Everyone knows we’re separated, but she likes to make it super awkward by still showing up and claiming to be there as my wife. I don’t even know how she finds out about them. The last one was at Asher Mayson’s barbeque about a year ago. We became close after his construction company built my house. He’s like, the cool uncle I never had because my parents’ siblings live in other states. Being the narcissist she is, and knowing how affluent and influential the Mayson family is in the area, she tries her best to be associated with them. And she’s so fucking delusional that when she suddenly walks in and everyone already knows only I was invited, not her, she doesn’t recognize the fact that it makes every person there super uncomfortable. She can’t fathom the thought that no one wants her there, that she brings the whole party to a screeching, painfully awkward stop, especially when I ask her what the fuck she’s doing there and she throws a damn tantrum like I’m the one making it weird.
It’s probably why I haven’t been invited back in a while. Best for everyone, since we don’t know how the hell she keeps finding out about them.
“Not lately, since I haven’t been either. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen much of her at all in quite some time. Sunday was the first time’s she brought Nick to me in a while. It’s usually her parents,” I say with a shrug.
“Wonder what’s got her so busy,” Steph says suspiciously.
I shrug again. “Don’t know, don’t care. The less I see of her, the better.”
She sits forward in her chair and rests her elbows on her desk. “You never know, boss. You could catch her with some other guy, and that would be the end of this charade. You’d be free and clear to date whoever the hell you want without the worry of losing everything.”
I snort out a short laugh. “I couldn’t get that lucky.”
She shakes her head. “I’m serious, Winston. Get a… a private investigator or something. Have them follow her. See what she’s up to. What could it hurt? If they catch her doing something, it would only add to the video you took of her being psycho, more evidence to show in court if you need it.”
I sigh. “Yeah, I’ll think about it. But I’d rather put as little thought into that woman as possible. I just want to keep what little peace we have between us and do my time. Then I can think about being happy with someone else.”
“Three years is a long time, boss. A lot can happen during that time. Like… the one you want could be off the market by then,” she points out, and my nostrils flare at the thought.
“That’s not happening,” I growl, a sense of possessiveness coming over me like I’ve never felt before.
Steph chuckles. “Oh yeah? And what would you be able to do about it if Cece starts dating after she and her husband are officially divorced?”
Over my dead fucking body, I think, and I stand from the chair, my hand shooting into my hair with a frustrated snarl.
“I’ve gotta start prepping for the dinner crowd,” I murmur, and I hear her chuckle behind me as I storm toward the kitchen. I take a moment to check in on my boy, who doesn’t even look up from his iPad where he’s buried in the pile of pillows, and I close the door once more. He can FaceTime me and he has a walkie talkie if he needs me. Mine is attached to my belt, turned on high so I can hear it over the loud sounds inside the kitchen.
I spend the next half hour cutting up vegetables, wondering if Cece is going to avoid me all night once she gets here for her shift.
16
Cece
It’s crowded tonight. One of the waitresses called in sick, so I’ve been pulling double duty, bartending and waiting tables. I’ve had to see and speak to Winston each time I’ve picked up a table’s order, but it’s been so busy I’ve had an excuse not to linger. Plus, he’s been working his ass off trying to keep up with the food, so he hasn’t tried to stop me.
An hour into my shift, I glance at the table where my sister is eating dinner with my girls and see Talon has joined them. I grin, seeing Mia watching him with a smile on her face as he says something to Ruby, and I make my way over to them.
I lay my hand on his shoulder and chirp his name. “Talon.” He tips his head back and returns my smile. “Mia didn’t tell me that you were coming with her and the girls tonight.”
“That’s because he didn’t come here with us. He came here with his uncles and brother,” Mia says, and I narrow my eyes on her for a moment before glancing around the restaurant.