My heart feels like a lead balloon in my chest. “So what are you going to do, Drake? Just go back to fucking random strangers? Do you really want to do that forever? Like your mom.”
There’s fire in his eyes as he glares at me. That was too harsh and if I could take it back, I would. “And all this time I’ve avoided comparing you to your father…” he replies.
We’re not going back to the way things were at all. Right now, we’re careening toward the opposite, and I feel helpless to stop it.
“I’m sorry,” I say, as if that’s enough to fix the damage of a fucking tsunami of insults.
“It’s fine,” he replies with a sigh. “For your information…I don’t plan on just fucking random strangers. I was thinking…maybe it’s time for me to date for real. Actually get to know someone and try to make it a long-term thing.”
Why do I hate this idea more? “Then don’t fuck him,” I say, staring straight into those familiar blue irises.
“Okay,” he replies, but it’s not convincing.
“I’m serious, Drake. If you want to be in a real relationship, then don’t fuck him right away. See if you can even do that.”
He doesn’t respond as I storm away, feeling like an asshole after slinging insults at my best friend, as if that’s not half as bad as what he’s doing to me—lying to me. Because no matter what he says about not sleeping with Geo, I know him too well, and I don’t believe him for one fucking second.
Rule #28: If you love someone, let them go. （Easier said than done.）
Isabel
I know something is up when my husband walks through the front door—alone. He’s wearing a scowl and barely says a word as he bounds up the stairs toward our master bedroom.
Coming home from that trip felt like the ultimate test—one that we failed. A little over twenty-four hours back in BP and we’re already falling apart. I have a good idea why too.
I follow Hunter up the stairs and find him taking off his suit in the walk-in closet, hanging his jacket on the hanger and angrily yanking off his tie.
“What happened?” I ask.
“Nothing,” he mutters.
I swallow down the rising emotion from hearing how frustrated he is. He doesn’t say a word as he tears off his shirt, balls it up and tosses it into the hamper. As he starts on the button of his pants, he finally looks at me, and I notice the dam break inside him.
“I figured he’d go back eventually. I thought he might just take some time, but no. He’s already at the club. He’s probably already naked with the bartender, and I honestly don’t know why I care. That’s how he wants to live his life. That’s up to him. I’m just sorry your emotions got involved…and I did this. I brought all of this on. I never should have asked you to do that…”
Honestly, I feared this more than I expected it, but I had a feeling that we wouldn’t be able to keep him for long. I mean, what did we expect? To bring him into our marriage forever? It’s not fair to anyone, least of all him.
And my husband knows that, but I’m afraid he’s gotten himself even more emotionally involved than I have. And I’m nearly dying inside with how this feels, not to have Drake here. To know someone else gets his smile and his touch.
“Have you told him how you feel?” I ask.
Hunter freezes. “What? That I’m tired of him being a thirty-four-year-old man whore? Actually…yeah, I kind of did.”
I wince. “No, Hunter. That’s not what I meant.”
He turns his back on me as he undoes his pants, pulling out his belt and hanging it on the hook. It’s a long time before he responds. “What do you mean, Isabel?”
My throat stings for real now. “Did you tell Drake how you feel about him?”
His head snaps toward me. “I know what you’re thinking, Iz, but it’s not like that. Yeah, we fooled around a little, but there’s nothing more there. We’re just friends.”
I bite the inside of my lip as I fight away the tears that want to come. I can’t speak, but he continues for me, “Besides, I shouldn’t have to. He should know…we are special. I thought we would have meant more. But he couldn’t stick around for one fucking day.”
“Stick around for what, Hunter? He’s been here his entire adult life. You’ve sheltered him, protected him, gave him a home and a family. Fuck, Hunter, you gave him your wife.”
His nostrils flare as I say that, and he quickly looks away. But I draw his attention back. “You give him hell for never settling down and for being promiscuous, but you have kept him in a chokehold, tethered to you for his entire life. He’s never had any room to grow.”