The lawyer gulped, his face paling. “I cannot imagine how that would be helpful. We accept your evidence that she has no significant transactions or investments that would alter our prior plan. As she was willing to divide their shared assets equally without spousal support, I think we can comfortably return to that plan.”
She flashed back to about two years ago to their annual Fourth of July party, stepping out onto the darkened balcony with the crowd to watch the fireworks, and jackass lawyer’s hand rested on the small of her back, whispering something in her ear about him knowing she was against swapping, but offering they could sneak away and no one would ever know.
Her stomach turned as she realized this was bigger than she had imagined. Not that she’d even been able to eat anything yet today, the furious butterflies threatening to throw back anything she may ingest. The image settling in her brain was so much ickier.
Had Nate and their “friends” been swapping regularly? He would have known she’d have bailed at the suggestion of something so revolting.
She pushed the image to the back of her mind. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to sign the agreed upon paperwork and go home.”
Her attorney shoved the original paperwork toward Nate, holding out a pen. “Any attempt to contact my client again will not go your way. You have jerked her around in so many directions, I would advise her to take you for everything you’re worth and ruin your name, but, and correct me if I’m wrong, Haley, you’d rather leave this all behind?”
The moderator cleared his throat. “If we could wrap this up, I’d appreciate it.”
Haley nodded. “Please. I want to go home. I have no doubt that Nate’s activities will catch up to him without any interference from me.”
After thanking her attorney, she held steady as she strode out of the room. The sight that greeted her knocked the wind from her lungs, filling her with something better.
A mass of friends greeted her in the lobby. She was pulled into hug after hug from all of her friends from Foothills, and even her mother. Nate and his creepy lawyer slunk out the door behind them, completely ignored.
“Did you twist his balls until he signed over everything?” Patricia raised a devious eyebrow Haley didn’t think she’d ever seen before, her voice loud enough so Nate could hear as he stepped into the elevator.
“Um, no. Just my half. But, thanks for your support.”
“Well, I will let you go celebrate with your friends. I don’t want to miss my flight.” Patricia offered a stiff, shoulder-blade-pat hug, then marched out.
Jumping up and down, Pippa cheered, “Let’s go celebrate. I’ve planned a whole night on the town for us. Dinner on the wharf; I made reservations, then there’s this great club—”
Sophie linked elbows with her and motioned her hand for Pippa to take it down a notch. Sophie restrained her friend and said, “But we are flexible and will do whateveryouwant. We’ll leave you alone and head home, or we’ll eat ice cream and get trashed in your hotel room, everyone but Pippa anyway, or we can all go out for a night on the town per Pippa’s itinerary.”
Grady, Claire, Asher, Zane, Freya, Lincoln, and Trace stood waiting for her answer. She swallowed her disappointment that Finn was gone, but she’d have booted him on the plane to Minnesota anyway. “Dinner out with you guys sounds amazing. Just please, please tell me you’re not all swapping behind my back.”
Horrified, they all looked each other over. Asher scowled. “That’s disgusting. And not just because I’m related to a third of the women here.”
Haley felt the waterworks threatening, the pressure in her eyes almost matching the thrill beating in her chest. “Good. Just… yeah. Good. Let’s go have dinner on the wharf.”
Seventy-five degrees, clear skies, a bustling crowd, the wharf welcomed her back. Pippa gave her name to the host and they were led through the crowded dockside restaurant and out onto the deck. A salty breeze fanned over her from the bay, seagulls coasted on the updrafts, and hundreds of boats bumped over the waves as they came in and out of the harbor.
Inhaling the savory scents of the restaurant, Haley’s stomach rumbled at earthquake levels as the butterflies faded away. A large table awaited their crowd, and she selfishly nabbed a seat overlooking the water. Her friends filled in around her, Grady whispering as he sat next to her, “Doing okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah. All good.”
“You’re officially done with that bastard. I get it if you’re still shell-shocked, but you’re withdrawn. Just say the word if I can do anything.”
“I’m worn out.”
“I’ll bet. I am, and I didn’t even have to talk to that asshole.”
They put in their orders, and Haley absorbed the moment, the setting, her friends.
Last year at this time, she was a few restaurants down, in the upstairs room with swanky lights at a schmoozy party Nate had dragged her to. She remembered staring out the window, alone, wondering if this was it. Reliving the same day over and over; wake up, check in with the staff, a light breakfast, see Nate off to work, hide away in her office and work on her blog, then spend an hour getting ready for another event, bored out of her mind with people she either didn’t know or didn’t respect. Or had it beenGroundhog Day, and she couldn’t get out of it until she found herself?
While the others laughed and visited over chowder and a beer, Trace leaned back and whispered to Haley, “If I didn’t make it clear enough, I will forever be your bestie. Whatever you and Finn decide, I support you both.”
“But weren’t you thinking of getting back together with him?”
“Honestly?”
Haley interrupted, “Of course honestly. I don’t ever, ever want another shred of dishonesty in my life.”
