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Nathan gloated.“Miss Emma,you sure made the transition smoothly, didn’t you? Divorced one day and remarried the next.Care to share your feelings?”
I humored him,it being his first marriage.“Because it’s Mr.Nathan.Couldn’t wait.”
He giggled.“Mr.Nathan,Mrs.Nathan.Wife.You’re my wife.”
Couldn’t wait?Nah.Not resisting was true.
I’d already been through a divorce once.If this marriage didn’t work,I’d divorce again.Second or third,no big difference.
Nathan clashed with his family over me.Drunk after a work event,he came home,crying,begging me to stay.
At seventeen,he lost me once.At twenty-seven,he couldn’t again.
Sober,I asked if I was worth it.
He said no—a divorced woman hung up on her ex,no man would want.
But for me,even if I had someone else,unmarried,he’d be the side guy.
I didn’t really believe his nonsense. Where was this so - called “other man” when I was married?
“You didn’t deny it.”
“You’re still thinking of him?”
I:…
On the way home from the courthouse, he kept nagging me about moving. He didn’t want to live in my ex’s house.
He’d lived here fine,happily moving in when I agreed.
Now he’s picky,pushing his luck.
“Move,move…”
Getting off the elevator,he stopped.
“Gotta move now—your ex is here for the house.”
Paul leaned on the wall,right arm in a sling.
His hair,long at Christmas,was now a buzzcut.A bandage on his brow seeped blood.
Car accident?Fight?
“Emma…”
His voice was hoarse.
Nathan opened the door,inviting him in as the host.
“Oh,my phone’s in the car.You two chat.I’ll go get some fruit—fridge is empty.”
What a “generous” host.
I cringed,speechless.
“Have a seat.”I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge,opening it for Paul.
“What’s going on?”
“You…”He eyed my ring.“Are you getting married?”
Already did,past tense.
I nodded silently.
He paused,picking up a LEGO tissue box on the table.We had built it together during the home renovation, spending an entire day on it, sore but filled with happiness.“Emma,I want to come back home.”
His eyes welling up.
I played innocent.“Then I won’t keep you.”
“Emma,I was wrong.So wrong.”
“This is my home now.Wherever you are,that’s your home.”
Cheating,betraying,shirking responsibility—that’s scum.
Circling back for a second chance?Scum squared.
