“Dude, you’re insane. Look at you covered in bites and sunburned. Is that woman worth it?” Dustin asked, sitting on the sofa with his legs up on the coffee table and eyeing Trevor with a look of disgust.
Trevor rubbed aloe on his chest and shoulders, trying to alleviate the sting of the burn. Obviously the sunscreen didn’t last after he fell in the water, despite being labeled water-resistant. He didn’t care. Each ache and itch was worth it. He’d never experienced such a deep connection with someone, not even Marsha. Despite the seven years they were married, they’d never had a serious conversation. It was all about marketing, attending events, and schmoozing people. Not that they’d spent much time together after the first four years, since she’d had her big modeling break and flown off to New York and LA all the time.
“You’re not going to do it again. Fall for some young, hot chick who’s going to ruin you?”
Trevor didn’t like the way Dustin spoke about Julie. “This is different, and she’s not in her twenties or thirties, even. She’s celebrating her fiftieth birthday soon.”
“Really?” Dustin’s eyes went wide. “It doesn’t matter. That’s not the point. You just got a divorce. You don’t want to settle down again and be miserable.”
Trevor left his shirt off and sat on the edge of the chair so his back didn’t touch anything. “First, I know part of you is saying this because you don’t want to lose your wingman again, but I also know you’re telling me this because you care. Regardless, I’m not getting remarried right now, so relax.”
Dustin shot up to a perfect posture as if his words finally commanded his attention. “Right now? So you’re already thinking about that?”
“I didn’t say that. No. I’m not. Julie needs to take things slow. She’s a widow trying to move on with her life, and I’m a man who had his heart broken, was lied to and used. We both enjoy each other’s company, and honestly, I feel safe and I trust her. And she trusts me.”
“You know this is doomed, right? This business, this new life with this new woman? I can only stay so long to pick up the pieces this time.”
Trevor tensed. “No one’s asking you to. I’m fine.”
“Are you?” Dustin shook his head. “Then what are you still doing here?”
Trevor’s temper rumbled inside like an approaching Florida afternoon thunder boomer, but he forced himself to remain seated. “I realize it’s difficult for you to comprehend a man caring for a woman so much he’s willing to work to make her happy, since the only thing you’ve worked at is moving on to the next victim.”
“That’s not fair.” Dustin stood and grabbed an empty cup from the coffee table and headed to the kitchen.
“Isn’t it? You have a three-month rule. The minute that mark hits, you move on before it can get too serious. You leave a trail of broken hearts behind and don’t care.” Trevor knew he was stepping over the line, but he couldn’t keep it in any longer. “I care about you like a brother. That’s why I’m saying this. You don’t understand why I’m here, why I got this sunburn or did something out of my comfort zone to please a woman, because you’ve never been in love. Not real love.”
Dustin slammed the cup down on the counter. “Maybe not, but I’ve also never allowed a woman to take everything I had just because she broke my heart.”
“You’re right.” Trevor rested his elbows on his knees and lowered his head to take a breath and calm his anger. “Marsha was a mistake, a huge, horrible, decision that cost me dearly. But she wasn’t the right woman. When we met, she put on a show, convinced me she was this nice woman with dreams who supported mine and that we could grow together. It was a lie. She only wanted me to introduce her to people at parties because she couldn’t gain access to anyone working as a waitress. There were warning signs I chose not to see because I was so flattered that this young, beautiful woman who didn’t want kids was interested in me. It was exciting at first. The perfect situation. I was caught up in it all when she asked me to marry her. And it all happened so fast.” He took in a deep breath and let it out again. “No, I’m not ready to remarry, but that doesn’t mean I’m not ready to care about someone.”
Dustin flopped back on the couch. “I get it, man. It’s lonely being single. Date Julie, enjoy your time with her, but just don’t get too serious too fast. You think I’m only saying this because I miss having my best friend to hang out with, but I do care. I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
“I won’t. I’m older and wiser now.” Trevor sat up and looked at his lobster-colored chest. “Okay, maybe not so much wiser.”
“See, this place is no good for you. Let’s go home. Tear up that arbitration agreement and take her to court. At least sue her so you don’t pay her that ridiculous alimony anymore. Heck, no judge will award her that.” Dustin shook his head. “Man, just stop running and fix this so you don’t go bankrupt and you can go home.”
“I tell you what. I’ll speak to an attorney and see what they say. If I have a case, I’ll take her to court. But no matter the outcome, nothing will get me to return to Seattle. I’m happy here.”
Dustin didn’t look happy, but he picked up his phone, opened the screen, and tossed it to Trevor. He looked down to see Marsha on another news site. This time the title read, Marsha Thompson Left at Alter When Groom-to-be Discovered Her Truth—Pregnant With Her Ex’s Baby.
“No, not possible. It’s not mine.” Trevor scrolled through the article. “You’re right, I’m taking her to court. I’m not paying child support for a child who’s not mine. We divorced over three months ago. There’s no way. We haven’t been together since…” He froze, the last three months flashing through his memory in an instant and settling on one night. His pulse raced. His skin went cold. He wanted to scream. “The night before the papers were served to him. Marsha came over. She said we’d made a mistake.”
Dustin nodded. “I remember. The next morning she got a call from an agent and was gone. That’s when you decided to come here. If you read further down, you’ll see she’s about three and a half months along.”
Trevor didn’t know if the sting over his skin was from his sunburn or from the life-altering news. Either way, it hurt. “But I was told I couldn’t have children.”
“You were told that once, years ago. Did you ever think the woman you were with then might have been the one who couldn’t have children and it wasn’t you who had the problem? Did you ever have any tests run?”
Trevor thought back over the last decades of his life. “No.”
“And how many women have you had unprotected sex with?”
“None. Well, Marsha, but she had an IUD before we ever met and kept it until…”
“Until when?”
“A month before we divorced. Something about having an infection and she had to have it removed.”
Dustin took his phone back and looked down at Trevor. “Now you know why you can’t continue with Julie. She deserves better. Because now you have no choice but to return to Seattle.” He cleared his throat. “Ready to go home? Dad?”