Taking It All(36)

He smiled. "As long as Kylie recognizes what a catch I am."

Kylie snorted. "If I don't, I have no doubt you'll remind me on a daily basis."

"Damn right," he said smugly.

Then he gathered an armload of Chessy's clothing and walked out of the   bedroom. A few moments later, he returned carrying the suitcases from   the car and opened them up on the bed.

"If there's anything in the rest of the house you know you want, tell me and I'll start packing that stuff," Jensen said.

"I honestly don't know," Chessy said softly. "I'll do a walkthrough   before we leave. I shouldn't be but a few more minutes. There's no point   in moving so much stuff twice. Maybe after I get my own place I'll get   the rest. As it is now I don't have anywhere to put everything."

Kylie rubbed her hand up and down Chessy's back comfortingly.

Her own place. How sterile and lonely it sounded. But it was something   she had to face. She couldn't impose on Kylie and Jensen forever. They   were still in the beginnings of their relationship and the last thing   they needed was a mopey third wheel underfoot.

Maybe a town house. Something small and homey without a lot of   maintenance. There were plenty of upscale neighborhoods in the Woodlands   with housing ranging from apartment complexes to duplexes and   townhomes. She'd rent at first until she figured out a solid plan to   support herself. No matter that she would be entitled to a settlement   from Tate in the divorce, she still needed to evaluate her career   options.

She had a business degree and had job experience in a marketing firm,   but she hadn't worked anywhere in the five years she and Tate had been   married. In hindsight it had been incredibly stupid of her to give up   everything and depend solely on her husband for support, but at the time   she'd found it wildly romantic that he was so determined to provide  for  her every need.

Setting aside thoughts of divorce and her lack of independence, she   finished packing what she wanted from the bedroom and Jensen lugged it   all out to the car while she and Kylie did a sweep of the rest of the   house.

On the fireplace mantel in the living room was a photo of her and Tate   looking so happy that it hurt to look at it. Her hand hovered over it,   wanting to take it, to be able to recapture a time in their marriage   when they'd been in love and deliciously carefree. Before work had   consumed all of Tate's time and attention and she'd slipped in his   priorities.

She closed her eyes. Could she really blame him for wanting to make a   success of himself? Was she being selfish for not being more   understanding?

No. That may have been true before the night at The House. But it was   inexcusable for him to have left her at her most vulnerable when she was   defenseless against another man's actions. But then did she share in   the blame for participating in a kink they both enjoyed and had shared   in multiple times before the other night?

Finally making her decision, she carefully picked up the photo and stuck   it under her arm before reaching for her wedding album from the   built-in shelves on either side of the fireplace.

There were other photos. Vacations. Honeymoon pictures. Candid shots   that had been taken in unguarded moments. She was infused with longing   for those simpler times when their focus had been each other and there   were no worries about jobs or careers or anything except loving and   being.

"I'm done," Chessy quietly announced as she deposited the stack of   picture frames and photo albums into Jensen's waiting hands. "We can go   now."

Kylie put her hand on Chessy's shoulder and squeezed in silent support.   "I'll call Joss and tell her we're on our way. She'll probably be at  the  house waiting when we get there."

"Thank you," Chessy said softly. "Thank you both. I don't know what I'd   do without such good friends. Having to do this alone  … " She closed her   eyes, unable to finish her statement.

"You won't ever have to do it alone, Chessy," Jensen said in a   determined voice. "You were there for Kylie when I was a dumbass. You   were there for Joss when Dash was a dumbass. So now Tate is the one   being the dumbass. It all turned out well for Joss and Kylie so maybe   there's hope yet for Tate."

Chessy attempted a smile but failed miserably. Compared to Tate's   "fuck-up," Dash and Jensen's paled in comparison. There was never any   doubt in Chessy's mind that the two men adored their women, and even   when they pulled their stupid male moves, she'd known that it would turn   out just fine in the end.                       
       
           



       

Before the night at The House, Chessy had felt optimistic about her   future with Tate. She'd truly believed that they'd incurred a minor   hiccup on the way to happily ever after. But when a husband turned his   back on his wife when she was at her most vulnerable to take an   after-hours business call, what else was she to think other than that   their marriage was well and truly over?





TWENTY-TWO


TRUE to Kylie's word, Joss was waiting at Jensen's house for her. As   soon as they pulled up, Joss got out of her car and rushed over to   Chessy's side of the car, pulling her into a ferocious hug the minute   Chessy stepped out.

"Oh Chessy, I'm so sorry," Joss said, tears thick in her voice. "When   Kylie told me what happened, I couldn't believe it. I want to kick   Tate's stupid ass!"

Despite her misery, Chessy couldn't help but smile at Joss's vehemence. Her heart squeezed with love for her two best friends.

"I love you," Chessy said sincerely. "Thank you for coming. I hate to   burden you when you're so miserable with morning sickness."

Joss scowled, her brow furrowing in disapproval. "If you weren't already   down and out I'd kick your ass for saying that. I will always be here   when you need me. God knows you've been there for me countless times."

They all turned when they heard a car pull up.

"There's Dash now," Joss said. "I called him when Kylie texted me to say you were on your way and he left work to meet us here."

Chessy sighed. She knew it was inevitable that her entire group of   friends would learn of the demise of her marriage, but being confronted   by everyone at once was overwhelming.

Dash got out, a deep scowl on his face as he strode toward Chessy and   Joss. Not even bothering to greet his wife first, he immediately pulled   Chessy into a fierce hug, squeezing her against his muscular frame.

"I'm going to kill the bastard for this," Dash said darkly.

"Not if I kill him first," Jensen muttered.

Dash pulled away and gently pushed a strand of Chessy's hair behind her ear. "Are you okay, honey? Is there anything I can do?"

"I'm okay," Chessy said quietly. "Kylie and Jensen have taken good care   of me and Kylie let me cry all over her earlier. At this point I'm out   of tears and if I cry one more time I think my head may explode."

Sympathy darkened Dash's eyes. "I'm so sorry this happened. I wish Tate   would have pulled his head out of his ass a hell of a lot earlier.   There's no excuse for what he did."

"I know," she said sadly. "Leaving him was the hardest thing I've ever   done, but I couldn't stay. He made a choice last night and it wasn't me.   If there was any hope for our marriage before, it died a quick death   then. It made me realize I took too long to accept that our relationship   was doomed."

"Oh sweetie," Joss said, wrapping her arm around Chessy's waist. "I'm so   very sorry. I don't even know what to say to make you feel better."

"There's not much you could say at this point," Chessy said wryly.   "How's the saying go? Time heals all wounds? I guess I have to hope   that's true in my case. But I really wish I could press a Fast Forward   button and jump to the part when everything is okay again."

"Come on inside, ladies," Jensen said. "We're standing outside where the   whole neighborhood can see us. Dash and I will cook dinner while you   girls relax in the living room. I'll open a bottle of wine, or something   stronger if you prefer, and you're perfectly welcome to get as   shit-faced as you like. Well, except you, Joss," he added with a grin.   "Don't want to get the baby drunk!"

Joss and Kylie flanked Chessy, each wrapping an arm around her waist as   they herded her toward the door. Once inside, they deposited Chessy on   the sofa while Jensen and Dash headed for the kitchen to begin supper   preparation.