Nick’s friends tried to get him back in the dating scene right after his divorce was final, but he was resistant due to his trust issues. He soon realized, though, that dating didn’t mean he had to look for Aubrie’s replacement in his life; he could take a page from his ex-wife’s book and just look for her replacement between the sheets.
A fit, handsome, intelligent 49-year-old single man without major issues was somewhat of a unicorn in the world of single women older than 40. Nick didn’t lack for female companionship and even had a couple of relationships that lasted for several months. He just never found the right woman to marry again.
******
“It’s always so good to have the family back together. I can’t thank you enough for smoothing things over with the kids several years ago,” Aubrie said while she and Nick settled back into the chaises again to sip their drinks on the patio near her in-ground pool.
“They were mad at you because of me… sort of. They took my side, which to some extent was at least gratifying, since you were the one cheating,” Nick said.
Aubrie’s lips were pursed together and a backlog of thunderbolts was building in her eyes.
“Yeah, I know you still don’t think you were cheating, and that I should have given you some time for your precious ‘research.’ But the Aubrie I married understood the importance of keeping wedding vows. Lord, I miss that woman every day,” Nick said.
“She’s right here, Nick,” Aubrie answered. “The train may have left the track for a spell, but it’s found its way back.”
Nick sighed, took a big sip on his Margarita and looked his ex directly in her eyes.
“Self-deception is the worst kind of deceit, babe. I told you not to do it, told you I probably couldn’t accept it even after you forced it on me. Sometimes… the words ‘I’m sorry’ aren’t enough to overcome the deeds. Words are easy, but it’s deeds that count.
“Am I just supposed to conveniently ignore the men you slept with while we were married and then while the divorce was being finalized, and the dozens you had sex with after we were divorced, not to mention the little bout of VD? Nobody has that amount of forgiveness in them. Nobody.”
Aubrie looked shell-shocked. How did Nick know so much about her life after the divorce? How did he find out about her getting VD? As her mind raced, she had to admit to herself that her arrogance might have won out over good sense.
“Aubrie, have you ever actually read one of your books, from start to finish?” Nick asked.
Aubrie could tell by the look on Nick’s face that this wasn’t a trick question, or a joke of some kind. He could tell that the wheels inside her head were spinning without traction.
“I write the books myself, without ghostwriters. Of course I know what’s in them,” she finally answered.
“That’s not what I asked you,” Nick rejoined. “After the books are published, do you ever just sit down and read them all the way through, like someone who has bought one would do?”
“I did the first couple, but not all the way through, start to finish, since then. Why would I?”
“You know sometimes your editor has you re-do some sections, because they’re just not right, but you didn’t see it when you wrote it? It’s like that, I think, when you don’t read your own stuff all the way through. I think you miss some things.”
“Okay, smart guy, what have I missed?” she asked defiantly, her eyes boring into his.
“Somewhere along the way, you drifted away from reality. You became Skye Avalon. Your world became all about sex and lust. The Aubrie Lance I knew and loved disappeared a long time ago,” Nick said.