Fair.
What the fuck was fair about her coming to me with that pitiful ring on her finger?
“You’re still married.” It wasn’t really a question.
Madison nodded. “Lip won’t ask you…but he’s had problems…since Sherman Brothers.”
I stood taller. “Are you asking for me to give Lip a job?”
“No, he wouldn’t take it.”
“Do you want a job?”
She slowly shook her head. “No, I want something else.”
“Fuck, Madison, say it and get out. My answer is to go back to your husband. You want a favor from me, bring me divorce papers. Phillip may have gotten my sloppy seconds, but I’m sure as fuck not taking his.”
“He’s working,” she spoke fast, her words overlapping, “but it doesn’t pay that well. He deserves more. All I’ve ever wanted was to be happy. I was hoping that maybe…”
“A loan. A gift. Help me out here. Ask your sister. She can spot you a few hundred grand.”
“I don’t want money, Van, and Lena can’t help me, not like you can.”
I had no fucking clue where this conversation was going. “Your time is about up.”
“Lip…Phillip doesn’t know I’m here.” She turned back to the window, showing me her round ass.
“Where does he think you are?”
“Visiting Lena.”
“Lena knows you’re here.” I wasn’t asking.
“She knows to say I’m with her.” Madison spun toward me; her green stare focused on mine. “I don’t usually lie to him.”
“Usually? You just lie to him when it’s about me.”
“This isn’t about you, Van. It’s about Lip. He’s been stressed. The bills and expenses. I mean, I get it. His parents…yourparents,” she corrected, “can’t help. They have their own problems. You know that.”
I did.
I owned their collective failure.
It should make me feel like shit.
It didn’t.
“Anyway,” she hummed when I didn’t take the bait. “I think what we need…well, he doesn’t know I’ve tried, but I have for a long time and still…”
My head was about to split wide open at her fucking puzzle. I eyed the decanter of bourbon, ready to down a few fingers. “You know, Madison, I fucking hate games.”
“Really? You sure as hell played one at my wedding.”
It was the first time she or anyone had acknowledged what we’d done, and true to form, I felt no regret. “How did it feel walking down the aisle with my come on your thighs?”
Her shoulders slumped. “Fuck you, Van.”
I felt the tips of my lips rise. “Is that what you want? What are you saying, Lip’s stressed and can’t get it up? You came here to be fucked.”