“I’ll show you, baby. I’ll show you that I can change.”
I nod, still not completely convinced, but willing to give him another chance. “Okay, we can try again,” I reply, glancing down at our untouched meal. “Now, let’s eat before the food gets cold.”
He lets out a soft chuckle, then leans in to press a tender kiss on my lips. “I love you,” he whispers. “And I’m going to show you that I’m worthy of a second chance.”
I just smile and nod, silently praying and hoping that too.
CHAPTER 21
Jason
My phone buzzes on the bedside table like a chainsaw in my ear, wrenching me from a peaceful, deep sleep. With a groggy groan, I snatch it up, irritated by whoever’s calling me at one in the fucking morning. When I see Kaden’s name flashing across my screen, I let out a heavy, frustrated sigh before accepting the call.
“You do realise what time it is, Kaden?” I chide, not bothering to mask the irritation in my voice.
“I know, I’m sorry, but I have something to tell you.”
“And you couldn’t wait until the morning?”
“No, I can’t. I’m fucking shaking and I need to talk to someone right now.” The tremble in his voice makes my ears perk, worried that something serious has actually happened.
I quickly sit up and switch on the lamp. “Are you okay? What’s going on?”
“I found her, Jase! I found Skylar.”
My eyes widen like saucers, clearly taken aback by the sudden news. Leaning back against the headboard, I quickly rub the sleep from my eyes before responding. “What do you mean you found Skylar? Where?”
“Turns out my sneaky little wife has been leading a whole new life here in Brightly Bay for the past several months. And get this, she’s managed to find herself a brand-new man. Can you believe that?!”
It takes a lot to truly shock me. Not even my discovering Elena’s affairs had surprised me all that much. But hearing thatSkylar has built a whole new life for herself in another city right after walking out on her marriage—well, damn, that shit is next level.
When Kaden told me he’d be away in Melbourne for a few weeks on work, I thought it might do him some good. He’d be far from his insufferable girlfriend, free to breathe and focus without her suffocating presence hanging over him.
He’s been a miserable bastard since Skylar up and left him over several months ago.
Not even his relationship with his mistress has helped improve his mood. In fact, since Kaden moved in with Lucia, things have only gotten worse for him.
“Wait. Back up for a minute,” I tell him, my mind still spinning from the news. “How did you end up finding her?”
“I was dining with some colleagues at this restaurant, you know, for some team bonding, when all of a sudden the lights dimmed and these people started singing Happy Birthday to one of the customers. I didn’t see who it was, but I waited until the singing ended before I could get up and go to the bar. On the way there, I heard a laugh—one I knew all too well. So being the curious little fucker I am, I followed the sound. And there she was, my fucking wife… sitting in front of a birthday cake, wrapped in the arms of another man.”
I blow out a heavy breath. “Fuck, brother. I don’t even know what to say. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, well, so am I. But you know what’s crazy?”
“What?”
“She’s even more beautiful than I remembered. She looks happy, just... perfect.”
There’s something in his voice as he says those words that bring a smile to my face.
It’s that unmistakable tone, the one people use when speaking about someone who means the world to them. Someone they’vemissed deeply. Kaden might’ve destroyed his marriage, but it’s clear he’s still very much in love with his wife.
“I’m afraid to ask, but what are you going to do now?”
He’s quiet for a brief moment, then lets out a tenacious chuckle. “What do you think, Jase? I’m going to get my wife back.”
This morning, I woke with last night’s phone conversation still echoing in my mind.
