He shrugged. “Is it true?” he asked, looking up and glaring at her. “Are you dating Laura’s ex?”
So that was it. She should have realized Eddie would have gotten word of her involvement with Heath. “Not that it’s any of your concern, but yes, it’s true.”
He snorted as if amused, and clearly he wasn’t.
Julia clasped her hands in front of her. “I suppose Michael told you.”
Eddie shook his head. “He told Laura and she told me. Neither one of us is happy about this.”
Julia laughed outright. This was rich. “And I should care what you and Laura think?” How ironic and ludicrous that they would assume their opinion mattered one way or the other.
“You’re doing this on purpose,” he said.
“On purpose?” she repeated, not following his line of thought.
He glared at her. “It’s your way of getting back at me.”
This was Eddie at his most self-absorbed, egotistical self. “In case you’ve forgotten, our marriage ended six years ago. You moved on and so have I. Whom I date is none of your concern.”
“Normally, I’d agree. I really couldn’t care less. But Heath Wilson? Julia, please.”
“Please what?”
“Do you think I’m stupid?”
Julia crossed her arms and shook her head. “You should know by now how unwise it is to ask a question when you already know the answer.”
“Very funny. I’m onto your game.”
It amazed her that she had been married to this man for thirty-one years. The Eddie standing in her home was a stranger.
“It might surprise you to learn I’m not playing games, Eddie.”
He snickered with disbelief. “How do Hillary and Marie feel about this?”
She maintained her distance, letting the sofa separate them. He remained on one side and she on the other. “You should ask them.”
“Like they’ll talk to me,” he answered, frowning.
“And whose fault is that? Or are you going to blame me for that, as well as everything else that’s wrong in the world?”
His mouth tightened into a thin line. “You’ve changed, Julia.”
“Really? Then it’s for the better.”
He wore a hurt, puzzled look, as if she’d surprised him. “You never used to be this flippant.”
She shrugged. “I can’t imagine what happened to make me that way,” she said, smiling.
Eddie ignored this. “I know our girls can’t be happy that you’re dating Heath. Michael and Adam are upset about it, and consequently, Laura is, too.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, although it changes nothing. I’m not breaking up with Heath because Laura is upset.”
Julia’s doorbell chimed again, and she knew it could only be Heath. She checked her watch. He was right on time.
She opened the door, and he leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips. “Come on, girl, the wind is up and…” He paused when he saw Eddie standing on the far side of the room. He slowly straightened and came to stand at her side, placing his arm protectively around her waist.
“In case you haven’t met,” she said, gesturing toward her ex-husband, “Heath, this is Eddie.”
Heath stiffened and nodded before he looked at her. “You okay?” he asked.
“She’s fine,” Eddie snapped.
Heath’s head came back at Eddie’s abrupt response.
“I believe I can answer for myself, thank you, Eddie,” she said calmly. “As you can see, Heath and I are ready to leave.”
“Hold on for two seconds,” Eddie said. “I’m glad Heath is here. I’d like to talk to him man-to-man.”
“Anytime,” Heath said. “I suggest we meet later and leave Julia out of this.”
“Oh no you don’t. Julia needs to hear what I have to say. You both do.”
“Eddie…”
“Julia, please,” he insisted.
Heath gestured toward him. “Have at it, old man.”
Eddie snorted. “Old man? I’m younger than you.”
“Stop,” Julia said, growing impatient with her ex and Heath. The testosterone level rose every time one of them opened his mouth.
“Fine.” He glared at Heath. “I want to know your intentions toward my wife.”
“Ex-wife,” Julia and Heath corrected simultaneously.
“Yes, my ex-wife. It’s all very convenient how the two of you met. You sought her out, didn’t you? You learned where she lived and purposely purchased a condo in the same building.”