Unfinished Ex (Calloway Brothers, #2)(65)

“It’s so sad she hasn’t been back here,” Tag says. “She always said she never wanted to leave. I wonder why she’s stayed away so long.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Addy says, looking at Cooper. “Think about it. If Maddie died and she had an identical twin sister who you’d run into everywhere in town, would you really stick around?”

“You think she left because of him?” I say. “Cooper isn’t even here most of the time. Everyone knows that.”

Cooper picks at the table. “If she’s staying away, it’s because she doesn’t want to be around the person who’s responsible for his death.”

Addy sighs sadly. “Would you stop saying that? You are the only person who thinks it.”

Cooper looks over at the bar where a picture of Serenity and Donny is proudly displayed on the wall next to the large bar mirror. “No. I’m not the only one.”

We all drink in silence, our normally chatty foursome at a loss for words.

Finally, my sister turns to me. “So, what’s new with you?”

Suddenly, I feel like I’m on stage, and a spotlight is pointed directly at me. I can’t tell them.

“A lot, if the rumors are true,” Coop says.

I swear to God I’ll rip Hudson McQuaid’s throat out if he said anything. “Rumors?”

“About you and Nicky getting back together. I knew you were sleeping with her, but Ava Criss told Amber Thompson that it’s more serious than that.”

“It is more serious than that. In fact, we’re going to try this thing long distance when she goes back to Oklahoma.”

Addy bounces in her seat, clapping. “I’m so happy for you. I knew you belonged together. And now that I know she never cheated on you, I love her again. I’m still mad at her a little for leaving you, but I can’t blame her for going after a career. Do you think you’ll get married again? Oh, please get remarried. What a story that would be for your kids.”

Kids. Aaand fuck, the elephant sitting on my chest just got a lot heavier.

“One, it’s way too early to be thinking about marriage. And two, don’t be mad at her, Addy. It was my fault, too. We both had a hand in things going wrong.”

“How did you have a hand in it?” Tag asks.

I look down at the table, guilt consuming me as I finally reveal my secret. “I’m the one who cheated, not Nicky.”

I don’t need to look up to know that three pairs of stunned eyes are watching me. Their silence tells me all I need to know. “You slept around on her?” Tag looks at me with more disappointment than I’ve ever seen. “What the fuck, Jaxon?”

“I didn’t sleep with anyone, but I could have. I stopped it before it went any further than a kiss.”

I run a hand through my hair. “I know I messed up big time. Believe me, I’ve apologized to her. There are a lot of things we both apologized for.”

“A kiss?” Cooper says, laughing. “You’re all getting your panties in a twist over a kiss?”

Addy leans over and swats his arm. “A kiss is still cheating, you idiot.”

“Barely. And why the hell would you even tell her about it?”

I shake my head. “Addy’s right. It is cheating. And I told her because the guilt has been eating away at me for years. No matter what was happening in our marriage and how distant I felt we’d become, it was reprehensible. There was no excuse. And I’ve been a fool for letting people around here think she’s the one who did wrong.”

Addy sits back and crosses her arms. “Of all my brothers, you’re the last one I would have expected this from.”

Fuck. I feel about two inches tall. I know I’ve let down more than just Nicky.

Tag drinks slowly, still brooding. I get it. He was devastated when he found out about Mom cheating on Dad. I find it a bit ironic, however, that the former Casanova of Calloway Creek is the most upset by my revelation.

“Listen,” I say. “Mind if we talk about something else? Like if Tag and Maddie have set a date yet?”

“She wants a spring wedding,” he says. “May probably. Or June. She’s checking out places for the reception.”

“Places?” Cooper laughs. “Isn’t there like one place here—that hall over on 8th Avenue?” He glances around. “Or here. Plenty of people have receptions here.”

“Dude, I’m not having my wedding reception in a neighborhood bar and grill.”

Cooper shrugs. “I don’t see why not. Hey, Donny! You’d throw my brother here a hell of a wedding party, right?”

He holds up the glass of whatever he’s pouring. “Sure would. But bachelor parties are a hella more fun.”

“Fuck yeah,” Cooper says. “Now your bachelor party is something I’d come back for.”

Tag pins him with his stare. “But not the wedding?”

“Fine. The wedding too. It is kind of a momentous occasion, the playboy of Cal Creek getting hitched and all.”

“Says the other playboy of Cal Creek.”

“Nah, man. Not anymore. Women are far more trouble than they’re worth.” He turns to me.

“Case in point.”

“Hey,” Addy says, faking being overly offended. “I am a woman, you know.”