swirled like a cotton candy machine. In all the years she was stuck with Spence, he was seldom without words.
“You can have her, man. Good luck opening that steel door. I’m done,” Spence said, walking to his car as Harry chased him, nipping his golf pants. “Back off, Harry!”
Dahlia was the only person who didn’t put Spence on a pedestal, which had irked him fiercely from the start.
But really, he lacked confidence in himself because everything was handed to him on a silver platter.
Inside, he was an insecure little boy, still under the influence of his parents—and on their bankroll too.
“That dog hates him with a passion.” Dahlia laughed.
“I can see why. He’s a pompous prick.” Noah huffed, folding his arms.
“We should have stayed in the shower,” Dahlia said, hooking her finger through the loop of his jeans.
“He would have found a way in. Plus, now you have the papers.” Noah wrapped his burly arms around her. And even his armpits smelled good. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I’m just a little shocked he showed up unannounced. He’s the last person I’d want you to meet.” She pulled back wide-eyed. “Did he scare you off?”
“No. D, I told you, nothing could.” He reassured her, hugging her again. At that moment, she wanted to tell him everything. About Daisy, what her life was like as a single mother, and how hard some days, weeks, and even months were. But this seemed like enough for one day.
“I do have a question, though.” His eyes met hers. “How long were you together?”
“Too long.” In his gaze, she knew he wanted more of an answer. “Fifteen years.” It might as well have been one hundred because when you’re that miserable, every day seems like an eternity.
His breath hitched. “That’s a long time.”
“This may sound horrible, but I never loved him.”
Every muscle in her body froze, knowing what question would come next. He had to be wondering if they had kids. Then again, if she did, they’d most likely be with her. That question didn’t follow, but another one did.
“I don’t get it,” Noah said, leaning against the porch railing. For the first time, he seemed annoyed with her, and that knocked the wind out of her sail. “Then why did you marry him?”
And there it was, a segue to tell him about Daisy.
She took in a long breath and exhaled. “I mean, he wasn’t always an asshole,” she grumbled, chickening out again.
“But even through the better years, I still didn’t have the feelings a wife should have.
You must think I’m horrible. And if you’re wondering if I married him for his money, I didn’t.
That isn’t who I am.” She met his eyes that weren’t as bright as they typically were and said, “Not loving him meant I couldn’t get hurt, I suppose.
After my parents died, it was the only way to keep my heart safe. ”
The silence was deafening. He stood motionless. She could feel her veins pulsing beneath her skin. All she could do was wait for a response and hope he believed her. “And what about now?” he asked.
“My heart is wide open.” She inched closer in a sincere plea. If she got hurt again, then so be it. “I’m too happy to be worried about what might or might not happen. For the first time, I’m living in the moment. And it feels damn good.” She reassured him with a smile.
“I’m happy too.” He tucked a honey lock of hair behind her ear.
“You are?” she asked with a peaked voice. “Noah, you’re the only one I care about.” She couldn’t believe she was telling him all this. It was either the craziest or bravest thing she could do.
He reached for her hand, walking them through the doorway into the hallway. Dahlia felt her chest expand and her eyes glaze over. It hit her like a tidal wave. It was over, really over.
“You okay?” he asked again, like it was his duty.
“Yeah, couldn’t be better,” she said, collecting her thoughts. “I’m free.” She wanted to scream it from Lil’s sleeping porch. “Well, almost.” With that, she marched into the kitchen and came back with a pen. “It’s about time this became official.”
“I can leave,” Noah said, rubbing his chin, now covered in a light dusting of scruff since he hadn’t shaved.
“No, stay. This will only take a minute.” Dahlia pulled out the stack of papers and placed them on Lil’s coffee table.
She eagerly flipped through, signing her name on every page with the pink sticky arrow.
When she was done, she slipped the divorce papers into a large prepaid envelope and set it aside as if this were an ordinary task.
“Where were we?” She stood. “This calls for a celebration.” She opened her robe and closed the space between them. She pressed her bare chest against his, feeling their heart beat in sync.
“You deserve to be cherished, D.” He brushed her face with his knuckles and kissed her with a tenderness she hadn’t felt before. The robe hit the floor with a gentle swoosh, and she smiled.
“Then show me.” She unzipped his pants and dropped them to the floor with a soft thud.
They were naked, face to face, in the dim hallway, with nothing but a sheer curtain between them and the outside world. She didn’t care if Spence came back or even saw them. She was done being tethered to a man who didn’t love her. She wanted to be seen, felt, and heard. And most of all, loved.
“We need to celebrate tonight. Your independence and my birthday.” He smiled. “I want you to meet my friends. Would you be up for that? I mean, I know my actual birthday isn’t for a few days, but the guys planned a get-together.”
Dahlia was speechless. He wanted her to be a part of his life. Even if it was messy.
“I’m sorry it’s last-minute, but I was nervous to ask.”
“Why?” She stared at his mouth. All she wanted to do was feel his cowboy lips on hers and finish what they started upstairs in the shower.
“They’re a bunch of goons from the show. Drunken adolescents.” His voice was meek. “I don’t want our age difference to matter or for you to be turned off. You’re important to me, and I don’t want to screw this up.”
“Well, I could say the same. But as long as we’re okay with it, that’s all that matters.” She paused, making him sweat a little. “Yes, I’d love to.” She let out a lighthearted giggle. “Did you think I’d say no?”
“Maybe.” He shrugged.
Suddenly, her throat felt dry. Would his ex be there? Would his friends like her? She needed something really pretty to wear if she was going to do this.
Noah gripped the back of her neck and gave her a lust-laced kiss, staking his claim. Whatever had sparked his eagerness, she was just happy her official ex-husband hadn’t scared him off. If anything, it fueled the opposite.