want to come over?”
I figured I’d let him deal with Bella and her friends on his own. “I have a few things to do. I’ll talk to you later.”
Ford nodded, though he didn’t look thrilled to be going with his sister’s friends.
On my way up the stairs to my front door, I tried not to notice how he looked more their age than mine. I had just been starting to forget, and seeing him with young people brought it all back.
Inside, I started a load of laundry and did a little cleaning. When my phone rang, I grimaced seeing my ex’s name on the screen and considered ignoring it. But we had a son together and shared assets. It wasn’t like he called me to shoot the breeze, so I reluctantly picked up.
“Hello?”
“Hey, babe.”
I wanted to reach through the phone and strangle him every time he called me that. I’d corrected him at least a dozen times. Perhaps I should’ve argued for the return of my proper name as part of our divorce settlement.
“Valentina, please.”
“Habit. Sorry. Though I don’t get the big deal. I wouldn’t care if you called me a pet name.”
No? Which one would you like? Asshole, dickwad, cheater?
“What can I do for you, Ryan?”
“Jeez, Val. You don’t have to sound so miserable every time I call.”
But I was, and it took effort to hide it—effort I no longer cared to expend. “Have you talked to Ryan? Is everything okay with him?”
“No. I haven’t talked to him. That’s not why I’m calling. I just wanted to let you know I’ll be out in Montauk tomorrow. I have a contractor meeting me to give an estimate at two o’clock for the pilings we need replaced.”
He’d already had one guy come to give an estimate last week.
“Was the first one not good or something?”
“It was high. This guy’s supposed to be more reasonable.”
I sighed. “Okay. Fine. But I’ll be here, so you don’t need to come out.”
“We’ll get a better price if I’m there.”
My brows drew down. “Do you know him or something?”
“No. But men get better prices.”
Such a dick. “Who says?”
“It’s a known fact.”
“I don’t know that to be a fact.”
“That’s because you’re a woman.”
I rolled my eyes. “I can handle it myself. I’d prefer if you didn’t come out.”
“You don’t have to be a bitch about it. I’m coming, and that’s the end of the discussion.”
That sounded more like the Ryan I knew.
“Actually, this is the end of the discussion.” I hit disconnect and tossed my phone on the table.
God, how had I stayed married to that jerk for twenty years?
I decided to go for a walk on the beach to clear my head and get some exercise. Changing into a sundress, I dug my headphones from a drawer, lubed up with sunscreen, and tied my hair in a ponytail.
On the way out, I found a new yellow sticky note stuck to the back door. Kiss Ford more. I peeled it off with a smile on my face. I wasn’t even sure when he’d stuck this one here. That was one to-do item I wouldn’t mind doing.
The hour-long walk did me good. I even jogged for half of it, and the rush of adrenaline left me feeling more relaxed. As I approached my house, I heard music blaring. Bodies were out on my neighbor’s deck. The closer I got, the more skin I saw. It looked like Bella and her friends were starting their party early. Ford stood at the deck railing, leaning over and watching me as I walked.
“Come save me,” he yelled.
I smiled. The bikinis on the women flitting around behind him were pretty small. “Doesn’t look like you’re being tortured.”
“Looks can be pretty damn deceiving.” He waved for me to come up to the deck. “Come on. You forgot to take the gift I bought you home today.”
I cocked my head. Gift?
He smirked. “At the toy store. Don’t worry, if you’re too busy to come up, I’ll just ask my sister to deliver the bag.”
“Cute. Very cute.”
However, I didn’t put it past him to actually hand his sister anal beads and porn to deliver to me, so I walked up his deck stairs instead of mine.
Bella was laying out on the lounge chairs with two of her friends. She greeted me and made a face at her brother.
“Oh boy,” I whispered. “Still giving you an attitude, huh?”
He nodded. “She actually had the balls to ask me to pick up alcohol for her and her friends.