Having lived with the Johnstons for years, I knew Matthew inside out.
He was the kind of guy who kept business and personal stuff totally separate. If Jace messed up,
Matthew wouldn’t hesitate toe down on him–just like he would with anyone else.
But thinking about the reports I’d just gotten–Jace was still out there, aggressively poaching clients,
hell- bent on taking down mypany–I couldn’t help but say, “Looks like your dad’s warning didn’t
really do
much.”
Wayne picked up on the seriousness in my tone. “Jace hasn’t stopped?”
“No,” I said, my voice shaking a bit. “It’s like he’s trying to destroy mypany in one hit.”
I couldn’t hide the anger in my voice.
The fact that my involvement was putting thepany at risk, even losing clients–it was really
weighing
on me.
“This is beyond reckless. I’ll talk to my dad,” Wayne said, his own frustration creeping in.
“Let me handle it,” I offered. “I was already nning to visit your dad today, with a birthday gift in
hand. I can bring it up then, see if the gift sweetens the deal.”
My words lit up a spark in Wayne’s eyes.
A warm smile spread across his face. “Awesome. Today, then? We can head back together.”
Seeing the hopeful look in his eyes, I hesitated for a second before replying, “Yeah, today. But I’m
bringing someone with me.”
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“Who?” Wayne asked, still smiling. “A friend of yours?”
“Yeah, my boyfriend,” I said.
Wayne’s smile froze.
The shock and pain in his eyes hit me like a punch to the gut.
I could see how he felt about me–something Lindey had hinted at before. It was better to hurt him
now, to make him face the truth, and end any thoughts he shouldn’t have had.
It took a few seconds before Wayne, his voice shaky, asked, “Rea… your boyfriend is…”
“Hayden Hart.”
Wayne’s expression darkened even more. “Rea…”
“I know what you’re going to say, but I’m not messing around with my happiness, and I’m definitely
not doing this out of spite,” I said, forcing the words out, even though they felt like lies.
Wayne, who was usually soposed, looked like he was breaking inside. “But I can’t believe
you’ve moved on from Jace so fast.”
His words almost made me want tough. If he understood that, why did he let himself catch
feelings for
me?
No, Wayne’s feelings for me must’ve started way before he left Kehlmark.
Maybe that’s why he stayed away for so many years.
The thought weighed on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I turned my head, avoiding his gaze,
and said coldly, “You’re wrong. I won’t waste my time on someone who isn’t worth it or on feelings
that don’t
matter.”
After a brief pause, I added, “Besides, Hayden is better than Jace in every way. What’s there to
hold onto?”
I could feel Wayne’s eyes on me, and my body tensed under the weight of his stare.
Finally, he spoke again. “Even if you’ve moved on from Jace, how long have you known Hayden?
Do you really know him?”
Wayne was still trying to talk me out of it, genuinely wanting me to reconsider Hayden. Maybe it
wasn’t just about Hayden–maybe he just didn’t want to see me with anyone else.
As long as I wasn’t with someone else, he could still hold onto some hope.
But I couldn’t give him that.
So I let out a bitterugh. “Does knowing someone really matter? I was with Jace for ten years. I
knew exactly how long it took him to pee, how hot he liked his bathwater–could I have known him
any better? And what did that knowledge get me?”
As I said this, a wave of bitterness washed over me. I’d once adored Jace, loved him so much that I
even grew attached to the things he liked, like the stray dogs and cats he’d asionally take notice
of.
I had loved Jace–truly, deeply loved him–so much that I lost myself in that love.
Maybe that’s why his betrayal hurt so much, why I had to cut him out of my life sopletely.
“Jace is an exception. Not all guys are like him,” Wayne said, and then he ced a hand on my
shoulder, gently turning me to face him.