“He didn’t say.”
“Why were you at his place?” Even as I ask, the answer forms in my mind. “Because of the scene at the diner?”
Tenley squints. She doesn’t ask how I know about the diner, which is good because I don’t want to tell her I was asking about her.
“Yes, mostly.” She nods once. “I overheard people talking about where I might be staying, and someone guessed correctly.”
“So you were too scared to go back?”
“Right.”
My thoughts shift away from Tenley with my brother and move onto Tenley’s safety. “Do you have somewhere safe to go? Why don’t you have bodyguards?”
Tenley sighs. “I didn’t think I needed them out here. Wishful thinking, I guess. My assistant is trying to hire someone, but it turns out it’s a little hard to do that at the moment. The agency I use doesn’t have anybody available right now.”
“What are you going to do?”
Tenley holds her hands out on either side of her in a ‘ta-da!’ stance. “Meet your new neighbor.”
“You’re moving in with Wyatt?” I’ve got a bad look on my face, I can feel it.
“Not really. I’m moving into Wyatt’s cabin. He’s going to stay at the homestead.”
“Who knew Wyatt was so gallant?” I murmur, not quite feeling magnanimous yet even though I know he and Tenley didn’t sleep together.
“Why do you even care?” Tenley’s head tips to the side, and she shakes it slightly, her eyes tightening in confusion. “Aren’t you married?”
“Ye—” I stop. “No. I’m divorced, actually.” My heart feels like it’s being pinched as I say the words. “As of this morning.”
Tenley blinks. “I have no idea what to say to that.”
I huff a laugh. “I have no idea what a response to a sentence like that should even be.”
The corner of Tenley’s mouth curves up into a suppressed grin. “Want to hear something ridiculous?”
“I guess. This day can’t get much weirder.”
“Someone stole all my underwear.”
I shake my head, certain I’ve heard her wrong. “What?”
“You heard it correctly.”
“From…?”
“The house where I was staying. That’s what I was talking to Wyatt about when you drove up. Not about our illicit affair.”
“Did you tell the police?”
She makes a face. “No. What will that accomplish?”
Honestly, I’m not really sure.
She keeps talking. “It’s not like they can catch whoever did it, and I promise you someone in the police department will call one of the gossip sites, and it will be on the internet in no time. No thank you. I just got my name out of the headlines.”
I’m dying to ask why she was in the headlines, but that can wait. I can answer my own question with some patience and an internet search.
“Alright, let’s head back.” I whistle at the group of cowboys, and they break apart.
“Can I assume you’re not mad at me anymore, then? Because you’ve been a jerk and I don’t appreciate it.” Her hand goes to her hip, and her eyes challenge me.
“I’m not mad at you, Tenley. I’m mad at Morgan.”
Tenley frowns. “Look what happened to my underwear. I can’t run around telling every strange man I meet my real name.”
“How many strange men do you run around meeting?”
She lets out a little shriek of playful irritation. “I’m riding with Josh again.”
“I get Ham,” I say, joking, until I realize what this means. “Never mind. Troy, you’re with me.”
Anna: I received notice you signed the papers.
Me: Right.
Anna: Don’t you think we should talk?
Me: About what?
Anna: I don’t know, Warner. Everything.
Me: We should’ve talked at some point in the last two years.
Anna: Warner, don’t. You know I couldn’t.
Me: Clearly I didn’t know anything, Anna.
Anna: I’m sorry.
Me: I know.
Is this how it’s supposed to go? Shouldn’t there be epic screaming matches or stubborn showdowns? Apparently not for us. We’re ending on a whisper. Maybe divorces are like snowflakes, each one unique.
The kids are asleep now. I’m sitting on my front porch in the dark, my phone balanced on my leg, nursing my second beer. Across the quarter mile separating us, I see lights on in Wyatt’s place. Or in Tenley’s place, I suppose. For a little while.
Instead of stewing over the fact that my marriage is over, I grab my phone and type Tenley’s name into the internet search bar.
The first result, and the dozen following, tell me nearly all I need to know. Tenley was cheated on. I click the first link and read the story.
Ouch. It was recent.
At least my divorce isn’t splashed all over the place for people to read about, and then also comment on. I read the first three comments, then stop. What the fuck is wrong with people?
All three comments are from people saying Tenley is stupid to break up with Tate, even if he did cheat on her. I don’t know how she does it, living in the public eye the way she does. She has people opining on her choice to expect fidelity from her relationship, and then some other crazy person stealing her underwear.
No wonder she didn’t want to tell me her real name.
I look over to Wyatt’s cabin just as the back porch light flickers on and Tenley steps out. From this distance I can’t see any details, only movement. She walks the length of the cabin, as if checking something. Picking up my phone, I type out a quick message. All good out here. I’m keeping watch.
Tenley looks this way, but without a porch light on, I know she won’t be able to see me. A message pops up.
Are you watching me?
I sip my beer and respond. Not on purpose, but yes. I’m sitting on my porch.
Tenley settles into one of Wyatt’s patio chairs and bubbles appear on my screen. How are you?
I got divorced today.
I was cheated on recently.
I know. I just finished reading about it.
I’m rolling my eyes right now.
I chuckle quietly, picturing her making a face. So am I.
Why? she asks.
Because this Tate fool was obviously out of his mind. I press send and wait, knowing I’ve stepped out of the zone we’ve been standing in since I pulled over on the side of the road.
Tenley doesn’t call me out, thankfully. Was he, though? Did you see the person he cheated with? She’s eight years younger and has two cup sizes on me.
Please. Tenley is gorgeous, and her body is perfect. I type out my response and hit send. Now you’re the one out of your mind.
Tenley responds. Anna was obviously out of her mind.
She was, two years ago. She wouldn’t get out of bed and I was afraid to leave my kids with her. But now? I tip the bottle to my lips, swallowing the last of it. I’m not sure how Tenley knows anything about Anna, including her name, but I don’t feel like playing detective. Maybe. Maybe not.
Tenley responds immediately. Yes. Most definitely.
She’s seeing someone else. I saw them together last Saturday morning. Right before I came to my parents’ house and met you for the second time. Sorry for being an asshole that day.