Imperfectly Delicious (Imperfect Series #6) - Mary Frame Page 0,60

me my coat and then turns away.

I run a hand through my hair and watch her disappear out the front door.

I stand in the dark and empty restaurant for a few seconds, gathering my thoughts and emotions. I need to be clear headed to deal with Marie and her particular brand of behavior. She likes to make up her own narrative, the one that paints her as the biggest victim and everyone else is wrong and she’s always right, and with that kind of thing? You’ve got to be on your toes, or she’ll talk you right into a corner.

I’m worse than a douche nougat, even worse than ever before and I deserve something terrible to happen to me, but something terrible is happening and she’s standing in my kitchen.

I’ve got to make this quick, keep her to the point. With all that in mind, I stride back into the kitchen.

“Did you come by to sign the divorce papers? I have them in my office.”

She grimaces. “Do we have to talk about all that depressing stuff? I haven’t seen you in a year.” She reaches out to put a hand on my arm, but I step back. Her smile falters, but only for a flickering second and then she dials the charm back on. “Tell me how you’ve been.”

“I’m not really in the mood to socialize.”

“Aren’t you? Isn’t that what you were doing?” She waves at the plates, still sitting on the counter and she bites her lip and it reminds me of Scarlett, biting her lip because I hurt her. Marie’s move is infinitely more orchestrated, something she rehearsed in the mirror to make sure she could pull it off to maximum effect. “I’m sorry I interrupted your evening.”

“Are you?”

She sighs. “Come on, Guy. I’m not unreasonable. I’ll sign the papers.”

It’s got to be a trick. “Really?”

“I thought we should have one more hurrah before it’s over. You know, celebrate the way we used to.”

“Sorry, Marie. It’s over.”

“Well.” She offers me a mischievous smile and runs her eyes up and down my form. “Maybe if you don’t fuck me again, I won’t sign those papers. That might put a little damper on your…whatever you have going with the frumpy nobody. What do you see in her, anyway? I mean, if you’re gonna move on from me it should be with someone important.”

Scarlett is important.

She’s everything.

And I might have totally fucked it all up.

“No.”

She steps closer. “I’m sure we can compromise. C’mon Guy. This is how marriage works.”

“You’re insane.”

“You love my insanity.”

“I’m not sure I ever really did.”

Hurt flashes in her eyes. Her head turns away and her hair falls over the side of her face, blocking her from my view.

“No one ever does.” She releases a small laugh. “I thought we really had something, Guy.” She smiles at me wistfully and for a second, I remember how it was, before. The woman I fell for, the one who could let down her guard and be her true self instead of the one she thought the world wanted. I knew she had some baggage when we met. Sheltered, abandoned by her parents and raised mostly by nannies and house staff, there’s a reason she is the way she is. The problem is, she can’t change.

“We did. And I’m sorry, Marie, but it’s over.” I make an attempt to gentle my tone, but it doesn’t matter. It’s a rejection either way.

Her head snaps up. Her tone is sharp when she responds. “Fine. Be a prude. All I want is this one little thing. But if you would rather not, it’s fine, I’ll just drag everything out in court. You know, the longer we’re married, the more alimony you have to pay in the state of New York.”

Anger vibrates into my bones. How dare she? She knows every penny I don’t spend on essentials goes to a trust for the girls. But I doubt she really thinks about it. She doesn’t need my money, never has.

I stare at her, unblinking, guarding my roiling emotions like a wall. “If you don’t sign, I’ll get Oliver involved.” I don’t want to owe the bastard any more favors, but even that price is worth getting rid of Marie once and for all.

Marie’s bravado immediately falters and her face pales. “You wouldn’t.”

Damn. What does Oliver have on her? “You want to bet on it?”

She stares at me, all of her earlier bluster and swagger gone. Poof. “Fine,” she barks, picking up her coat where she left