Page 41 of This Time Around
“She says she wants her husband.I’m suspecting a settlement, even though she broke the prenup rules, would help.”
“Give it to her.”Money.I had millions.She could have it all even though she already had plenty of her own.I could make it back.“Don’t even care how much.Give it to her, make her sign the papers so I can be done with this crap.”
“You were married for five years, Cooper.”I was lucky enough to surround myself with a good team.I chose wisely, talked to actors who had bad experiences.So far, neither my agent or my lawyer had tried to screw me over.They always had my interests at heart.
Except for this time.“Yeah, and for five years, I was a blind idiot.I’m over it.”
Over her.Odd how weeks ago the thought of Camilla and my marriage sent me into a panic attack and I hadn’t had a single one since I’d been here.Even earlier today when I was talking about her, the pain that had pressed against my chest for so many months wasn’t there.It’d been replaced with anger she wouldn’t let this—or me—go.
“Just do it, Paul.Let me know what she wants.Cap it at five and give her the houses.”The beach house.The one thing I’d always said she’d never have.I wanted her gone more.Hell, she was probably pulling this crap just to get the beach house because she knew I loved it so much.Whatever.I’d buy a new one.
Done.I was done with all of it.
“That’s almost twenty million once you throw in the homes.I’m not sure that’s the best.”
“It is if she takes it and takes off.”
A weighted silence hit the phone and in front of me, Camilla was still fucking crying.I hurried around the couch, grabbed the remote and turned it off.I didn’t need to hear her beautiful voice telling me sweet lies ever again.
“Okay,” Paul finally said.“I’ll see what I can do and get back to you when I hear from her lawyer.”
“All of what I said, and she signs the papers immediately.Make sure she knows that.”
“Will do, cowboy.”I laughed.Damn Paul.Other than my parents, he and Max were the only two who knew where I was.“How’s it going there anyway?”
I had no damn idea anymore, not after last night and this morning with Rebecca.She hadn’t exactly seemed thrilled when I’d shown up tonight.
“Max was right, it’s helping.”
“Good.Good to hear it.When you coming back?”
My chest went tight.“August.Have that movie to start after Labor Day.”
“And where can I send the papers for your signature?”
Shit.I hadn’t thought of that.“I’ll figure it out and let you know.Might have to overnight them.”
“All right.I’ll deal with this, you deal with you and we’ll keep in touch, okay?”
“You got it.Thanks, Paul.”
“My job, Coop.”
Yeah, but he did it better than most.
“Right.”I pressed the End button on my phone and tossed it to the couch.Then I grabbed the clothes Rebecca had brought down for me.
Her dead husband’s clothes.I fisted them in my hand.I did not need to be wearing her husband’s pants, but a quick look showed my shorts were still soaked.
Crazy, crazy rain.Even now the thunder was still booming almost consistently.The perfect background to the storm inside of me.
I headed to the bathroom, ripped off my shirt and shorts, tugged on the new crap.The shirt was too tight, but it’d work.
I came out of the bathroom, moved past Rebecca in the kitchen where she was sitting at the small eat-in table and tossed my clothes in the dryer.Once I started it, I went back to the fridge, grabbed another beer and popped it open.
It was half gone by the time I pulled it away from my mouth and looked at Rebecca.She had an odd expression on her face, her fingers gently brushing up and down the stem of her wineglass, and a corner of her bottom lip in between her teeth.
“I take it that’s what you were talking about last night, and with Jordan this morning when he mentioned your wife?”
