Page 85 of Wicked Games

He blows out a breath. “Please remember you said you’d tell me if you were ever unhappy so I could try to fix it before you left.”

The sun is shining, and the temperature’s warm. Birds are chirping in the trees, and down the block, a dog’s barking. It’s a day made for writing on the dock, planning what to have for dinner, and where to go on a walk as the sun sets. But instead we’re talking about bodyguards and death and the end of our relationship before it’s even started, and all I can do is wrap my arms around his neck, look into his sexy brown eyes, and say, “I love you. I can’t promise things will always be okay because life happens. But what I can promise is that I will always tell you everything I’m thinking and feeling. I’m a simple girl, Seth. I don’t need a lot to make me happy, and I am, right here, with you.”

He rests his forehead against mine and sighs. “You have no idea how that makes me feel.” He pauses. “We better get going. Sounds like a party at your apartment once we all get there.”

“Better order some food to be delivered. My kitchen’s empty.”

“Good call.”

The drive goes by smoothly, only a short patch of road construction that slows us down. When we stop at a convenience store about an hour and forty-five minutes from Ashfield, he asks me to text Violet my address, saying she’ll have her assistant arrange a grocery delivery and then meet us there. I also let her know where she can park at my complex, and she ends our exchange with, See you soon! and a pink heart. I save her number in my contacts, knowing she and I will be texting often.

I gave Bill a spare key to my apartment for emergencies, and he and Violet are already waiting in my living room when Seth and I step inside carrying our suitcases. She hugs me tightly, her body trembling, and there are so many feelings in her embrace. Later, she’ll tell me what’s on her mind, but for now, I just hug her back, grateful Seth had her to lean on during Theo’s kidnapping and after his death.

She pulls away and steps in Seth’s direction, but she stops, unsure, glancing at me. He’s watching us with a wary expression on his face, and I sigh. Their friendship will be between us forever if I let it, and I push her toward him. “Oh, for God’s sake. Hug him, already. I don’t care.”

He chuckles, breaking the last of the tension, and wraps his arms around her. She tries to hide her tears, but she’s not successful, and she cries, her face buried against his shoulder.

Bill’s standing in the middle of my living room, waiting for us to say our hellos, and he winces when he notices my cheek. “Come here,” he says, leading me to the sliding glass doors that let out onto a concrete slab. I haven’t put anything out there yet, signing the lease and then driving out to Lakehaven Falls practically the next day. He tilts my head and studies my cheek in the sunlight, gently prodding the swelling.

“It doesn’t look broken,” he finally says, dropping his hand.

“I didn’t think so, but thanks for checking.”

“It’ll get worse before it gets better.”

“Yeah, I figured as much, but I’m just glad I’m still alive.”

He smiles sadly. “Me too.”

I introduce him to Seth, and Seth formally introduces me to Violet. After all the pleasantries are done and I’ve made coffee, we settle in my tiny living room. I’m lucky I have enough furniture so everyone can sit. After Hattie’s death and my divorce, I went from being alone to having a ready-made family, and I’m thankful.

Someone knocks on my door, and I look around the room, confused. “Who’s that? Did you ask Detective LaSalle to meet us?” I ask Seth.

Shaking his head, he says, “No. I didn’t tell him we’re here. I wanted us to talk alone first.”

“I told Darren,” Bill says, standing. “He wouldn’t stop calling and I had to shut him up somehow.”

“That seems to be a new habit of his,” I mutter, moving the ring Seth bought me at the crafts fair from my right hand to my left. “I’ll talk to him.”

Not that it matters if I’m the one who answers the door. It opens into a small foyer that everyone can see from the living room anyway. I’ll be talking to him, but it won’t be in private.

Bill’s right, and Darren’s standing in the hallway. He sucks in an angry breath when he sees my cheek and barges into my apartment. “What the hell happened to you? What happened to her?” he demands, turning to Seth as he comes up behind me.

I stiffen and cross my arms. “It’s none of your business. What are you doing here?”

“Bill told me you were back in town. I wanted to see you.”

“Well, you have. Now you can go.”

Darren wilts, his shoulders sagging. “Avery, please. I just want a minute.”

“You can ask for as many minutes as you want, but it won’t matter what you have to say or how many apologies you have to give. You cheated on me and left me for another woman. Seth loves me, and we’re getting married.” I lift my hand, and the rose gold glitters in the sunlight that’s brightening the entire apartment. Seth wraps his arms around me and I lean against his chest.

“Then I’m too late.”

“You were too late three years ago, five years ago. You knew what you were doing to our marriage and you didn’t stop it. After a while, I didn’t want you to stop it. All I wanted was for you to leave, and you finally did. I’m in a better place. I’m sorry if you’re not. I really appreciate that you said you’d take care of me financially, but I don’t expect you’ll have to do it for very long.”

“No, he won’t,” Seth says, his hold on me tightening. “Thank you for cutting Avery loose, McKay. Your loss is definitely my gain. You should go. I won’t let you talk to her again.”