Chapter 15

Garnar’s shock and fury leaves him near breathless. His voice sounds like a gravelly growl as he demands, “Who?”

“What does it matter?” I reply. “He’s young and handsome. Tall, fit, and no disappointment in the bedroom. Not with what he’s carrying, I can tell you that.”

Garnar’s hands curl into fists. He eases Thea away from him and takes a step toward me. I lift my chin in defiance. What’s he going to do – hit me? He wouldn’t dare.

“You’re lying. You’re just putting on some kind of show to upset me.”

If I was, it would be working. Unfortunately for him, this is all very real.

Sort of. Miles isn’t exactly my boyfriend, but we did hook up! That counts for something! At the very least, it proves I can still be desirable, despite all the bullshit Garnar is spewing.

“I’m telling the truth,” I insist. “You’re the one deluding yourself, thinking I’d waste away to nothing in our new arrangement.”

Garnar’s lip curls in an ugly snarl. “Prove it.”

Prove it? How can I possible do that?

Oh. Wait. I can.

I dig my phone out of pocket and with the screen facing me and only me, search for a familiar contact on my list.

This is a royally bad idea. I know that. But I am not about to let Garnar think he can lord himself over me like his small dick is the end-all be-all. He deserves to be knocked down a peg, and if I could have time to talk to Miles about this beforehand, I imagine he’d agree.

After all, Miles was so very adamant at the event that I leave Garnar.

So I press Miles’s contact information on my phone, and hit call.

When the ringing starts, I turn on speakerphone and hold out the phone, though I’m careful to keep the screen faced toward me so that he cannot read the name on it.

The minute Miles picks up, I don’t give him a chance to reply. Instead, I quickly blurt, “Hey, sexy. Where are you right now?”

A moment’s pause follows, and in that moment, all of my nerves trigger panic. I very nearly take the call off of speakerphone before he can call me a fool or something else, something worse.

I don’t have reason to think that his feelings have changed from when we talked earlier in the day, but maybe something happened. Maybe he realized –

“Have you finally come to your senses, Esther?” Miles says and chuckles slightly. “I’m at Club Chateau. On 5(th). Are you coming over now?”

“Wild horses couldn’t keep me away,” I say.

“I like the enthusiasm,” Miles says, teasing. “You looking for another round?”

“You know it… I’ll see you there.”

Miles lowers his voice, deep and sexy. Despite the situation, the sound of it sends shivers down my spine. “I’ll be waiting.”

Miles ends the call. I immediately lock my screen.

Garnar stares at me. He’s still clearly pissed off, his hands in fists, but surprise and confusion seems to have taken primary control of his brain.

That is also stunned with shock. They both gape at me, mouth opens.

“If you’ll excuse me,” I say, collecting myself. “I have a date.”

They make no effort to stop me as I head down the stairs, grab my purse, and disappear back out into the night.

Riding my adrenaline high, I take a cab to Club Chateau. I’m still in my clothes from the event, not exactly club-wear, so I’m surprised when the bouncers wave me through without sending me to the back of the line.

Maybe Miles let them know to expect me?

My heart begins to pound. Maybe coming here is the right choice.

I keep this hope alive as I sear through the busy, pulsing club – right up until I finally find Miles near the bar. He’s surrounded by people, women mostly, with tight, barely-there clothing. They hang on his every word as he talks. When he cracks a joke, the onlookers uproar dramatically.

Annoyed but undeterred, I start to squish my way through the crowd. As I draw closer, I see the woman very near to Miles’s left arm. She’s hanging from him, batting her eyelashes up at him.

Then, without warning or preamble, she leans in and plants a messy kiss on his cheek. When she pulls back, her lips left a red lipstick stain on his skin.

Ugly, bitter jealousy coils around in my gut. I taste bile in my throat, and while I’m ashamed of my reaction to this – I have no claim over Miles – it also brings me a moment of clarity.

What am I doing here?

Even if everything with Garnar is falling apart, this is the last place I should be.

Why did I even think to come here? Did I really just want a booty call?

Or was I hoping for something else?

My divorce is guaranteed to be messy, especially with a tough fight for my daughters. It would help to have the backing of a man powerful in the political spectrum. But that means using Miles. Do I really want that?

Is that why I came here?

Or is the truth something I don’t want to face, especially when seeing him surrounded by so many women. But I can’t deny it either.

Coming here, seeking out Miles, I want the comfort and joy I felt the night we were together. I came alive in his arms. I want to feel that way again, not just sexually. Being near him gives me a thrill I haven’t felt in years.

He’s unpredictable. It’s exciting.

However, I’m obviously not the only one who feels that way. With how many women and men are eating up his every word and move, I’m not even one of a few.

Miles is a larger than life character, a young, charismatic congressman with a clear forward career path. He’s bound for success.

Why, when surrounded by all these younger people, as vibrant and bombastic as him, would he choose to spend his time with an older mother of two.

Used-up and worn-out, Garnar said about me. It didn’t ring true at the time, but I feel it now. It hangs over me like a cone of shame.

I don’t belong here.

Suddenly, the bright lights and loud sounds lose their charms and instead make me feel dizzy. I have to get out. I don’t want to be here anymore.

I don’t want Miles to see me. To judge me. To see me how Garnar does.

Turning my back to him, I return the way I came, pushing the through the crowd, apologizing to people I’ve already asked to move.

“Esther?” Miles asks, but I might have imagined it.

I just have to get out. I have to –

Someone catches my arm, stopping me. Swiveling on my heel, I’m suddenly face to face with Miles.

Confusion and concern flood his face for a moment, before they ebb and anger replaces it.

Behind him, the gathered crowd realize Miles’s attention has diverted from them and they begin to scatter. Some head to the bar, others out onto the floor.

Miles glares at me like I’ve personally offended. “Why are you avoiding me?”