Wanting something so badly, having it right in front of me but not being able to touch it? Hell on Earth.
“I never lied to you, Taiya,” I tilt my head. “I was going to sign them. Until I changed my mind. And I’ve never lied to you in the past, if you want to get into that right now.”
“I’m good, thanks,” she says quietly, glancing around the bar. “Nice place.”
“Thanks,” I say softly. Taiya was with me when we bought the bar, and for the grand opening. It’s changed a fair bit since then, as we made more money to do it up. “Did you find an apartment?”
Her eyes flare, surprised. “How did you know I was out looking?”
“Stopped by your house but you were gone. You know I have plenty of room at my place,” I offer, adding a charming smile and a raised eyebrow.
Her lip twitches. Such a small gesture, yet the best I’ve gotten so far. I’m considering it progress. “Sure, live with my ex-husband. I’m sure that’s a great idea,” she says sarcastically.
“Husband,” I correct.
“What?”
“I’m not your ex-husband. I’m your husband,” I repeat.
She lifts her shoulder in a shrug, trying to play it off like she doesn’t care, but I don’t miss the flash of anger in her eyes. “You don’t act like my husband, and a piece of paper doesn’t change that.”
“Ouch,” I say, putting my hand over my heart. “I’m glad a piece of paper doesn’t change anything for you, because I’m not signing those papers.”
She is silent for a moment before she responds. “You never used to be this selfish, Ryan,” she says softly, looking down into her drink. My heart hurts in that moment; the pressure actually burns.
“Yeah, well, I used to have you,” I reply quietly, now looking down myself. When I glance up at her, she’s already watching me. Her eyes speak for her, letting me see much more than she would ever say out loud. I hurt her enough that it perhaps changed her, but my Taiya is still standing in front of me.
“You’re going to put this on me?” she says, wrinkling her nose. My hand aches to reach out and touch her, to run my finger along the curve of her jaw, my thumb across the bottom of her lip. But I don’t. She’s not ready for that… yet.
“No. Does it matter?” I ask her, my eyes darting to the door as a customer walks in. She turns her head to follow my line of sight, giving me a glimpse of the tattoo behind her ear. The letter R she got tattooed right after I proposed to her. The letter is in the centre of an infinity sign, and has a little red heart connected to it.
“Sign the papers, Ryan,” she says, sounding resigned. I reach out and trace her tattoo with my finger. She shivers at my touch, before pulling away so she’s out of my reach.
“We can talk about it over dinner,” I suggest, needing to be around her anyway I can. When it comes to her, I will take whatever I can get. She purses her lips but doesn’t say yes or no, just flashes me a curious look as she turns to walk out. My eyes follow her until she leaves my sight.
*****
“What are you doing here?” Taiya asks as she open the door to her house.
I try to hide my nervousness and put on a smile. “Last night, you said we could talk. Over dinner.”
She gapes. “No, you said we could talk over dinner. I didn’t respond. My silence was a no.”
“Well, you should have been clearer.”
“How much clearer could I have been? I don’t want to have dinner with you, Ryan. What are we going to do? Reminisce on the old times? Like when you ripped my heart out and stomped on it? That’s a good place to start,” she says, hurting me with each word.
I swallow before answering, “We had good times too.”
She nods once. “Sure we did. But the bad moments kind of overshadow the good ones.”
Does she know what she’s doing to me with each comment? If she wants payback, she’s getting it tenfold. “I don’t believe that’s true.”
“Yes, well, I tried to be a good wife to you. I was always honest, faithful, and loyal. I wasn’t perfect but I tried my best,” she shrugs like it doesn’t matter.
“You were perfect,” I cut in before she can finish her tirade.
She drops her gaze. “Right, well, I guess perfect wasn’t good enough for you.”
I sigh, “It wasn’t you, Taiya—”
Now, it’s her turn to cut me off. “It wasn’t me; it was you. Oh, trust me, Ryan. I know it was you. That’s why we won’t be going to dinner. If you care about me at all, sign those papers. Let me go.”
With that parting shot, she closes the door in my face.
Chapter Three
“I’m this close to forging your signature, Ryan,” comes a familiar voice. I stop in my tracks and turn around, grinning when I lay my eyes on her.
“Are you following me now? That’s kind of hot,” I tease, devouring her with my eyes. It’s been a long two weeks since I’ve laid my eyes on her, and I’ve been going insane. Trying to stay away, like she wanted, but not being able to get her out of my mind.
“No, unfortunately, the fates are out to get me,” she grits out. “Vindictive bitches that they are.”
“How so?” I ask, leaning forward. My brow furrows at the expression on her stunning face.
“I didn’t know you lived in this building. I just saw Summer and Reid,” she says, visibly cringing.