I’m taken aback by his words. Then, the truth punches me in the gut.
“You don’t want to be married to me any longer?” I ask.
“No,” he states.
“I guess that makes you lucky, then. Some of us don’t get to choose.”
“Keir will have us divorced before you know it. You can choose after that.”
“Can I?”
He shrugs. “Probably not.”
“Would you like to be friends?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“I don’t befriend people I fuck.”
“We will no longer fuck,” I inform him.
I can see his mouth perk up, but he chooses to say nothing.
“I don’t hate you, Joey. I’m rather fond of you, actually. You may be an ass, but you are a good ass.” I reach for his hand, and he lets me hold it. “You proved that to me with Becca. And you still have her dog.”
“It’s my dog now.”
“See? An ass wouldn’t take in a dog.”
“They will be waiting for us. I don’t particularly want to be smacked in the head again by my mother for being late.”
“I like her,” I admit.
“I know.”
“She wants me to move in with her,” I tell him, trying to read his reaction. “She actually demanded I do.”
“If that’s what you want.”
“I never wanted to be a burden to you. I know you don’t want kids.” That part made me fight our relationship, to begin with.
“No, I don’t.”
I nod, not expecting him to change his answer but hopeful one day he may. Making my way back to the dining room, everyone’s attention falls on us when we enter.
“Did you fuck in the bathroom?” Lucas asks.
“Lucas,” Bianca chides.
He laughs and raises a brow, expecting us to answer.
That isn’t going to happen anytime soon.
* * *
Dinner went well after that,and Joey and I had no more tussles. Actually, we hardly spoke, even as I left. Not even a goodbye. Bianca sent me back to the hotel, requesting Lucas drive me and assist with the packing. He pulled a face but took me anyway.
“You two should just fuck again. I like him better when he’s getting pussy,” Lucas says as we walk into the hotel room, and I roll my eyes. Jerome went with Bianca as he fell asleep at the table. I didn’t want to leave him, but she insisted that I go and get my things and meet her at the house.
“No, that’s not going to happen,” I tell him.