She shakes her head. “I’ll keep my head down, and keep to the edge of the crowds. I want nothing to do with him, but I’m not going to run from my job, or cower from him.”
“I don’t like this,” I admit. I mean really, what are the chances he knows the bride or groom? Fallon told me he grew up in the Cities, though I suppose some people are willing to travel for the perfect wedding venue.
“It’s fine,” Fallon says, pulling out of the embrace. “I can do this.” She stands, adjusting her clothes and smoothing her hair. She takes a few tissues, dabbing gently at her cheeks. Her makeup is still perfect, and despite her eyes being slightly red, she looks flawless.
I watch as she dons a metaphorical mask, andstrides out of her office. She doesn’t even look back to me. I’m left jaunting to catch up with her, finally taking her hand in mine when I reach her. I don’t say anything, not wanting to crack the facade she has placed, only squeezing her palm in mine.
I don’t care what she says, Lennie and I are sticking around for a while. When we reach the entry to the reception hall, I pull her into my chest.
I bend down, kissing her deeply. Cupping her cheeks, I hold her close for an extra moment. Her arms are wrapped around my neck as we hold each other. I rest my forehead against hers as we break apart, catching our breath. “You are the strongest woman I know. I’msoproud of you. Watching you be amazing at your job, be an amazing mom, all by yourself, makes me so proud to call you my girl. Sunshine, you are so much stronger than you think. You did this. You built yourself a life without him, and I get to stand by your side and watch you thrive. Don’t let him take away your shine.”
“Thank you,” she murmurs, stretching up to take my lips one more time. She unwraps her arms from my neck, trailing her hands to rest her palms on my cheeks. “I…” She stops herself, but I have a feeling I know what she was going to say. I’ve been feeling the same. I just don’t know if I’m ready to put those emotions into the world yet.
“I’m so thankful I get to have you at my side,” she says instead.
I kiss her nose. “Go, be amazing.” I turn her toward the reception hall. She heads on her way, and I skim my gaze through the crowd, searching for Brad. I don’t see him, but I know I’m going to do everything in my power to keep an eye out for him the rest of the night. I’ll stay as long as I can.
37
JASON
It’s been nearly a week since the wedding where Fallon saw Brad, and she’s heard and seen nothing of him. He didn’t see, or interact with us at the wedding, so we figured it was a fluke.
Only now, he’s sitting at a table inmybrewery with the same woman he was with last week.
“Jason,” Brad calls from one of my high rise tables across the brewery.How the fuck does he know my name?Has he been watching us?
Trying to maintain a neutral expression, I walk over to the table. “Hi, how can I help you?” I ask. I’m not about to act like I know who this fucker is.
Brad offers me his hand, and I reluctantly shake it. I want to punch his face in, not act cordial, but I’m also in my business with other customers around.
“Jason, it’s been years,” Brad continues. “We went to school together. Well, college. You were a senior when I was a freshman.”
“Hmm,” I mutter noncommittally. “Sorry, I can’t say I remember you.”
His smarmy face tightens, his eyes narrowing. Of course this fucker would expect me to remember him from college. Had Fallon not told me all about him, I guarantee I wouldn’t know who he was.
Brad grits his teeth, and waves his hand. “The past is the past. Say, I was going to ask, have you seen or heard from Fallon Douglas? Or I suppose you would know her as Fallon Vosk. You two were pretty buddy-buddy if I remember right.” He narrows his eyes, and I can tell he’s digging. He has to know Fallon and I have been in contact, well, more than that, and he’s trying to get me to break, to give him information.
I try to make it seem like I’m pondering the name he’s given. I decide to be at least semi-truthful. “I’ve seen her, yes.”
“Great. Can you tell me where she is? I was at an event she worked at last week, and couldn’t seem to connect with her. Or better yet, call her for me and let her know that her ex-husband is looking for her? I’d do it myself but I’m not sure she still has my number.”
This. Mother. Fucker.
“No can do,” I say through gritted teeth, trying to keep my calm.
“Don’t play stupid, Jason.” He rolls his eyes. “Clearly, you’ve been in touch with her. It’s a small town, and your reaction is quite telling.”
“So what if I have? Why should I tell you where she is?”
“Because, we need to speak about private matters.”
“Listen here.” I move closer to him. The woman he’s with blanches, not expecting me to get so close. “I know where she is, but if she wants to see you, you’ll have to hear it directly from her.”
“I have the right to talk to her,” Brad tries to argue. “Youknow where she is. I have very important things to discuss with her, and you are doing whatever you can to prevent that.”
“No.” I hold my hand up to stop him. “You lost the right to talk to her the moment you decided to end your marriage without a second thought.”
