Free Blurred Lines (Behind Closed Doors Book 2) by Erin Cawood Page B

refund. It wasn't an expensive looking ring but it didn't look cheap either.
    “Yes, thank you. I never know what to say about this.” Her head shakes as she looks over my shoulder and through the crack in the door. “It's so hard you know. My daughter is my husband's mistress's biggest fan.” Anna's eyes darken. “Former mistress,” she corrects herself with a sigh. “For the first time in eight years I don't have to compete for my husband's affections.” For some reason, she doesn't look happy about it. “We're finally being the family we were supposed to be.”
    I nod and wonder if things will ever change between Sean and Anna. And how long will they drag this out before they give up? You know, I thought Ash was being a bitch when they had that fight, but she's right. Anna's never made my brother happy. Even on their wedding day he looked like he'd rather be elsewhere. He hadn't looked at her the same way Wayne always looked at me for a really long time. It’s heart breaking to watch them.
    I bite my tongue and avoid saying as much. She's too understanding. I'm certain I'd never afford Wayne the same patience and understanding Anna had given Sean if he did the same thing to me. “What do you want me to do with this?” I ask before I say something I'll regret.
    She looks at the ring box and shrugs. “It’s Stephi's gift.” She pushes my hand away. “What harm will it do to give it to her now?”
    I leave Anna to say goodnight to Stephi and make my way downstairs via our bedroom where Ashleigh’s present will be relatively safe until I see her next week. As I hit the kitchen the aroma of chargrilled beef hits my nostrils and my belly rumbles. I realize I’ve been so busy preparing for our party today that I haven’t eaten since breakfast. While no one wants my attention I stop by the grill and check in on how Wayne is doing commanding the grill and pick up a burger with some cheese and as I reach for the relish I hear a tsk.
    I look up and Wayne is staring at me. “What?”
    “That’s like your third one.”
    I don’t know where he got that idea from. I haven’t had time to stop for food so what is he counting? Fresh air! Sheesh. I roll my eyes and shake my head. Men!
    “Babe, don’t do that,” he says gently. “You know I worry about you hanging around Krystal Valentina all day. All those lattes and restaurant lunches have to go somewhere.”
    I gasp. “Are you saying I’m getting fat?” He turns over the meat on the grill but he doesn’t reply. “Wayne, that’s an awful thing to say.”
    “Babe, it’s really easy to look at Ashleigh, who eats whatever she wants and think hell yeah, but Ashleigh trains for two hours every morning without fail, then she goes out and eats and drinks till her heart’s content and then does another hour in the pool before bed.”
    “How do you know this?” It’s been almost five years since they broke up.
    “Because we train at the same gym.”
    “You do?” I fold my arms across my chest and cock my weight to one of my latte and lunch fattened hips and snap, “Why didn’t you tell me you’d seen her at the gym? How often do you see her? What’s the big secret?”
    “As adorable as it is, please don’t pout, precious,” Wayne says, and it only pisses me off more. “It’s not like I speak to her. It’s just that sometimes she’s there when I’m there. Honestly, I thought she’d have mentioned it to you by now. Half the time she doesn’t even acknowledge me.”
    I’m less reassured by this because I’m totally absorbed by this image of my husband and my best friend training together and laughing at my growing backside that until now I hadn’t realized had become an issue. I tear off a bit of my cheeseburger and shove it in my mouth, over exaggerate a pleasured hum, and then turn and walk away. Asshole!
    I march into the kitchen and slam the paper plate and burger into the bin. I was really looking forward to eating that too. But now the