Chapter 13

The world she had created for herself stopped existing the moment she saw his face glaring back at her. All the progress she had made vanished. The euphoria she had kept close to her chest since the romp earlier this afternoon no longer warmed her icy heart. No, that feeling of safety vanished from his face.

She jolted back as he reached for her. His eyes—his crystal, barren, haughty stare—made her want to run and hide. But then she felt two muscular arms, followed by a familiar aroma of lavender, whisk her away. Safety—his embrace was her shelter. His scent instantly made her break down and become the one thing she hated—vulnerable.

Now alone—or what they thought would be—Theo lent her his body to support her; his presence comforted her, and his tender words soothed her.

“He-he-he’s here...” she breathed out. Unaware they were no longer alone, she cried out, “Why!?” and dropped to her knees.

“Leigh, Leigh, please...”

They both turned their heads in disbelief and glared, exchanging silent expletives.

“Do not call me that! I have told you millions of times not to call me that!” The frustration and wrath she had for this man threatened to boil over.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize...” he almost seemed less dominant, less patronizing. He’s virtually submissive—either a change of personality or he’s been taking acting classes. Because if she weren’t already familiar with Ethan Klein, she’d almost think he was remorseful.

“Of course, you wouldn’t realize. You would have if you ever truly heard me in our twenty-long years together.” She knocked Theo on his perfectly sculpted ass. Looking down at him, her face contorted in regret and sincerity. Theo nods—it’s okay, I’m fine.

“Look, man, what do you want?” Theo interjected, placing himself between his woman and her ex-husband, who came with only one intention—to ruin the happiness they were creating.

“I-I don’t mean to disturb your lives...”

“Yes, you do. Don’t try to spin this and claim you’re the victim, Ethan. Your only goal in life was to ruin mine.” Theo could hear the quivering in her voice. She was breaking down, and he needed to stop it before he lost her to her rage.

“That’s not who I am anymore, Leigh...” he stopped himself and cleared his throat before he continued. “Leigh Anne. Please, I just came here to talk. I am begging you—just talking.”

“Are you still married?” she asked. He nodded. “Does my mother know you’re here? Your mother?” Her fury didn’t level off. She was still at a ten on the Richter scale of resentment. He shook his head. Something told her he was lying, but she didn’t push it.

“So, what do you want? Your closure?” Theo held Leigh Anne’s hand. He squeezed it enough to soothe her.

“I don’t think I deserve closure. I’m not here for that.”

He was speaking in riddles. Talking in circles, as if she was supposed to read his mind and belt out—yes, I’ll do whatever you want... no questions asked.

“Then what the fuck do you want, Ethan? Haven’t you and your family taken enough from me?” Now, the dams broke, and the tears washed over her cheeks like Niagara Falls. She’s weeping and crashing over the barricades.

There was silence in the wake of so much noise and chaos in the background. She waits, patiently waits, as her chest heaves from the adrenaline. Theo’s hand still clenches hers, showing he has staked his claim, and she didn’t back away from it. She welcomed his possessiveness and made hers apparent by leaning into him.

Just when they both thought he’d back down and cower away, he flipped the switch—standing tall, not hunched over with his chest puffed, his neck aligned and stiffened—a stance of resilience and dominance returned. Leigh Anne was right. His cowardly demeanor before was a spectacle he created, an act, a role he played to weasel his way back into Leigh Anne’s heart.

His voice no longer quivered and wasn’t shallow. No, was the douchebag she always knew him to be with four simple words, “I want you back.”

Oh, Hell NO

“Does this man have a death wish?” Theo pulled Leigh Anne behind him with gentle aggression, but his eyes blazed with festering rage. A frenzy that had begun in the soles of his feet was building up the pressure through his thighs, legs, hips, and abdomen, radiating in waves through his chest, shooting out the tips of his fingers and extending to the crown of his head. He was a pressure cooker of combustible fumes pointed solely at one person.

The target had one response to his question—vengeful arrogance, tied up in a pretty pair of dark wash jeans, a tight black V-neck T-shirt, black boots, and a smile that made his eyes glow bright green.

Their standoff only lasted a moment before their object of affection peered out from behind Theo’s long trunk. She stepped forward, emotionally towering over both of them. Theo’s hands instantly asserted his position as her man by pulling her hip against him—returning the same sneer Ethan conveyed.

“Oh, hell no. You will not come here playing games only to shed your façade and make such a bold request, Ethan! We’re divorced; you’re married to Carolyn. Remember the mother of the child you had while we were together?” Leigh Anne stood her ground. She didn’t need Theo to stabilize her. She quietly removed his hands from her hips and took a courageous step forward—in Ethan’s personal space. “After five years, all communication was done through our attorneys; now you want me back?”

He said nothing. His eyes kept traveling to her mouth. It didn’t sit well with Theo. He wanted nothing more than to beat his ass and throw his sorry ass in the dumpster out back.

“I’m not married to Carlie anymore...” Leigh Anne gasped as his hand glided down her bare shoulder, to the crook of her arm, down her wrist, and finally began intertwining their fingers. Until her free hand connected to his hand, swatting him away. Then she shoved him back so hard he nearly fell back. “I’m serious, Leigh Anne... see.”

Ethan handed her a manila envelope. She reluctantly snatched it out of his hand and opened the pronged closures. As she pulled the white stapled sheets of paper out of the envelope, she turned her back to him, looking up at Theo with confusion. Shaking her head, Theo saw the tears fall. This can’t be good for them.

“What are these, Ethan?” she screamed, gasping out of exhaustion. “You can’t do this to me! Was this the reason for all the calls, texts, and letters from unknown numbers and your lawyer?”

“Yes. I knew you wouldn’t take the calls or texts if they came from my number, so I had Leo contact you. When you blocked your number and returned all the letters, I decided to show you in person.” Ethan moved with hesitant footsteps toward her. She cornered herself. Theo felt like an intruder, but he didn’t want to leave him alone with her. “Please, bab... y...”

Leigh Anne put her hand up to stop him from advancing any further.

“Don’t. You lost the privilege of calling me that. Stay back.” Leigh Anne choked on the words. Her voice would soon be nonexistent.

Just as Ethan moved a foot to get closer, to embrace her, a wall stepped between them—maintaining distance and safety.

“Leave. Now.” Ethan and Theo locked stares. Neither budged, but one had to give in eventually, and it would not be Theo. “Are you deaf? I said leave, or it’s criminal trespass.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll go... for now. But we have to talk, Leigh Anne.

I’ll be seeing you again...”