The Best of Us (Sullivan's Crossing #4)(67)

“That would be a matter of opinion,” she said. “Weren’t you engaged within a couple of months of leaving me with an entire wedding to pay for? With gifts to return? With a wedding dress to sell? And a broken heart? You’re pond scum!”

“All right, settle down...”

She stood, frowning blackly. Because never in the history of the world has telling a woman to settle down resulted in her settling down. Her cheeks flamed.

“It was more like six months, but you’re absolutely right, I’m an idiot,” he said. “And I paid, trust me. As I said in my email, I’m divorced now.”

“Twice,” she said.

He rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. “Thank you, Mom. So, I got the reward I deserved. Satisfied?”

She sat. “At last, something we agree on. What do you want?”

“First, I want you to accept my apology and free me from the terrible guilt.”

“I actually like the idea of you suffering, but if it will end this torture, fine. I accept your apology.”

“Since I’m probably going to be living around here, we can be friends.”

“No,” she said. “No, we can’t. My fiancé would not like that.”

“Oh?” he said. “When are you getting married?”

“We haven’t made any concrete plans yet but you can trust me—I don’t want to be friends and he wouldn’t like it, either.”

“Is he the jealous type?” Johnny asked, raising his eyebrows.

“He’s violent,” she said. “Not toward me, of course. But you could probably bring the rage out in him like you do everyone else. So, are we finished here?”

“Sure,” he said. “We can be done. Leigh, I was wrong, I know that. But I was a kid, had just come home from deployment and made some bad choices. I paid for them. I’ve regretted every bit of it ever since. I’m sorry. If we can’t be friends, I had hoped we could at least be friendly.”

“We’ll be friendly,” she said. “If I see you walking down the street, I won’t throw garbage at you.”

“Nice,” he said, standing. “Okay, then. I won’t bother you again.” He headed to the door. He looked over his shoulder. “Oh. My mom and dad send their love.” Then he was gone.

Leigh rested her head in her hand. “God,” she said. That was horrible, she thought. Outrageously horrible. Why couldn’t she just act like she didn’t care since she desperately wanted not to care? Why’d she have to blast him with her temper like that? Like she was still angry because she longed for him? It was ridiculous to be angry about something that happened thirteen years ago! It wasn’t a crime, it was a breakup.

And besides, she thought... Her mouth hung open as she pondered. What if she’d actually married him? She’d never been as sure of anything in her life as she had been about her decision to marry Johnny, her best friend, her lover. Clearly it would have been a disaster!

She called Helen’s cell phone. “Hi. Where are you?”

“On the porch, writing. Are you all right?”

“I’m not sure. Johnny Holliday was just here.”

“Where?” Helen said. “Colorado?”

“My office,” she said. “He wants me to forgive him. He wants to be friends. I was completely awful to him.”

“Well, did you get it out of your system?” Helen asked.

“I don’t want to be angry,” she said. “I want to not give a flying fuck. Sorry, that slipped out.”

“I’ve never been pregnant,” Helen said. “Does it make one very emotional and somewhat out of control?”

“I don’t know but it’s a damn sight better than crying and hugging him.”

“I’ll agree there,” Helen said. “What the devil is he doing here?”

“He says it’s some job interview. He’s been married and divorced twice. Why would he want to be friends with me?”

Helen groaned. “You know, for a brilliant girl, sometimes you’re so dense. He’d like you to be the third one.”

“As if,” she said.

“You and I have never seen Mr. Johnny Holliday in the same light. I suppose it’s not entirely your fault—you were just a girl then and he was a popular and attractive young man. Everyone liked him. Wasn’t he some sort of king in high school or something? I can’t exactly remember. But he was his mother’s pet and got away with murder.”

“She did always make excuses for him,” Leigh said.

“He was a manipulative little bastard,” Helen replied.

Leigh laughed. “I do love that you’re still angry with him, too.”

“I was so relieved that you didn’t marry him. Sorry you were so heartbroken, but I was thankful. He wasn’t evil, I don’t mean that. But he was not sincere. He got his way with his charm and looks. He has incredible sense of entitlement. I believe he uses people and some of them are pleased to be used. He’s been living with his parents the last three years, all because he has such unappreciative bosses and nasty, selfish ex-wives, according to Dottie. I’m glad you were mean to him and pitched him out the door. He’d better be careful he doesn’t run into me.”