Aaron Reynolds arrived at the Union High School gym right before tip-off and took a seat in the stands next to Michelle. She offered a quick cordial smile but didn’t speak. He’d thought about sending her flowers for her recent birthday to make amends but decided against it. It would’ve only pissed her off more.
He couldn’t help but think about her thirty-seventh birthday. The last birthday he’d spent with her. He’d been crazy busy with work and didn’t make the time to take his wife somewhere special, like London or Italy—she’d always wanted to see Italy. Instead, he took it for granted that she’d be perfectly happy with a weekend at the Mandarin Oriental in Atlanta.
He’d booked a deluxe suite, and they’d celebrated her birthday making love, ordering room service and relaxing in that deep marble bathtub. She said she was touched by all of his attention and felt special. But he’d felt guilty for not doing more, so much so that the following weekend he’d surprised her with a brand new black Chevy Tahoe wrapped with an enormous red bow.
Vanessa climbed the bleachers and settled on the other side of Michelle. “Aaron,” she said without looking in his direction.
“Vanessa. Where’s Evilene Two? I thought witches traveled in pairs.” He enjoyed tormenting her. He couldn’t help himself. But he had to admit, she was a hell of an attorney. After she got through with him in the divorce settlement, he was happy to still have his balls left.
“Screw you, Aaron.”
“Stop it, you two. Just watch the game. Please,” Michelle demanded.
By halftime, the semblance of peace had been established. Aaron and Vanessa ignored each other. And Michelle was finally speaking to him again. When Vanessa rushed out of the gym to take some ominous call, he was glad to have the time to be alone with his ex-wife.
“Mikey and Drew look like they’re having fun,” Michelle said, looking toward the door the team exited for their halftime meeting. “Damien’s a great coach, and they really like him.”
Aaron glanced at her profile. What a beautiful face—Cherokee cheek bones, full lips, smooth skin and a smile that could brighten the worst mood. When she got up to speak with the team mom, he took in the gentle side-to-side sway of her hips.
He missed those curvy, sexy, distracting hips.
His mind drifted to the last time they’d made love—a little over two years ago. Flashes of her naked body popped in and out of his mind. At the time, he couldn’t get enough of her, and she was more than willing to satisfy his need.
He’d stopped by the townhouse one night to drop off Mikey’s library book. She’d answered the door wearing nothing but a white robe and he couldn’t control himself. He’d pulled her to him and kissed her. She didn’t resist but let him have her right there in the foyer, up against the front door. A few days later, they met up again. He didn’t even mind that she’d made him wear a condom every time they got together. At the time, he was willing to do anything to make her happy. He’d missed being with her, and he wanted her back.
But she wasn’t interested in reconciliation—some bullshit about not wanting to commit to a man who cheated on his wife and his mistress. She ended it and moved on with her life—like those six weeks never happened.
Resentment took over, and he acted out. Being an asshole was easier than being sad and admitting he’d made the biggest mistake of his life—a mistake that just happened during a last minute trip to Atlantic City to see a client fight.
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