Page 73 of The Troublemaker
“No,” he deadpans.
My shoulders sink.Too good to be true.But I do wonder if I slept with Hadley, would this weird tension when our eyes lock finally evaporate?I’m sure she’s never gone this long without sex before either.She must be on the brink like me.
He shakes his head.“Your dick stays out of it until you’re sure.”
“But he doesn’t like to be left out.”
Decker doesn’t laugh at my joke.No surprise, he never entertains my deflection.
“Fine, dad, I get the point.”
He stands.“There’s a reason you called me and not Foster.Remember that.”
“You’re my best friend.”
“You already knew it was a bad idea to sleep with your fake wife-slash-nanny.You just needed someone else to tell you.That’s why I’m standing here right now.Good luck on the mom search.Let me know how it pans out for you.”
He walks down the steps, and my phone vibrates in my pocket.
Hadley: Hey, where are you?
On the rooftop.
I hate to ask you this, but do you mind having dinner with my mom tonight?She’s on me and just sent me your schedule with a question mark on today.
I huff.It’s the least I can do for her.
Sure.I’ll be down in a second.
Thanks.I’ll fake sick mid dinner and we can leave early.
I don’t respond, finishing my beer.We’ll stay as long as we have to.
I owe her that much.
Even if it kills me a little more to pretend to be her husband—touching her and kissing her.It’s like the most torturous form of foreplay I’ve ever been a part of.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Easton
We take an Uber to the north suburbs of Chicago, where Hadley’s mom lives.
Tanner is strapped into the car seat between us, but even with Hadley on the other side of the vehicle from me, her anxiety fills the interior of the car.Her gaze has remained outside the entire ride, never entertaining my jokes with more than a small smile before she turns back to the window.
“Hey.”I reach over Tanner and touch her arm.“I was meant for this moment.”
She smiles and puts her hand on Tanner’s chest.“You have no idea what she’s like.”
We pull onto a drive lined with trees on either side, and the house comes into view.My suspicion was correct.Hadley Hargrove comes from money.
Her face is visibly stricken when the huge Tudor-style house comes into view and the car rounds the circular driveway.It’s decorated for spring, flowerpots lining the steps up to the double front door.A Range Rover is parked in front, along with a Mercedes SUV.
“Whit and Sloane are here too,” she says under her breath.
She opens the door as the driver comes to a stop in front of the house, and I do the same before unbuckling the carrier to bring Tanner out.I thank the driver and meet her on the other side of the car.
She stands in front of the house, staring at it, and I slip my hand in hers, squeezing it to sayI’m here, I’m on your side.
