“I deserved everything you said to me. I never meant to make you feel like I don’t think you’re capable of making decisions for yourself.” He draws in a deep breath and hesitates for so long I get the impression that the next part is hard for him. “I have to accept that there’s nothing about you being with someone else that will ever sit right with me, but that doesn’t mean I have the right to judge your relationship. You know yourself. You know what’s right for you.”

I don’t know why I told him George and I were seeing other people. I didn’t want him knowing the truth, but I could’ve just said we’d broken up. I think, at least in part, I was trying to keep some distance between us, but I’m pretty sure that ship sailed the minute I unbuttoned his pants in Jake’s office. “George and I aren’t together.”

He straightens. “You’re not? Since when?”

“Since before you and I . . .” I make a circular motion with my hand. “And you were right. About George. Sort of, at least.”

“What does that mean?”

I blow out a breath. “He wasn’t cheating on me with someone else. He was cheating on someone else with me.” My eyes burn, and anger pulses through me at the reminder. That lying sonofabitch. “He’s married.”

Easton blinks. “You’re kidding.”

“I wish I were.” My eyes prick with tears. I’m not heartbroken, but my pride is so battered it has a limp. “After we broke up, I decided I wanted to find out who Buttercup was, and . . .” I shrug helplessly. “I guess I know now.”

“What a fucking asshole. Jesus, Shay, I’m so sorry.” His eyes are full of anger, but he shakes his head like he’s trying to keep his emotions in check. “If it helps, I take no joy in being right about this.”

The sincerity in his voice makes the tears spill over. “I feel like a fool.”

He puts down his coffee, cups my face in both of his hands, and wipes away my tears. “It kills me to see you cry. To know he had your heart to break. He didn’t deserve you.”

“I wasn’t in love with him. I’m embarrassed and my life is a little confusing right now, but my heart isn’t broken.” Not like it was when you walked away from me. “You know what hurts the most?”

He shakes his head. “What?”

“He made me the other woman. I never got the choice, but that’s what I was, and now I need to tell his wife the truth. She deserves to know.”