Both times.
“Livi…”
I take a deep breath and wipe my eyes. “This has probably been a lot of information for you to take in at once. We don’t have to do all of this now.” I back away slowly. I need to get away from him. I need to get away from his penetrating gaze and his sweet words and whispered Livis. This is the man I’d fallen for and if I wasn’t careful, I’d fall again.
I can’t.
I won’t.
I’m just about to open the door when Caroline comes through it again and walks by me as if I’m not standing there. “Wren said we need to run some tests? Oh, sweetheart, I hear you’re having a hard time remembering?”
“Livi filled in some of the details, but yes.”
“Speaking of…Olivia, your boyfriend is outside,” Caroline says snidely and I don’t even try to stop the anger from flashing over my face. Always stirring the fucking pot.
I wince as Bennett’s eyes flash to mine. “Her fucking what?”
“He’s not…he’s not my boyfriend. He’s a friend.” A friend who may or may not make me feel better while going through this painful divorce.
“What the fuck kind of friend?” Bennett demands, his eyes filled with fury. His full lips are curled into a scowl and his eyebrows are slanted in anguish.
“Oh, Bennett, stop. You didn’t expect her to never move on, did you?” Caroline shakes her head at him as she fluffs the pillows behind him.
My eyes flash to hers in surprise of her defense, and I notice that Bennett’s face has softened and is looking at her equally shocked before turning back to me in question. “No, that’s new,” I say, answering his unspoken question of whether his mother and I have become amicable in the past two years.
“You have…a boyfriend?” he asks me.
“He’s not my boyfriend. We are still married.” I press my lips together in a straight line. “You have a girlfriend.” I chuckle, though the words feel like a knife just pierced my heart.
He narrows his gaze before nodding towards his mother as if to say, can you not in front of my mother?
“Your mother knows. They’re like besties.” The smile on my face matches my saccharine tone and I watch as his eyes snap to hers.
“What?”
“She’s a very nice girl and she’s been so worried about you…” she starts.
“WHAT?” he roars. “You’ve been giving my wife a hard time since the day you met her, and you’ve accepted my…for lack of a better word, mistress?” he snaps. “I don’t want to see her. Tell her it’s over.” He lets his head fall back and scratches his beard. “Since you two are so close.”
“Bennett…” his mother starts.
“I don’t want her here, and if she shows up, I’m calling security. I mean it, Mothe
r. I don’t know what would possess me to cheat on Olivia, but I don’t want her here and I don’t want her around my wife.”
“Oh, she’s afraid of me.” I give them both my most smug grin. “Don’t worry about that.”
“Yes, she assaulted her!” Caroline points at me.
“I did not assault her. Don’t be so dramatic, Caroline.” I look at Bennett, who looks more amused than anything despite the circumstances. “I did key her car, but, if I assaulted her, she’d know it.” I shoot a pointed glare at his mother before turning back to Bennett. “You paid for the damage to her car, so, no harm no foul in my opinion.”
Bennett’s face falls at my brief story and shakes his head. “I’m so sorry you’ve been dealing with this shit.”
“Can I at least tell her you’re okay?” Caroline asks.
“Do whatever the hell you want, Mother. If she shows up here, she will be disappointed. As I said, tell her it’s over.”
“Caroline, maybe just explain that he’s having some trouble remembering and now just isn’t a good time.” I shake my head, not wanting to cause any issues between Bennett and his plaything.