Every Sweet Regret (Orchid Valley 2)

I grunt. There’s some honesty, at least. “I didn’t say I’m not angry. I don’t like you very much at the moment. That doesn’t mean I’d keep you from Hope. You weren’t a very good wife, but you’re a great mom.”

“Maybe we could try again,” she says, her words squeaking a little. She pulls out of my arms and studies me. “Maybe we could make it work now that the truth is out there.”

“I don’t want to.” If this whole thing weren’t so fucked, I’d laugh to hear myself say those words. I’ve wasted a year of my life waiting for Amy. Our marriage was over the minute she decided sleeping with her boss was a good idea. “I don’t hate you, but I don’t want to be with you, either.”

She flinches. “I understand. I betrayed you, and you can’t be expected to forgive—”

“I’m in love with Stella.”

Her eyes go wide. “Oh.” She nods. “Right, well, who didn’t see that coming?”

“Ames . . .”

“No. It’s fine, Kace. I’m happy for you. I just . . .” More tears spill down her cheeks, and she backs away. “I know what it feels like to be loved by you, and I know what it feels like to throw that away because life’s left you . . . discontent. I just hope she’s not an idiot like I was.”

I shake my head. “Nah. I’m the idiot here. I fucked up.”

“Then apologize.” She shakes her head. “The path that made me lose you—lose our marriage—it started with one kiss. One kiss in the boardroom at the end of a long day. He just touched his lips to mine and told me I was beautiful, told me he’d like to spend more time with me. I went home and convinced myself I couldn’t tell you about it, convinced myself I could turn something bad into something good, justified a whole affair. After that, nothing was ever the same between you and me.” She touches my cheek. “Don’t be like me. Don’t let the small mistake turn into something you two can never recover from.”

“It’s not that small,” I whisper. And it’s not my first mistake, either. What I said about her to Itsy in the beginning—that was my first mistake. Or maybe my first mistake was thinking my attraction to Stella was ever just physical.

“Did you cheat on her? Did you break your vows?”

I blow out a breath. “Obviously not.”

“Then fix it, Kace.”

“What about Dean? Are you going to apologize to him? Are you going to fix that?”

She turns her head and studies the wall. “I don’t want that. He’s the one who wants more. He knew I wasn’t looking for anything but no-strings fun.”

“You can’t have no-strings fun with someone you already have feelings for,” I say. And it’s another truth that’s so obvious now it’s been laid out there. “When there are already strings, pretending there aren’t just makes a tangled mess.”

“But I never had—”

“He did. And fuck, Amy, you and I used to talk about the way he looked at you, how badly my best friend was crushing on my wife. So don’t pretend you didn’t know.”

“I liked the way he looked at me,” she whispers. “And I know that makes me selfish, but I’ve been lonely.”

“Give it to him straight, and then get out of his life.” I see her so clearly now, and I’m disappointed that she’s not a better woman. “Don’t drag it out like you did with me.”

Grimacing, she nods. “Good luck with Stella.” She walks away, and . . . it doesn’t hurt. She’s not tearing out my heart as she goes. She’s leaving room for something new.* * *“Daddy, Uncle Dean is here!” Hope says from the front window. She knows she’s not allowed to answer the door without me, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to be the first to know who’s here.

“Thanks, kiddo.” Fucking finally. I texted him hours ago telling him I needed him to come over so we could talk. I pull open the front door and immediately burst into laughter.

Dean Jacob is standing on my front porch with a bouquet of flowers and three Mylar balloons with the words I’m sorry printed on them. “These are for you,” he says, a lopsided smile twisting his lips.

“What the hell?”

“Not ’posed to say hell, Daddy,” Hope says, scooting in front of me to get to her favorite honorary uncle. “Pretty flowers!”

“Just call it a bromantic gesture, and don’t give me any more shit about it, okay? You wanted me to come over. I thought I should be prepared to grovel.” He stoops to his haunches and whispers to Hope, “Tell your dad to take them and ask me in. I feel pretty silly out here.”

I grab the flowers from his hands and turn into the house. “Come on in, you weirdo.”