Or if one led into the other.

I just knew that the landscape of my life was changing in a variety of ways, including whatever changes Aaron saw fit to force on it by any means available.

And seeing his ex-wife with another man had an effect I wouldn’t have guessed, considering the way he’d treated me. But I probably should have.

And as usual, I didn’t like it.

“Gonna do whatever he can to get you, and he’s gonna run his current bitch through the wringer to do it,” Joker informed me.

I sighed, lifted my cheek from where I was resting it on Joker’s chest, and found his eyes through the shadows.

“He and I are done,” I declared.

“Heard a lot of what you said when Travis and me weren’t in the room, Butterfly, so I know you’re into me.” I grinned through the dark but Joker kept going. “That’s not what bothers me. That jackhole is gonna run his bitch through the wringer, and he’s gonna do the same with you and your boy. Man like him doesn’t give a fuck about anything… but winning.”

“I know,” I said quietly.

“You gotta call Angie, tell her all that shit,” Joker advised.

“I will, tomorrow,” I promised.

“And you and her gotta come up with some way that’s gonna make it clear to him that whatever deal you strike about how you take care of your kid is it. Whatever he’s got in his head to do to try to best me, he’s gotta let it go.”

“I’ll mention that to Angie.”

I had hoped that would end it, but Joker kept at me.

“I know he was yours, you cared about him, you gave him years of your life, your hand, a kid, and I know he fucked you and you’re over it. But you gotta know, your ex was a massive dick in high school, and I’m thinkin’ maturity didn’t wean that outta him.”

“He was just—” I started, not in defense of Aaron, more in defense of why I’d put up with the way Aaron was.

“You weren’t around,” Joker interrupted me. “Lookin’ back, the real shit he pulled, the foul shit that was beyond the pale, Carrie, he pulled it only when you weren’t there to witness it. If you knew what that motherfucker was up to, you’d have gotten quit of him before you hit your sophomore year, and my guess is, he knew it.”

I didn’t like the sound of that.

“Like what?” I asked.

“Doesn’t matter,” Joker didn’t answer. “Hope the kids he pulled that crap on got over it. It was so brutal, they probably didn’t. But that’s not on you. Everyone knew you were cool. Everyone also knew he was not.”

“Did he… do anything to you?” I asked hesitantly.