I couldn’t wait to tell the guys. But I had a woman to kiss, first.
Chapter 31
AVRIL
The gallery’s doorbell rang, and I ran to answer it as fast as my stiletto heels would let me.
“Hello, Avril.”
I closed the door and re-locked it, turning to face my ex, Devon.
“Hi,” I said, softly.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me.”
It seemed he’d aged years in the few weeks since he’d been out of my life. His previously smooth skin was marred by red blotches, made all the more obvious by an ashen complexion that in the past had always in the past been tanned and healthy.
“Let’s go to my office.”
He lowered himself into the chair opposite mine with the sort of stiffness reserved for men thirty or forty years his senior. What the hell had happened to him?
I turned to pour us both some coffee.
“You look well, Avril,” he said.
I was surprised to hear that. I’d given up my regular Pilates classes when I realized I was a pariah amongst my ‘friends.’ But Blu’s shopping sprees had added a new, elegantly sexy component to my dressing style—one I never would have believed I’d have embraced.
There were a lot of new things in my life that I’d never anticipated.
“Thank you, Devon. How’s…how’s Dagney?” It still made me sick to say that name, but I couldn’t bother with hating her. It was a waste of my energy.
“Oh, um, Dagney.” He looked down at his hands. “She’s gone…”
My hand shook, and I set my coffee down. “What do you mean, gone?”
“She left me. When the legal troubles heated up, she took off,” he said with a bitter laugh.
The man was worse off than I’d even imagined. “Oh. Sorry to hear that.”
He cleared his throat, just like he always had when he was getting to the point. “Avril, you may have heard I am probably going to prison.”
He looked at me with his sad, old eyes, and I really felt for him.
“I have heard a couple things like that,” I said.
He clasped and unclasped his hands, shame pouring off him. “I’m sorry, Avril. I’m sorry for everything. I was awful to you, and I deserve everything coming to me.”
Shit. What does one say to that? Should I have told him I sort of agreed, despite my pity for him? “I wish you well, Devon.”
“Thank you. That’s more generous than I deserve.” He stood to go. “Expect to hear from my attorneys.”
Was he really going there? “What? Why?” I asked.
“Whatever assets I have left after I’m charged, will go into a trust. For you.”
For a moment, I couldn’t say a thing because of the lump growing in my throat.
“Walk me to the door?” he asked.