Page 22 of Donovan's Men

“You feel excluded.”

His eyes closed for a moment as if in relief. “Yeah, exactly. He’s got Michael and Caressa. He doesn’t need me. They don’t need me. I mean, I’m not in the way, and they’re happy to see me, and I’m one of the few people allowed, and that should mean something, right?”

“It means everything.” I ran my hand along his shaved head and then cupped his jaw.He needs a hat.“You are as close to Cole as a brother.”

He blinked.

“I can see it. Julie mentioned it.” And I shouldn’t be saying what another witness said, but he needed to hear this. “Just because he has two people who are closer to him doesn’t meanyou don’t matter. And besides, they’re all romantically involved, right?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“So who’s he going to talk to when he needs a break from all that lovey-dovey crap? Sometimes guys just need to shoot the shit, and that can be tough to do with the person you’re sleeping with every night.”

“Your wife?”

I was surprised at his leap. He had me pegged in so many ways. Yet I hadn’t said anything. The tan line from the ring had disappeared when the sun vanished in late September. Certainly, I tried to never give any indication to anyone about my relationship status—especially victims and perpetrators. Yet in this moment, he demanded honesty. “Yeah, my ex-wife.”

He winced.

I held his gaze, willing him to understand. “I don’t regret my marriage, but it’s over. Probably had been for a long time. We saw the world very differently. I wish things had turned out otherwise, but they didn’t, and I now live with the consequences of my decisions.”

“What decisions were those?”

This time, I closed my eyes. I didn’t talk about this—with anyone. Even Mariah hadn’t known during the chaos. Observant woman, though, she’d noted the first day I’d arrived to work without my wedding ring. She’d asked if I wanted to talk about it, I’d saidno, and it’d never been mentioned again.

“Talk and drive,” he whispered. “Because I’m a block of ice.”

I pressed another broken kiss to his lips and slid back comfortably into the driver’s seat. Leaning over the console hadn’t been pleasant, but I had zero regrets.

Well, maybe concern we’d crossed a line, but I’d deal with the ramifications of that when the time came.

The engine turned over easily, and I switched the vents to full. Within moments, hot air blasted through them.

Donovan held up his hands. And winced.

“Don’t you have gloves?”

“Yes, Mom.” He rolled his eyes. “They’re at home on the table in the front hall.”

This time, I rolled my eyes as I pulled out of the parking lot. “Fat lot of good they’re doing there.”

“The cab I ordered came early, and so I was scrambling. At least I managed my wallet.”

“I noticed you’re not carrying a bag.”

“Too awkward with my arm.” He scowled as he lowered his hands to his lap.

I navigated the car onto the street. “That should really be in a sling.”

He groaned. “You sound just like Caressa.”

“Who is a nurse…”

“Who is a nurse.” He cleared his throat. “And who only has my best interests at heart.”

“Are you taking your pills?”

He made a noise low in his throat.