Mr Spencer(142)

I’ve been in Maui for two days, and I have to agree, it’s the perfect TTT trip destination.

“Mind if I sit down?” a familiar voice asks.

I look up in surprise to see William. “What? Where… how did you…?”

He pulls the seat out and sits down. “A little birdie told me where to find you.”

“How did he…?” My face falls. “The letter.” I look around in a panic.

“I’m alone, don’t worry.” He smiles softly. “You really need to up your hiding skills, though.” He takes my hand over the table. “I suggest Switzerland if you don’t want to be found.”

I lean over and kiss his cheek and smile. “I’m sorry about all of this.”

He squeezes my hand. “Don’t be.”

The waiter comes over. William looks at my glass. “What are we drinking?”

“Margaritas.” I smirk.

“Two margaritas, please,” he tells the waiter.

“Yes, sir.” The waiter disappears.

“Who sent you?” I ask.

“Spencer.”

The mere mention of his name brings tears to my eyes. “Is he…” okay?

He shrugs and stares out at the ocean. “I don’t really care how he is, to be honest.”

I nod and am quickly reminded of who I’m talking to.

“Are you okay?” he asks me.

I shake my head. “No, but I will be.” I get a lump in my throat. “I just need some time.”

He nods as he watches me and his drink arrives. He holds it up.

“Miserable in Maui.” He smirks as a toast.

“Isn’t that the truth?” I take a sip. “I mean, I wanted to spend some time with you, but this type of bonding is a bit extreme.”

He chuckles, and my eyes linger on his face. The wind whips up and the sound of the gentle waves lapping the shore echoes in the distance.

“What?” he asks.

“You seem different.” I frown.

“How so?”

“I don’t know, you just do.”

“I’m divorcing Penelope.”

“You are?” I ask hopefully, and then my face falls as reality creeps back in as to why. “Is this because of Spencer? Has seeing him opened a can of worms for you?”

He stares out over the sea as he thinks. “No, we were always going to end.” He sips his drink. “It took some time to prepare myself to walk away. Although all this has forced my hand. When you get married you just assume…” He shrugs. “You assume that it’s all going to turn out, you know?”

I nod as I listen.

“Finding out that the person you fell in love with doesn’t love you back… it’s a tough pill to swallow.”

His words come a little too close to home, and my eyes glaze over.

“I never aspired to be a divorcee.” He frowns. “She’s been seeing someone else.”

“What?”

“I caught her out again just recently. She doesn’t know that I know.”

I stare at him, my heart filled with sadness. “God, Will.”

He shrugs. “I asked Spencer to testify that he was sleeping with her while she was married to me.”

“What?” I frown. “What did he say?”

“He said that he didn’t want to drag you through the mud any more, and his only concern was you.”

My heart drops. My welfare has only ever been his concern.

We sit in silence for a while as we both stare out to sea, lost in our own sad thoughts.

“Are you going to take him back?” he eventually asks.

I bring my feet up onto my chair and tuck them under myself. “I wish it was that easy.”

He raises a brow. “What do you mean?”

I run my finger along the edge of the table as I try to piece together my jumbled thoughts. “Every time I think of him, I see Penelope. He knew she was married, for sure.”

He clenches his jaw. “I don’t think he did, to be honest.”

“He’s made a fool of both of us, William. Have you seen the tabloids? We’re a laughing stock,” I whisper. “How am I supposed to forgive him for that?”

I wipe a stray tear and smile sadly. “I’m not sure I like this relationship thing.”

“It fucking sucks. Badly.”

I giggle at the irony of our situation. “Did you ever imagine sitting here in Maui and having this conversation?”

He shakes his head. “Can’t say that I did.”

I giggle, despite my tears, and then some kind of sanity band breaks and we look at each other and both burst out laughing.

William puts his hands over his eyes. “This is the most fucking ridiculous situation I’ve ever heard of.”

I laugh harder. “I know.”

“Poor fucking Edward.” He chuckles.

We suddenly fall serious as we think of the anguish our brother will be going through over this. He’ll be having a conniption from the disgrace of it all.

“He knew heartbreak was imminent for me,” I say.

“I know he did.” He sighs sadly. “He was only trying to protect us both in his own fucked up way.”