From Fake to Forever (Newlywed Games 2)

“I have to.” Let her interpret that in whatever way she chose. “I’ll sign the papers. It’s the least I can do.”

She stood and locked her knees. “This is your chance to have everything, to take what you want, like you did two years ago, like you do every time we’re together. Stop letting your head rule your heart.”

Mute, he stared at her, unable to conceive of anything else he could say that would make a difference. Besides, he was afraid if he started talking, the truth would pour out. That he’d like nothing better than to do exactly as she suggested and chuck it all in favor of a blistering love affair with his wife.

But he couldn’t. She deserved a grown-up husband.

Nodding, she firmed her mouth. “I’ll be out of the loft by five.”

“You’re leaving?” What else would she do, moron? It hadn’t quite hit him that he was letting her go forever until that moment.

“Yeah. Me and my broken heart will go somewhere you’re not, but this time, I won’t come back.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a slip of paper, then scribbled something on it. “Send the divorce papers to this address.”

He glanced at it. Houston. So she was going home. That was best for her. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry it had to end this way.”

She nodded and fled to the bedroom.

He got his bag and went to the office after all, without saying goodbye. There was no way he could watch her pack.

Once at his desk, he didn’t turn on his laptop. Instead, he rested his aching head on the cool cover and wondered if Meredith even realized he’d sacrificed his CEO position and put the merger in jeopardy by giving her the divorce she no longer wanted.

If she went home, Avery would lose Allo for sure, and Hurst would crumble. No one on Lyn’s executive team would approve a merger with a failing company. And Bettina would yank back her support for his promotion without a wife by his side.

And the only part he cared about was that he’d hurt Meredith, which he would never forgive himself for. Somehow, he had to find a way to make it up to her.

Thirteen

The white sand of Barbados stretched out as far as the eye could see and a balmy breeze played with Meredith’s hair. The sun shone, she was relaxing in a bikini and the resort hadn’t opened yet, so it wasn’t crowded. Paradise—except for the part where she was miserable.

She’d walked away from Jason again, but this time, he’d kicked her out the door. It was over and she’d lost the only man she’d ever loved. Probably the only man she ever would love.

And with absolutely no emotion on his face, he’d stared her dead in the eye and chosen divorce instead of love. It was a flat-out declaration of the temperature of his blood—cold. Obviously she was as empty-headed as she’d always feared if she hadn’t seen that coming.

Meredith sucked the bottom out of her piña colada and wished it had deadened even a tenth of the pain a shattered heart caused. If the past two years were any indication, she had a long, difficult ride ahead full of painful memories.

Her sister, Cara, who was stretched out in the next lounge chair sewing the bodice piece of what would become some bride’s happily-ever-after dress, glanced at Meredith’s glass longingly. “Can you drink another one and let me watch?”

“Alcohol envy?” Meredith suggested with raised brows.

When Meredith had shown up in Barbados without calling and without explanation, Cara had simply hugged her and said she was so glad to see her. Because she hadn’t wanted to tell Meredith over the phone that she was pregnant.

Everything else ceased to matter in that moment as Meredith had smiled and laughed with her sister over the joyous news. Cara had survived an emotionally painful miscarriage with her first pregnancy and Meredith prayed this time it would stick.

“And how.” Cara patted her bare stomach. “I won’t be able to drink for like another year and a half because I’m planning to breastfeed.”

That was enough to start the tears again. Why, Meredith had no clue. It wasn’t as if she’d gotten to the point of thinking about having Jason’s baby. She wasn’t mother material—at least not yet. But it was hard to be around someone so blissfully happy, who’d figured out how to navigate choppy relationship waters.

It was a skill and Meredith lacked it. Obviously.

“Honey, that’s the third time.” Cara rubbed her shoulder. “Maybe one of these days you’ll tell me what happened in New York?”

Meredith had arrived in Barbados a week and a half ago and somehow, after the baby news and diving right into being Cara’s assistant again and the slightly numb feeling that never eased, well...talking about Jason had gone from hard to impossible.