Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 87: Date Ending

"I don’t know. We hadn’t slept in like two days while we worked on the case and Davon’s rescue, and some of the pictures were so upsetting. Plus, there was the whole guilt thing about living with the very same people who were behind all the suffering for three years.

"We just needed the comfort of not being alone, so we slept together as in we held each other while laying the same bed while passed out from exhaustion. That’s it. Clothes on support between friends."

Alec said, "Curious why he felt it necessary to bring it up."

"Alec, I’m telling you the truth. I don’t have a reason to lie."

Alec patted my leg. "I believe you, Teela. I was trying to figure out his motivation."

His motivation was he wanted me to himself. Stiff had made it clear many times that he wanted to be my man, and now I was seeing someone else mere days after my excuse for not dating Stiff had vanished.

My divorce was finalized. I was free to see whomever I wanted. Stiff thought it would be him, but for all the time we’d known each other and depended on one another, I’d never felt about him the way I felt about Alec, a man I’d known practically no time. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

I owed it to myself and to Alec to explore what we’ve started. This was my do over that I earned through good deeds and hard work. I’d be a fool to let someone else shame me into giving it up just because he, as in Stiff, selfishly wanted to keep me all to himself.

"I’ll straighten it out, Alec. I’m sorry you had to witness Stiff’s antics. He’s usually not like that."

Alec nodded.

When we reached The Red Dragon, the SUV was already lurking in the parking lot shadows. I appreciated the guys were trying to stay as unobtrusive as possible for the end of my date. I’d have to add a bonus to their pay.

Once Alec put the car into park, he turned to me. "I don’t think I’ve said wow as much in my entire life as I have since I met you, Teela. I’m glad we had time together tonight. It has been enlightening, to say the least."

"Again, I want to apologize for Stiff. It won’t happen again."

Alec grinned. "I suspect it will, but that’s okay. You’re worth fighting for."

"We are worth fighting for."

I leaned toward Alec, and his hand went to the back of my head. We shared a good night’s kiss. It wasn’t the same as at the park when I felt like we were in our own little world. Tonight, I knew we had an audience, and I knew I had a church full of people waiting for me to return home and spill the details about the new man in my life.

Like it or not, now was the time to share my new dating status with the people I loved. While the conversation might be uncomfortable for me, I trusted that those loved ones would be happy for me in the end.

"Good night," I said with the taste of Alec on my lips.

"Will I see you at practice next week?"

"Yeah, but not every day. I’ll text you later with a schedule?"

"Sure. And are you free next weekend?"

"I can be. What did you have in mind?"

"I have an event I must attend. Come with me."

"A chance to spend time with you? I’d love to. Send me the details."

I kissed him and let myself out of his Jeep. I walked on air to my car, opening the driver’s side door before remembering I wouldn’t be driving. So, I let myself in the back instead and waited for whichever of the four men drew the short straw and would be my babysitter.

It didn’t matter which of the men drove me. I was lost in my own little world as I fantasized about a trip to Hawaii with Alec. While I knew he was joking with me, I’d never been to Hawaii. I’d never been anyway. It might be fun to go with Alec. I could escape from responsibilities and police interrogations and ex’s with the ability to distract me even when he wasn’t around.

I wasn’t very nice to King when he dropped off the divorce papers and Drake. I dismissed him as if he was nothing when, in truth, he had done a lot to help us in our cause, even after my betrayal. Maybe there was a chance we could still be friends in the future after the bleeding stopped, and we could look each other in the eyes again—if he wanted.

I pulled out my phone and called Ben.

Ben picked up my call on the second ring. "Teela, I’m glad you called."

"Yeah, why is that?"

"King said your divorce is finalized. I wanted to make sure you’re okay with it."

Ben’s phone had terrific noise cancellation, but it wasn’t enough to drown out The Well Water crowd in the background.

"You’re at work. I should let you go."

"No, no. I want to talk to you. Where are you? Do you want to drop by? I’ll leave instructions at the door to see you to my office."

"I was on the way home, but I guess I could come by for a few."

"Perfect. I’ll see you in a few."

I changed the destination with the driver and pulled myself together. If I was going to have a catch-up chat with Ben, I needed to have my act together. There was no telling what he would tell me.

The line was out the door and down the block when we arrived at The Well Water, but I walked right up to the door and was let in without a second glance. It’s good to be friends with the owner.

Ben wasn’t in his office. I made myself at home in Ben’s desk chair as I waited for him to show up. It didn’t take long.

"You look good in the boss’s chair, Tee," Ben said as he plopped into one of the visitor’s chairs.

"Thanks. It feels good. How about I come to work here? You do the heavy lifting, and I’ll make the boss’s chair look good."

"Deal, but don’t tell Min. He thinks he’s the only one who gets to sit in my chair."

"What is it with you two? Are you seeing each other?"

"It’s complicated."

I could see that. "Everything with the Heavenly family is complicated."

"Oh, I’ve applied for a name change. In ninety days, I will be officially redacted from the Heavenly family tree."

"Really? What name did you choose? I don’t recall seeing a last name on the ledger."

"Exactly. You hit the nail right on the head. After careful consideration, I’ve gone with Benjamin Ledger. What do you think?"

"Hmm. It suits you."

"Yeah, I think so."

"So, how is everyone? How are the twins coping with Daniel’s absence? How is Min? I won’t even ask about Anya. I can picture her taking over the role of Heavenly matriarch. Has she taken the family jewels yet?"

"Maylean took the twins to live with her sister. Josh isn’t talking to any of us. He practically lives at the hospital. Min is good. Really good. We’ve gotten closer, but he’s still King’s man, so like I said, it’s complicated."

"I can see that. And how is King? Is he all right after everything? I mean the divorce."

I didn’t want to ask, but I did. I didn’t want to care about him, but he was my husband for three years. I couldn’t just turn off all my feelings toward him. The good feelings and the bad were all still there.

"He’s fine, I guess. He’s returned to his normal routine. I’ve only seen him a couple of times in passing. He asked about you, though."

"I guess that is something. What about Anya? Has she planned my demise?"

Ben rubbed his forehead. "The last I heard she was working some big real estate deal. She even lowered herself to approach me for money. I don’t have any, but even if I did, I’d give it to the penguins at the zoo before she’d get a cent."

"Real estate doesn’t seem to be her thing. I wonder what has her expanding into that industry now."

"I didn’t really listen to her, but it sounded like she thought it was a sure deal. Who knows. She may be panicking and trying to strengthen the Heavenly coffers. Lettie left really big shoes to fill. Anya’s probably desperate to show she’s worthy."

"Well, I’d wish her luck, but I’d be a hypocrite. I’d rather see her fall on her face."

"Same. Poor Josh," Ben said.

"Yeah, he’s a successful doctor, and yet he lives in his wife’s shadow. I’ve always wondered what he saw in her."

"He didn’t. Lettie did. Josh did what he always does. He went along for the ride. Maybe he’ll wake up someday and leave her."

"Maybe." I glanced at my phone. "Hey, I’d love to stay, but they are expecting me back at the church."

"Oh, sure."

"Don’t be a stranger. I’d miss you."

Ben asked, "When’s our next taekwondo class, if I’m still invited? Min even said something about it the other day. I think he had fun watching us fall on our faces."

I smiled. "I don’t know. Bea lined up the last one."

"Do you think she would mind if I called her?"

"Not at all. I’ll tell her to expect it."

I gave my ex-brother-in-law a hug and let him lead me back to the exit. I was so grateful to have him part the crowd, because I felt just loopy enough to get lost in the club and never find my way out.