Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Unfortunately, I almost have a huge choking fit because walking into the bar is my ex-husband George and his new wife, Madeleine. I panic for a moment because I don’t want them to see me, nor do I care to have any interaction with them. My marriage ended on a horrible note and George has a mean streak. He hated the way I battled to get the minimum I was entitled to in the divorce and any time we happened to run into each other, it was not pleasant.
George Foyette is a classic narcissist who thinks the world revolves around him. He enjoyed tearing me down during our marriage. A general practitioner, he thinks his medical degree makes him better than anyone who doesn’t have one. He is fourteen years older than I am, but the age gap never really mattered. Certainly not to George, who likes his women a lot younger than himself. Even though I am educated with a doctorate in education, George never thought I was good enough to do anything other than cook and clean for him. He certainly wasn’t ever proud that I run an entire elementary school.
I take in his new wife. Madeleine is beautiful—all blond curls, overly white smile and new double D’s he bought her—and only twenty-four years old. The age gap between her and George is much larger than the years between George and me, though I’m not sure that matters to the young woman. I don’t know if she loves him or if she’s looking for a golden ticket, but it doesn’t matter because she’s as complicit in the affair as George was. Now they have their own child, and while it doesn’t necessarily hurt my feelings that George willingly gave Madeleine a baby when he wouldn’t do it for me, it only serves to remind me that I’d been taken for granted in that relationship for way too long.
I swivel on my barstool, giving George and his new wife my back as they walk in. To my great luck, they walk right by me. I think I’m safe, but through the reflection in the mirror behind the bar, I see when George turns around and spots me.
A malicious smile splits his face as he tugs on Madeleine’s hand and nods my way.
Madeleine doesn’t look happy to see me, but George pulls her along, drawing up right next to my barstool.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
“None of your business, George. I stopped being your business when we divorced.”
His face flushes red. He doesn’t like anybody battling against him and takes great offense that I would dare do so.
He sneers. “It’s pathetic, you sitting here all alone at this bar drinking, perhaps waiting for somebody to come sweep you off your feet.”
I want to snap back a retort, but frankly that hurts a little and I’m embarrassed. I almost slide off my stool, intent on hiding in the bathroom until they leave, when a deep male voice says from behind me, “She’s not alone.”
Ethan Blackburn.
I knew it was him before I even twisted my neck to glance over my shoulder to watch him settle onto the adjacent stool. “Sorry I’m late,” he says, loud enough for George and Madeleine to hear.
He doesn’t do anything overt to make it look like he’s here on a date with me or that we’re even here as friends. He reaches across me to hold out his hand to George. “Ethan Blackburn.”
George reluctantly shakes Ethan’s hand, appraising him, who is not only younger but a million times more handsome. As George got older, his jowls sagged and his belly grew. “Dr. George Foyette.”
Ethan looks at me in question as he ends the handshake.
“My ex-husband,” I explain and then nod toward the blond at George’s side. “This is his new wife Madeleine. He was cheating with her during our marriage and she got pregnant.”
Ethan doesn’t spare George or Madeleine another glance but instead bumps his shoulder against mine and says loudly enough for them to hear, “Looks like you got the better end of that deal.”
I can’t help but laugh. Ethan’s implying that not only did I get the better deal in losing a whole husband but also that I’m here with him, and anybody stacking the two men against each other would know that Ethan is the way better choice, based on looks and presence alone.
George’s mouth flattens in disapproval and I smile back at him. “Have a good evening.”
Without another word, George pulls his young wife away and they melt farther into the bar area. I watch them leave, the joy at stunning him speechless quickly diminishing and replaced with embarrassment.
I swivel on the stool to face Ethan. “I’m sorry you had to witness that.”
He grins, leaning an elbow on the bar. “Quite the contrary, I enjoyed you putting him in his place. He looks like an absolute douche.”