Page 38 of Anatomy of Us
“You wrecked her life and she needed someone to make her happy.”
“And I can see how well that worked,” I say.
“Well, we lasted about six years.” He shrugs. “Everything ends.”
I refuse to picture what Zoe’s life with him looked like. He took advantage of her lowest point, and I helped create it. I lace my fingers in my lap so he can’t see the slight shake in them.
“Do you know when I realized I failed?” Nate continues.
I don’t want to know. I don’t want to hear any of it. But I’m here.
“Enlighten me.”
“On our honeymoon.”
“On your honeymoon?” I stare. “You were with her for six years and you figure it out on your honeymoon?”
He looks amused, like my disgust is a compliment.
“We went to Mauritius. Her pick. She was paying, after all.” He pauses and takes a sip of tea like he’s savoring the moment. “There was a women’s soccer match on the hotel bar TV. Two German teams, I don’t even remember which. You know that even though I’m a sports journalist, I hate women’s soccer. We’re sitting there, newly married, supposed to be the happiest moment of our lives.”
“Can you get to the point?”
“The team you used to work for scored first.” Nate’s eyes sharpen. “She smiled. And do you know her first instinct? She grabbed her phone.”
“Grabbed her phone?” I repeat, confused.
“Yes. She grabbed her phone and went to your Instagram to see if you posted something.” His mouth twists. “You two weren’t talking, but several times a day she had to pick up her damn phone and check your feeds.”
My throat tightens.
Because I did the same thing.
“She married me. She put on my ring.” Nate taps the table once, like punctuation. “And she still kept looking for you.”
I blink hard. I refuse to let my eyes water. I won’t give him that. But my stomach flips like I’m falling.
“In the end, I was her consolation prize, Tessa.”
“It didn’t go that badly for you.” Now it’s my turn to push back. “It probably helped you a lot, being married to a soccer star, right? I mean, that kind of access has to be good for something.”
It lands.
Nate’s expression twists for a second. He recovers fast, but I see it. I feel it.
“Well,” he says, voice cooler, “the point is, I’m the one who picked up the pieces you left broken and scattered all over the floor. All your crap. And you know what? I made peace with it. I told myself sooner or later it would work.”
“Oh, come on.” My voice rises, loud enough that a couple people at nearby tables glance over. “So now Zoe’s the villain and you’re the hero?”
“No.” Nate lifts a finger and points at me, slow. “You’re the villain.”
“Me?”
Shit. Words race through my head because, yes, I hurt Zoe. I did. But that isn’t why we’re here and—
“I’m not here for an apology, Tessa.” His voice stays smooth. “I’m here because I want you to understand the damage you did to her. And the damage you’re going to do.Bluntly, you ruined her life seven years ago, and I’m almost sure you’ll do it again.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say, close to a growl.