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“What do you have planned?” she asked.
“I’m going to fix everything.”
“You mean, together we’re going to fix everything? Because I’m done rolling over and walking away.”
“You’re talking crazy.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’m talking like you.”
Then that was bad, because most times he felt crazy. The only time he didn’t was when he was with her. “Mar—”
The smile on her face said she wasn’t going to back down. “Trace.”
“Will you let me take care of you? Of this?”
Her red hair swayed when she shook her head. “I’ve been building my whole life for this moment. To tell him what I think. To tell him where to go.”
“Alright then, Cinderella. Put some clothes on, and let’s give your old man a shout.”
***
It took Marlena a few minutes to remember exactly how to get back to Brian’s new house. But she recognized the flashy car in the driveway and knew her semi-guessed directions were right. She glanced over her shoulder a dozen times and didn’t see anyone.
Trace laughed. “Don’t worry, they’re right behind me.”
“Not worried. Just…” She bit her lip. “This is the right move. Right?”
“If the guy hasn’t done anything wrong, then this will just be a shitty day for him. Given what I know about him, I don’t care too much about him having a shitty day.”
And there was Brian’s big, new house. “Pull in there.”
Trace turned into the driveway and parked. “Porsche? What was he driving before?”
“A rust-bucket of a Jeep.”
“Nice upgrade.” He nodded to the house. “Didn’t grow up in a place like this?”
She snorted her laugh. “Not a chance. Let’s go say hi.”
A broad grin covered Trace’s face. “With pleasure.”
The front door opened, and there stood Brian. He looked like a weasel. Even more than that, he looked guilty and wary as his eyes traveled from her to Trace.
“Brian, meet Trace.”
Her boyfriend ambled up, shook Brian’s hand until he winced, and said, “Yeah. Meet me. We have business to discuss. But—” He let go, and Brian took a visible breath, shaking out his hand. “First, Marlena has a few things to say to you.”
Brian stopped shaking out his hand. A laugh slipped from his lips. “I see. Then come in. This should be good.”
Frustration tickled her mind. It’d be so easy to scream and cry. To kick the bastard and let out the years of pent-up hurt. Instead, she squared her shoulders. “It will be. Trust me.”
They walked through the front door into the living room. There were new chairs and a couch and department-store bags full of things Brian shouldn’t have been able to afford.
“Marlena.” He sat on the couch and leaned back. He pointed to Trace then to her, with condescension dripping off his smug face. “I thought you’d met a real man. But I was wrong. Just like I always said, you can’t do anything right.”
The tension pouring off of Trace was palpable, except Brian didn’t seem to notice. She took Trace’s hand and smiled. “If I so much as sigh funny, he’ll probably kill you. Tread lightly, Brian.”
“Dad.” Brian scoffed.