Page 137 of Faking Forever
She wasn’t sure whatthiswas, but seeing how frantic he was, hearing his desperation…
No. This was definitelynota discussion she wanted to have in front of her brothers.
He shocked her by sinking to his knees in front of her.
“Smith, what are youdoing?”
His hand went to his breast pocket, and he fumbled for something before holding her wedding rings aloft.
“I don’t want a divorce!”
The words were tossed down like a gauntlet. Combative. Loud and a little desperate.
He stared at her through wild eyes. He looked so tired and a little beat up, thanks to the fading bruise around his eye. He’d spent the weekend camping and then had driven most of the day today to get here. He must be exhausted.
Maybe that’s why he wasn’t making any sense.
“Whatisthis? Some kind of reverse proposal?” There was a muffled laugh from someone in the peanut gallery and she gave them a warning look, having momentarily forgotten that they were still there.
“Smith, I signed your papers.”
“No, fuck that. I contest.”
“What?”
“I contest. You can’t have this house. Or the car. Or my easy chair. I contest every damned term you agreed to.”
“They wereyourterms. Smith, for God’s sake, get up,” she whispered, putting a hand on his elbow and tugging. He glowered but got to his feet.
After another fulminating, frustrated glare at her avidly staring family—she really,reallyshouldn’t have insisted they talk in front of them—she tried to lead Smith away from the living room.
“Let’s talk in the study.”
“No,” he shook his head stubbornly. “I don’t care if they hear what I have to say. I don’t care if anyone hears what I have to say. I’m not ashamed of how I feel about you. Look, I know I was an arsehole, and if your brothers want to knock the shit outof me for hurting you, they’re welcome to do so, because I fucking deserve it.”
“Most sensible thing he’s said all night,” Nox said. “Although judging by that eye, it looks like someone already beat us to it.”
Kenny gave them an impatient glare, absently noting that none of them looked angry or concerned anymore. In fact, Cade had a half smile on his face.
“You can stay here if you like, Smith,” Kenny told him. “I’mgoing to the study.”
She walked away and he followed.
She shut the door firmly behind them, before sinking down onto the oversized leather chesterfield.
He didn’t follow suit, pacing up and down for a minute or so, before stopping abruptly and sinking down in the wingback chair. He leaned forward and stared at her intently.
“I. Do. Not. Want. A. Divorce.” He enunciated every word carefully and left them hanging there, waiting for her response.
She pursed her lips and considered that handsome, tired, bearded face for a long moment.
“Of course you want the divorce, you signed the documents before I did.”
“Weeks ago, a fucking lifetime ago…”
Her brain started going over the facts again and she chewed on her lip for a moment.
“If you were up on the mountain on Friday, you couldn’t have known they’d sent the documents.”
