Page 32 of Honey, I'm Home

“There you are. I’ve been scoping the town out, you never mentioned how quaint it is. I dropped by your office, but all the lights were off.”

Motherfucker goes in for a hug.

I put a hand on his chest, stopping him. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Can't a guy come visit his fiancée? I wanted to see the appeal of the place you left me for. This isn't you, Aster. There's no way this kind of clientele is what you're seriously after.”

“How fuckingdareyou. I don't know what you smoked before coming here, but it's clearly messing with your memory. You seem to have completely forgotten about the fact that you’re with somebody else now and that you kicked me out.”

He has the magnanimity to wince. “Listen, can we talk? Somewhere private?”

If any of my guys see him here, talking to me, I really don't think it's going to be an invite-him-in-for-tea type of situation. “No. I have nothing else to say to you, and quite frankly you're ruining my day. I'm sorry you thought driving all this way uninvited and unwanted was a good idea, but I suggest you grab a cup of coffee and climb right back in that flashy car of yours and go back to the hole you crawled out of.”

He takes a half step closer, making me trip over the odd granite rock behind me. I end up falling against it, confused by its warmth.

“I'm sorry, okay? I had it really good with you, and I squandered that. I didn't appreciate you the way I should have.”

I scoff. “No, you didn't. Why the sudden change of heart? Did she forget to pick up your dry cleaning? Maybe realize you're hopeless when it comes to feeding yourself? Because I have a strict no take-back policy. She's not getting a refund from me.”

“I think the air here is affecting your head. You've never spoken to me like this before.”

“Because I was an idiot who forgot my backbone existed. We have nothing to say to each other. You need to leave.” I brush past him, trying to find a way to distract myself and look all casual. Internally, I'm freaking out and patting myself on the back for coming off so cool-headed and aloof.

Did I give off the cool, aloof vibe to you? It's okay to lie to me.

“Godsdamn it, Aster. I just want a fucking conversation. There's no way you can't give me that, not after the life we created together.”

I spin on him quickly, cutting off that train of thought. “You mean the life you crumpled up and threw in the trash for a quick fuck at the office? I gave youeverything, Bill. All for you to try and ruin my career when I held you accountable for your inexcusable actions. Icouldgive you a conversation, but the only circumstances I would do so would be with you hanging over a cliff and me, the one responsible for keeping you there. And then, I'd let go and walk away as you fell and went splat. Goodbye.”

“Did you…just call meBill?”

Ah, fuck. “My bad. Have a bad one.”

I start to walk away again, trying so damn hard to stifle my laughter. Doesn't work too well, but it's the thought that counts, right? That's actually really funny; all those times the people around me messed up his name must have messed with my brain.

“Aster! What the hell? We need to talk. I don't know why you sent my mom those texts, but she's hounding me. Going on about how disappointed in me she is… just call her and tell her we're back together, alright?”

It was such a lovely day just a minute ago. “No. I will not do that. I had a relationship with your mom as well, so I deserved to have my side explained to her without the bullshit of you interfering. You got yourself into this mess, so you can deal with the consequences. You're a grown-ass adult, and I'm no longer a part of your life. Get your shit together, Ben, if you want your next partner to stick around.”

By now, there are definitely people watching us interact. This town is small enough that this gossip will spread like wildfire, and everybody here knows who I'm with now, so this is definitely going to cause some issues. And yet, the guy just won't let me go.

I almost find this funny because he let me go so easily before. Now that I've realized how much better off I am without him, he's creeping in like an infectious disease.

I hear the buzzing before my eyes can track them, swarming Ben as he starts to bat at them. It's no less than I expected, so I just stand there, propped against the nearest building, and watch. It’s nobody’s business how hot I find my guys when they’re all agitated like this on my behalf.

Two cute little fuzzy honeybees are darting in and out, luckily avoiding Ben’s hands, looking for an opening to his face. Maledrones don’t have stingers, so Ben won’t actually get stung, but he doesn’t need that information. Need to know basis.

It’s also really fun to not interfere with him being so distressed in a public setting.

“What the hell kind of bees are these? Why aren't they flying away? Aster, help!”

“Don't be rude, they're just having a bit of fun. You’ll be fine. Also, suck my dick.”

I walk in to the coffee shop to treat myself to a little afternoon pick me up, waiting for the situation outside to calm down. I know the guys will meet me in here when they're done playing, so I make sure to find a table that will fit all of us.

By the time they're shifted, and they’ve somehow found clothes to put on, I'm halfway through my iced tea and have their drinks waiting.

Hawthorne slides in first, kissing me on the cheek. “We got rid of him for you. You're welcome.”