Free Jumped by Colette Auclair Page A

that someone at the table might be watching, smiled and scooted her chair closer to Finn. She wasn’t about to allow him to pity her. Pity was inexcusable. “I. Was. Tired,” she said, still smiling. “That was all.”
    Finn smiled back. “Stop being so stubborn.”
    Beth smiled harder. “I will when you stop being arrogant. And egotistical. If you can help it.” Super-nice Beth was on life support.
    â€œI’m egotistical? You’re the one who’s so worried about what everyone thinks, last night you hid.”
    Beth tossed her head, forcing a laugh and smiling. “Oh, Finn!” she said loud enough for the table to hear and as though she was delighted by his witty repartee. She whispered. “I did not hide! You’re not all that, you know. I hate to inform you, but you didn’t devastate me when you left.”
    â€œWhen I left!” He opened and closed his mouth, then smashed his lips together into a tight seam. It was a sure sign he was getting angry and trying to conceal it. She could hear him breathing like a snorting bull. After two seconds he looked at her and resumed smiling. “Your memory must be failing. I didn’t leave you.”
    â€œYou most certainly did,” Beth said pleasantly.
    â€œYou left me and you know it.”
    That did it. Super-nice Beth had bought the farm. “ You left me . You didn’t give us time to work things out.”
    â€œLike hell. You didn’t care enough to keep trying. You wanted to spend as much time away from me as possible and run from our problems.” Finn stopped smiling.
    Beth stopped as well. “ I ran? Who took extra jobs so he wouldn’t have to be in our apartment except to sleep?”
    â€œExcuse me for trying to provide for you and pay for your horse habit. Yeah, boy, I was a real bastard.”
    â€œI never asked you to.”
    â€œYou didn’t have to. It was implied by you and your family the minute the ring went on your finger.”
    Beth spoke quietly but she no longer whispered. “My family isn’t me. I never expected you to buy me horses. Never. I told you that. Training and teaching was my job and I was doing just fine before I even met you.”
    â€œNo argument there. I only wish you would have told me you were already married to your job before you married me.”
    â€œYou knew what you were getting into.”
    â€œNo. Because if I had, I never would’ve gotten into it. You told me more than once, and I quote, ‘It’s going to get better.’ Except it never did.”
    â€œYou loved how passionate I was about my job!”
    â€œYeah. But I thought you might be passionate about me, too.”
    â€œI was.”
    â€œYou had a strange way of showing it. Horse showing every single weekend. Refusing to commit to dinner with me once a goddamn week.”

    â€œYou guys! Beth, Finn!” It was one of the guests. No, make that the bride. Melissa. Finn scrubbed his face with one hand and swallowed, looked at Melissa, then found four pairs of eyes staring at him and Bethany. Who knew how long they’d all been listening? Damn, he should have been more careful. He had argued with her, which he’d sworn he wouldn’t do, no matter what. Hell.
    Melissa continued, “You two want to fight, take it outside. The rest of us have to eat.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Finn said, making sure to make eye contact with all four of them in turn. “That was uncalled for. I apologize.”
    â€œSorry, you guys. We just can’t keep our mouths shut. It’s all in good fun. What’s a wedding without a cranky divorced couple to show how happy the bride and groom are?”
    The guests chittered and made the obligatory understanding noises about how they weren’t offended. Bethany rubbed the back of her neck so that her hair fell across her cheek.
    Table-wide conversation resumed and Finn and Bethany