Page 82 of Small Town Sizzle

“Garrett!” I hear a voice call out.

I turn around on instinct and see my ex-wife, Natalie, rushing toward me. The wedding ring I gave her is still glinting on her finger. My stomach drops. I haven’t seen her in two years, not since I sat at my laptop in a Zoom courtroom to finish our divorce.

“Oh, my goodness, fancy meeting you here!” she calls out with a giggle as she leans in for a hug.

I move out of the way so that she almost falls. She’s overdressed in stilettos, a black leather skirt, and a white silk blouse. She sticks out like a sore thumb around here, and everyone is staring.

“So, we’re doing that, are we, babe?” she says with a pout.

“What are you doing here?” I ask quickly.

“I was coming to see you, silly.” She tries to touch my arm, but I pull it back from her.

“Then why did you say fancy meeting you here?” I ask dryly.

“It’s a figure of speech, babe. Why are you being like this?”

I glare back at her without responding.

“There’s no reason for you to come see me. How did you even know I was here?”

“I ended things with Javier and—”

I put a hand up in the air to stop her. I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration.

“We’re not doing this,” I hiss as I turn on my heel and start back into the office.

“Garrett, come on. We had something special and—”

“No, we didn’t,” I groan with a disgusted shake of my head. “I wasn’t the best husband because work took me away a lot, but you never complained. You told the judge that I was mentally and emotionally abusive. You made up lies about physical abuse. How can you…?” I let out a groan. And start to walk away again.

“I have nothing, Garrett. I…you took everything from me in the divorce and…I have nothing now.”

“You signed a prenup that said if you cheated, you forfeited everything. I kept my earnings, my home, my things. You not having anything is no longer my problem. I offered you civility at the beginning of it all, instead you got greedy and tried to take everything I busted my ass for. I told you then, there was no going back, and I meant it.”

I’m in front of the office, I open the door and walk in.

“Are you okay?” Laura asks quickly just as the door behind me opens and Natalie walks in.

“Oh, my goodness, Laura! How are you? You look gorgeous!” Natalie feigns as she tries to hug my sister-in-law.

“This is a joke, right?” Laura gasps as she looks back at me in shock.

“I wish it was,” I say. I turn to look back at Natalie. “Maybe I wasn’t clear enough, but you’re not welcome here. Leave.”

“But, baby…” Natalie pouts.

“I can call the sheriff,” Laura says as she gestures toward her headset.

“Not necessary,” Natalie says flatly. “I see you trying to play hard to get, babe. I’ll be back.”

She saunters out the front door. My hand goes to the back of my neck as I stare after her.

What in the hell is happening?

Chapter Thirty

Maya