The shock on Libby’s face told her that Nick hadn’t disclosed that bit of information. Jess wished she knew exactly what he’d shared and what he’d withheld. More importantly, she wished she knew why he’d broken his own rule and told Libby at all. And why today, when they were so close to making their lives easier and securing Leo’s future? Frigid fury formed an icy ball in her gut. How could Nick have betrayed her by telling Libby about their son without her being in the room?

“You’ve never told me about you and Nick,” Libby finally spluttered.

“Well, we both have our secrets about Nick, don’t we?”

“Not me! I’m an open book. The secrets are all yours. All I’ve ever done is love you. God! My family’s looked after you.”

Jess sloughed away a pang of remorse. “Growing up, your mother was forever telling me to go for what I want. I wanted a baby.”

Libby’s hand flew up into the air. “She didn’t mean steal my husband in the process! You’ve abused my friendship in the worst possible way. I don’t know how you can sleep at night knowing that. All I’ve ever done is love and support you, especially this last year—” Libby’s body suddenly flinched violently as if she’d been electrocuted. “You must have been laughing at me every time I sent Nick around to fix something.”

“No!” The need to clarify was suddenly important. “It’s not like that. It was never like that.”

“How dare you do this to me after everything I’ve done for you!”

“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.”