Chapter 156

Aria’s POV

After lunch, Samuel and I take the kids to the park where we had reunited so that William and Joe could run around and burn off some of their high energy. Samuel and I sat on a nearby bench, watching.

This distance allowed Samuel and me to speak more directly, without worrying about the kids overhearing and learning too much, or getting the wrong idea about Liam.

“I’m sorry again for the way Liam behaved,” I told him.

“You’re not responsible for his actions,” Samuel said. “You don’t need to take responsibility for your ex.”

At first, I nodded. But then I realized the full extent of what he said. “My… ex?”

“Divorces can be difficult for everyone involved,” Samuel continued. “I’ve seen it with my sister. Her ex is so possessive of her and her daughter. Every time she tries to go out with someone else, he always shows up, acting like it’s an accident. He’s been trying to win her back for months.”

Slowly, I realize there is a fundamental misunderstanding here. Thinking back, I try to determine when it started and how. Had I given Samuel the wrong impression? Did he think this was a date?

He clearly thought I was divorced. Guilt and embarrassment swelled up inside of me. How had I let things get so off the rails?

“You are being quiet,” Samuel said. “We can talk about something else if this makes you uncomfortable.”

“No, I just… I need to tell you something.”

Samuel turned toward me on the park bench. “Shoot.”

I’d messed this situation up, but the best way to resolve it, I knew, was to be direct. So, turning to face Samuel, I told him, “Liam isn’t my ex.”

Samuel nodded. “The divorce is still in progress.”

“No, I mean…” After taking a steadying breath, I tried again, “Liam and I are still together. He’s my…” I wasn’t not ready to say husband. With everything going on between us, it hurt too much to say those words, out of fear I would soon have to take them back. Instead, I settled on, “He’s my partner.”

Confusion split Samuel’s brow. “Your… current partner?”

“Yes,” I said, relieved he finally understood.

“But he was there with another woman. Is this something the two of you do? Am I a part of that…?”

“No,” I said quickly. “I wanted to catch up with you as a friend. Everything between us is in the name of friendship.”

“Oh.”

I had thought he might be disappointed, but instead he looked relieved. I couldn’t blame him exactly. What had he thought? That I wanted to be in some kind of polyamorous situation?

That wouldn’t work for me.

“But he was with that woman,” Samuel continued, caught on that point. “Was she his friend?”

“No,” I said. “Well, I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

Watching me closely, Samuel must have seen the sadness in my eyes, because his own eyes saddened in solidarity.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” I said. “It’s just… complicated.”

“Are you certain this is a situation that you want to be in…?” Samuel asked cautiously.

“No,” I told him honestly. “But Liam is worth seeing this through. I have to believe that he won’t hurt me again.”

Samuel’s brows shoot up. “Again?”

God, I was really putting my foot in my mouth here. Dropping my head, I bury my face in my hands.

“I’m sorry,” Samuel said. “I don’t mean to pry. Your business is your business, and your relationship is your own. I’m merely worried about you. When you and Liam interacted outside of the café, it seemed as if you were divorced. I don’t say that to hurt you, but to warn you.”

“What can I do?” I asked, feeling a little helpless.

“Talk to him. Sort this all out. Or let him go,” Samuel said.

I didn’t know if I was ready for any of that, though I knew it was sound advice.

Peeking up at him, I realized that this misunderstanding was only part of the problem. As Samuel had thought I was divorced, he must have seen today’s lunch as a date.

“Samuel, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to lead you on.”

“It was my fault,” Samuel said. “I made assumptions without confirming them first. But I swear I’m not unhappy with the new arrangement.” He smiled kindly. “I’ve enjoyed catching up with you, Aria, and I’d like to continue to be your friend.”

Liam’s POV

I paced outside of our home, waiting for Aria and the kids to come home. How long did it take to each lunch? Or had they gone to do something else afterwards?

My blood boiled, thinking of that stranger doing things with my family that I wanted to do. If this drama with Markus and Joanna hadn’t been eating up so much of my time, then I would have been the one to take them to lunch and whatever else they wanted to do that day.

I hated this. Everything about it.

Worse, I had no one to blame but myself.

Aria wasn’t doing anything wrong. She was allowed to have friends.

It was my own jealousy that was the problem here. I was sacrificing everything to keep the club afloat – my free time, my money, my distance from my terrible father.

I’d be damned if I was going to lose my family as well.

Finally, Aria returned home with the kids. I waited outside the door for her to park and everyone to exit the car.

Aria and I were long overdue for a tough conversation.

I’d cut the meeting short with my father so that I could be here to have it. The meeting hadn’t been going anywhere anyway. Joanna and Markus teamed up on me to convince me to accept the engagement.

They were persistent. No matter how many times I said no, it didn’t seem like enough.

Yet, as I waited for Aria to approach, the kids beat her to it, rushing toward me.

“Dad!” Joe said with excitement.

“You’re home!” William added in.

“Are you home for the day?” Aria asked as she came closer.

“I am now,” I said. I had so much more that I wanted to say, but I bit my tongue, not wanting to say any of it in front of the kids.

“Dad, will you play with us?” William asked.

“We have new cars!” Joe added.

My conversation with Aria was important, but so too was spending time with my kids. I’d been far too busy with work and my father lately. I’d missed them terribly.

So, even though I wanted to clear the air with Aria, I agreed to play with Joe and William first.

“Sure. Show me your cars. Which ones did you get?”

Their faces lit up like Christmas morning. Grabbing each of my hands, they pulled me toward the house.

I focused on playtime as best I could, giving all of my attention to William and Joe. Yet, in the back of my mind, I stewed in my anger and my insecurity.

Over and over, I kept seeing that stranger entering the restaurant with my family, acting as if they were his.

I’d been so busy. I’d had so many other obligations.

I worried I was losing my family to a stranger.