Tamed (Torn #5)(57)

His nostrils flared. “Well, my wife’s a bitch, so I guess that makes us a good pair.”

“I guess it does.” I grabbed my purse and started to stand. “Nice chatting with you.”

He grabbed my wrist before I could leave. “I’ve been married for two years now. I’ve hated every minute of it. I think she has, too.”

“Then, why don’t you just leave her?”

“It’s not that simple.” He glanced down to where he was holding my wrist.

He ran his thumb across my skin, and I couldn’t stop the shiver that ran through my body. If he weren’t married, I would offer to let him come back to my apartment.

“It is that simple. If you love her, stay faithful. If you don’t, then leave. End of story,” I told him.

“It’s not that easy if your father-in-law is also your boss,” he grumbled. “Trust me, if I thought I could leave, I would, but I like my job. There aren’t a lot of openings in the area for someone with my degree, and I want to stick around Morgantown.”

I studied him for a moment. “What do you want me to say here, Alex?”

He shrugged as he released my arm. For some stupid reason, I settled back down onto the barstool.

“There’s really nothing you can say. It did feel good to get that off my chest though.”

“I can’t believe you got married in college. From what I remember, you were all about not settling down.”

He grinned, but it faded quickly. “I was. Then, I met Joanne, and…yeah, I thought I loved her. When she pushed me to get married, I didn’t want to, but she wore me down. Then, once we were married, she started to change. The sweet, kind girl I fell for disappeared. In her place was a stuck-up, controlling, mean woman who lived to piss me off. It’s only gone downhill from there.”

“Have you tried counseling?” I winced. Why the f*ck was I trying to give out relationship advice? I was the last person who should be doing that.

“No. She wouldn’t go anyway. She’d be afraid someone might find out that our lives aren’t perfect.”

I stared at him. God, he looked so…defeated and just plain old sad. “Alex, you shouldn’t waste your time on someone who makes you this miserable.”

“I’m trapped. There’s no way I’m going to throw away my career and home just to escape her. I’ll deal.”

I finished off my drink and motioned for another one. It looked like I wasn’t going to drive myself home tonight.

“Love sucks,” I mumbled as the bartender put another drink in front of me.

I picked it up and took a drink and then another. Listening to Alex talk about his problems was reminding me of my own.

“Yeah, it does. The worst part is that I doubt if she even loves me. She just likes the fact that I’m hot, and I bring home a nice paycheck.”

I grinned. “You are kinda hot.”

He chuckled. “I know.”

We sat in silence for a few minutes as I drank my concoction, and he sipped his beer.

“I think she’s cheating on me.”

I almost choked on my drink. “Why do you think that?”

“She’s been…distant lately, more than normal, and she’s never home. She tells me that she’s out with her friends, but I don’t buy it. She was supposed to be out with her friend Samantha one night, but then I saw Samantha at the gas station without her. I know Joanne is lying, but I can’t catch her. I’m not even sure if I want to.”

“Damn,” I mumbled.

“Yeah. So, as you can see, my life is pretty f*cked-up right now.”

“Just a little,” I mumbled.

He grinned. “You still hate me for hitting on you?”

“A little. I’ve decided not to punch you in your junk though. Consider that a win.”

“My junk thanks you.”

I laughed. I realized the alcohol was starting to hit me as the room spun a little, and I had to grab the bar.

“Whoa, you okay?” Alex asked, his voice full of concern.

“I’m fine,”

“You don’t look fine.”

I glared at him. “The vodka is catching up with me, that’s all. I think I need to head home.”

“You’re not driving,” he said.

I rolled my eyes. “Wasn’t planning on it. I’ll call a cab.”

“Let me take you home.”

I shook my head.

“Come on, I won’t bite.”

I pointed to the beer in his hand. “You’ve been drinking, too.”

“This is my first beer, and it’s still half full. I’m fine.”

I shook my head again. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

He grabbed my arm and pulled me a little closer. “Let me take you home. I have nowhere else to be. It’s not like we haven’t been alone before. I promise to be good.”

I studied him for a moment before sighing. “Fine. Come on.”

He grinned as he helped me stand. He kept his arm around my waist as we walked through the bar. I tried to shove it away, but he wasn’t having it.

“If I let you go, you might fall. I’m only watching out for you.”

“Sure you are,” I muttered as we stepped outside.