“No one has a perfect marriage, Charly. That’s not realistic.”
“I don’t need perfect,” I reply. “I just need perfect for me.”
“He’ll come along.”
“Yes, but you don’t have to deliver him to me.”
“You’re so ungrateful,” he says with a smile in his voice. “Get some sleep.”
“You too. Love you.”
“Love you.”
Chapter Eight
~Simon~
“Is this the first night without the baby?” I ask Kelly and Todd as we sit down to dinner in one of our favorite restaurants in London.
“I wish you’d brought her,” Violet says with a pout. “I haven’t seen her in days.”
“Well, it’s the first night Todd and I have been away from her together, so this is a treat,” Kelly replies and takes a deep breath. “I missed you all while you were in the States. Todd filled me in, but did the two of you have a good time?”
“Montana is always beautiful,” I say and set my menu aside.
“So was a certain—”
“Well, hello there.”
All four of our heads whip up to see my ex-wife standing near our table with a smirk on her undeniably beautiful face.
“Hello, Amy,” Kelly says, always the peacekeeper. “How are you?”
“I’m wonderful,” Amy says and tosses her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Aren’t you going to say hello to your wife, Simon?”
“Ex wife,” I reply and offer her a cold smile. “Hello.”
“It’s so nice to see the old gang together,” Amy says, her eyes turning cold when they land on Violet. “I’ve missed my friends.”
“We’re not your friends,” Violet says, her hand balled in a fist on the table. There’s no dramatic, sordid history between the two; Violet just hates Amy. Passionately.
“I see.” Amy turns her attention back to me and sets her hand on my shoulder. Her touch makes my skin crawl. I would shrug her off, but I don’t want to cause a scene, and with Amy, things could escalate to horrific display in a matter of seconds. “How are you, darling?”
“I’m good.”
“Simon’s great,” Violet says. “His business is growing by leaps and bounds. Didn’t you see him on the telly recently?”
Shut up, Violet.
“No, I must have missed it. I did hear about your book hitting the New York Times.”
“Six weeks in a row,” Kelly adds, raising her glass in salute.
“Most of his television appearances have been in the US,” Violet says, nodding. “That could be why you missed them. You should look them up on YouTube. He’s become quite the sensation.”
“That’s enough,” Todd says quietly to his sister. “Have a good evening, Amy.”
“Well.” She clears her throat, her gaze still on mine, and then as if she’s gathering herself, she puts on a dazzling smile for the group. “Yes, I should join my friends. I don’t want to be rude.”
“Too late,” Violet says and waves goodbye as Amy walks away. “I hate her.”
“Rubbing Simon’s success in her face doesn’t do anyone any good,” Todd says immediately.
“It was really more of a he’s doing much better without you dig,” she clarifies and takes a long gulp of her wine.
Todd and I share a long look. He’s the only one in the world who knows everything about my tumultuous relationship with Amy and what she put me through during our marriage. The others just know how it ended, and that’s bad enough to make them want her to suffer.
“How can you not gloat a bit to that bitch?” Violet asks.
Because the result would be far worse than just ignoring her.
“Because she’s not worth it,” I reply with a shrug. “She’s not even on my radar anymore.”
“So let’s stop talking about her,” Kelly says. “I’m baby-less, with some of my favorite people and I don’t have to make a bottle or change a nappie. So tell me more about Montana. Were there some fun women there this time?”
“It was a great group,” I reply before Violet can, making her scowl at me. “It was fantastic.”
“Simon met a girl,” Violet announces as quickly as she can between my comments. “That’s the most important thing.”
“Remind me again why we bring you to these things?” Todd says, rubbing his temple. “You’re a pain in the arse.”
“No, this is important, and you seemed to leave it out,” Kelly responds, watching me with surprised brown eyes. “Who is she?”
She’s the most incredible woman I’ve ever met in my life.
“She was a client,” I say instead and wince. “I’m not proud of that part.”
“I know you,” Kelly says with a shake of the head. “You didn’t flaunt it in front of the others, and you were professional as well. I doubt you have anything to be ashamed of.”
“She’s right,” Todd agrees, surprising me. “You were discreet and Charly is great.”
“Her name is Charly?” Kelly asks. “Tell me more about her.”
“She lives in New Orleans where she owns a shoe store.”
“My kind of woman,” Kelly says with a wink.
“She’s funny, and strong, and we enjoyed each other while we were there.”
“And that’s it?”
“That’s it.”