The Atonement (The Arrangement, #3)(42)

“Do you really think she might be staying here?” Gina asked, when we pulled onto the street in front of Adele’s house. I’d been avoiding parking in the street since getting accosted by the shirtless man, but most of the people in the neighborhood seemed to be at work during the day, and I was in a different car this time anyway, so I hoped that would be enough to keep me from getting berated by the neighbors for a few hours.

“Probably not,” I said. “Ainsley isn’t stupid, and she knows I’m looking for her. But it’s the only thing I have to go on. I’m hoping, if nothing else, Adele might lead me to her. ”

In truth, I couldn’t believe Gina had agreed to this. Stalking my wife. Then again, I was sure she was just using it as an excuse to spend time with me again. We’d never gotten the chance before, and she’d practically begged for it at the time.

Once, I’d have given anything for extra time with Gina. Now, I’d take the company, but amusement was as far as my interests went. My loyalties still lay with Ainsley.

“Looks like someone’s coming. Who is that?” she asked, pointing to the white pickup truck pulling into Adele’s driveway.

“No idea.” He stepped out of the truck, shielding his eyes from the sun as he looked over at us.

Gina sank down in her seat, pulling me down with her. She giggled. “Do you think he saw us?”

“I don’t think so. He doesn’t know who we are, even if he did.”

I eased myself up in the seat, watching as the man headed for the front door. He knocked and, minutes later, my mother-in-law appeared in the doorway and allowed him inside.

“This is kind of fun,” Gina said after a moment, breaking my concentration. “Like we’re cops on a stakeout.”

“It is, isn’t it?” I agreed.

“You know, I was doing some research last night, and it seems like if you talk to your lawyer about filing for custody, even if it’s just joint custody, they could help you locate your kids. It might be the best option.”

I nodded, looking over at her. “I’m already talking with my lawyer about it, but without an address to find Ainsley, it’s hard to serve her with papers.”

“Do you think she’d go so far as to take them out of the country?”

I stared at her, not wanting to contemplate the possibility. It was enough to make me sick. “I don’t want to believe it, no. But…” I gestured toward my wrist so she caught sight of the bandage again. “I guess you never really know someone, you know?”

“I’m worried about you, Peter.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I appreciate your help with this, but I’m going to be fine. I have to believe that.”

She was silent.

“Anyway, what does your fiancé think about you hanging out with me so much?”

“Why would he think anything about it?”

“Well, given our history, I just wondered if he was okay with this…”

“We went on one date that was interrupted,” she said flatly, looking out the window. “I’d hardly call that history.”

I gripped the steering wheel. “You’re right. I never paid you back for that meal, either.”

“I told you to keep it.” She adjusted in her seat, turning to face me.

I grinned. “Well, you never lost your hair, so I guess Mallory wasn’t too upset after all.”

She gave a sly grin. “Not at me, anyway. Though she certainly had a lot of unflattering things to say about you.” Her gaze raked down my body, and I shifted in place.

I chose my words carefully. “Well, I hope you didn’t believe her.”

“None of my business, anymore.”

A shudder of humiliation ran through me. “Yeah, bad timing, though. If things had worked out between us, I would’ve had a chance to prove her wrong.”

She twirled a piece of hair between her fingers. “Or right.”

I opened my mouth to interject, but closed it again. When she looked at me, she was practically basking in the knowledge of her power over me. “Jesus, Peter, I’m kidding. It’s a joke. Mallory was angry. I certainly didn’t take anything she said to heart. I’m sure she’s said loads of things about me to people when I’ve made her angry.”

It did little to calm my insecurities. The corner of my mouth twitched. “Well,” I said with a deep breath, “I guess we’ll never know now.” My tone carried a lightness I didn’t actually feel.

“I guess not…”

There was a long, brittle silence, making our close proximity seem even more uncomfortable.

“Probably for the best anyway,” I said.

She nodded. “I agree.”

“And now, you’ve got ole Nintendo 64 to keep you company.”

The tension melted between us as she furrowed her brow. “Nintendo 64?”

I laughed. “It’s the only Link I could think of.” When no recognition registered on her face, I added, “You never played…” I trailed off as she shook her head. “Well, now I know why it didn’t work out between us.”

“Why’s that?”

“You’re actually lame.”

She threw her head back with a laugh. “Oh I am, am I?”