“Because.” I look up at both of them. “Out of everything Myla and I have been through, rather than trying to save our marriage, she’s throwing it away.” She’s thought about this for a long time if she’s already seen a lawyer, discussed the split of assets, and had the papers drawn up. As if I mean nothing to her at all. “This is how she wants to end it?” I shake my head. “It’s fucking bullshit.”

Banner winces. “Yeah, good idea, get that out now because I don’t think going back to the house with that sort of attitude will help the situation.”

Grumbling to myself, I stand from my chair. “I’m out.”

“Wait, why? You’re still angry. Sit down and work through it.”

“It’s only going to make me angrier. I just need to get this conversation with Myla over with and then go from there.”

Penn steadies his hand against my stomach, stopping me from my retreat. “Dude, I think it’s in your best interest to just take a second. I know you’re hurt and frustrated, and this doesn’t seem fair. I’m sure this plan is not how you want to handle things, but this could give you the time you need to fix things. So just sit down and talk out the feelings. You don’t want to do something stupid when you get back home . . . like piss her off even more.”

“Too late for that,” I say as I push past Penn and head out to my car.

Chapter Two

RYOT

Eleven years ago . . .

“Dude, you didn’t dress up.” Banner looks me up and down.

“That’s what you’re going to say to me? Not great game, nice job hitting two home runs? And that diving play at third, that was epic?”

Banner rolls his eyes. “Yeah, great job on the field. You’re a real magician with a ball. Now tell me why the fuck you didn’t dress up when you knew you were coming to a costume party at the bar?”

“Halloween in May is dumb,” I say as I take a seat next to him at the bar.

“It’s their play on Christmas in July, Halloween in May. Now all the slutty nurses won’t freeze to death. It’s brilliant if you ask me.”

“No one asked you,” I say as I steal Banner’s full beer.

Banner turns toward me, one arm resting on the bar top. “Care to explain why you’re acting like a dick?”

“I’m tired. The last thing I want to do is go to a costume party for a fake Halloween in May, but since you asked, I’m here.”

Banner pokes at the corner of my lip and tilts it upward. “You’re here, but I’ll need you here with a smile.”

“You’re asking too much,” I say just as someone bumps into my shoulder, causing my beer to slosh over the sides of the pint glass and all down my hand. “Jesus,” I say as I spin around to find . . . well, two slutty nurses.