Hate Sober (Love Me Duet 2)

That’s simply not going to happen.

“The café is doing well. I’ve hired a manager full-time instead of part-time,” I tell my father, who smiles in return.

“That’s good to hear, angel. So good. I am proud of you. That little business of yours will be going places.”

“I hope so,” I say, because I really do want it to succeed. “I’ve done—”

“So, that’s it?” Alec says, interrupting me. He turns to my father. “You promised me Everly’s hand in marriage. And now she’s free of him, I don’t get her?” He slams his fists on the table, making my mother yelp.

She stands and steps over to me and puts her hands on my shoulders. “Let’s go, love.”

I push my seat out and turn to a very pissed-off Alec. “I’m not some possession, Alec. I’m a woman who simply doesn’t love you, and never will, not in the way you want me to. This can’t happen. I have told you repeatedly. Move on.”

Walking out with my mother, I hear their raised voices as they talk and we head outside.

“He doesn’t mean to be rude about your situation. He simply doesn’t comprehend another man still has your heart.”

“I’ll never see him that way, Mother. Ever.”

“I know. But he needs to get that through his thick skull.” She laughs and it’s contagious.

“Have you seen him?” I ask.

She looks to the ground then back up to me, knowing exactly who I’m speaking about.

“Yes.”

My heart rate picks up, fast. “Where is he?”

She shakes her head. “You shouldn’t go after him, Everly. You wanted to leave. Don’t go back.”

Dammit! She’s right. I know this. I’ve gotten what I wanted, and now I don’t know what to do. I miss him. But the things he did to me, the way he went about doing them, was all wrong.

“Where is he, Mother?”

She drops her hand from my shoulder, quickly glances behind her and back, then leans down to whisper in my ear, “He’s still here. He has opened up a real estate company, not too far from your café.” She rattles off the address while I stand there looking at her.

“Thank you.”

“I don’t think this is a smart idea, Everly. You should stay away.”

“I know I should. But what I do and shouldn’t do isn’t up to me anymore.”

I head back inside, grab my bag, and rush to my car and start to drive.

I detour home, grab the ring and the divorce papers, before I make my way to where I now know Gunner’s located. Well, where I hope he is anyway. Pulling out the front, I step out of my car and notice the sign ‘Reid Real Estate.’ The building has a sophisticated appeal, with its black paintwork and large windows. The interior is painted white but with black accents, everything has that air of elegance and finesse. As I start up the steps and inside, the first thing I notice on the walls are pictures of beautiful homes, which are obviously listed for sale.

With the papers clutched in my hand, I observe a woman sitting behind a silver-fronted reception counter, who has a large smile on her face as she greets me.

“Can I help you?”

My hands start sweating as I hold the papers firmly in them. “Yes. Is Gunner Reid available?”

She eyes me up and down before she snaps an answer. “No.”

I hear his voice and my eyes travel to where it’s coming from, and I know he’s close. “Please, it’s urgent.”

“No. I’m sorry, he isn’t taking customers today,” she says without even looking up at me. The dismissal more than evident in her approach.

“Tell him his wife is here to see him,” I snap at her.

She stands fast, pushing her chair back as she does, with her eyes skirting everywhere but at me.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know. He told me if you ever came by to send you straight in.”

I smile at the thought of him saying that. He knows me well. I didn’t even know I was planning on finding him, yet here I am.

She walks to the first office on the left and opens the door. The office area is large, decorated the same as the outside area, but has a large oak desk with a black chair pushed in behind it. In the open area in front of his desk is a two-seater sofa, which is black with silver accents obviously for his customers to sit on.

“Take a seat. He’s in a meeting right now, but I will let him know you’re here.”

I don’t thank her as she leaves, instead I walk over to the cabinet behind his desk. The top of it is clear except for one photograph of the day we were married. In the picture we’re dancing, and my face is hidden as it rests on his shoulder. His eyes are closed, and I can see the love he has for me as he holds me to him. Gunner’s strong arms gripping me, his mouth at the base of my neck breathing me in. I wonder then if he was contemplating all the terrible things he was about to do to me.