“Everything you’ve done for me? From the moment we met, Libby Hunter, you haven’t done anything for me that didn’t serve you too. You loved the excitement and exhilaration of spicing up your vanilla life with a bit of my working-class smut. But it made you feel uncomfortable so you eased your guilty conscience by offering me entry into your clean and tidy life.”

Libby’s cheeks burned red. “If it was so abhorrent to you, why didn’t you reject the gifts and the holiday trips? My friendship? My love? My support?”

Jess swallowed around an uncomfortable lump. “I didn’t say I didn’t get anything out of it. I’m just painting this friendship in its true colors. We love each other but we’re both guilty of taking advantage when we need to.”

“I’ve never used or abused our friendship. I’ve only ever been a true friend, unlike you, you lying, backstabbing witch!”

The tempo of betrayal increased, throbbing like a pulse deep inside Jess. “You’ve peddled the story of our perfect friendship for so long you believe every word. Get real, Lib. Ours is great, but nothing’s perfect.”

Libby stared at her from eyes filled with loathing. “Especially when one friend’s screwing the other one’s husband. You don’t even know the meaning of the word friendship. I’m looking at a stranger.”

“No, you’re not. I’ve been a good friend to you. I am a good friend to you. Nothing’s changed.”

Libby’s eyes dilated, their serene blue suddenly wild and unpredictable. “You’re insane if you believe that. You have a child with my husband. How could you do this to me?”

Jess wanted to scream at Libby’s blindness. “I wanted a child.”

“That’s not an excuse! I want a child too, but I’m not sleeping with someone else’s husband to make it happen.” Libby’s tone was the self-righteous one of a woman who’d only ever known love. She had no idea what it meant to be forced into the trenches and fight for what you want and deserve.

“Sometimes the means justifies the end. Leo is proof of that.”

“Oh my God!” Libby’s hands tore so hard at her hair, strands came away in them. “You’re not even sorry!”

There was no point disagreeing with her. It was impossible to be sorry when Leo was the perfect gift.

Chapter Nine

“Oh thank God. I wasn’t sure you’d come home.”

Libby heard the concern in Nick’s voice. She tried looking at his warm brown eyes, his open and familiar face and his friendly mouth, but all she saw was him in bed with Jess. Her stomach lurched and she dry retched.

“Are you okay?”