Dev holds his hand out for a handshake, inserting himself into the conversation. “Hey, bud. I’m Dev. Nice to meet you.”
Miles tips his head back to look Dev in the eye. He shakes his hand, maybe a little star-struck, if I’m reading his expression accurately. “Miles. Nice to meet you too.” He narrows his eyes. “Don’t think I’ve heard you mentioned before.”
Dev releases his hand and smiles. “Nope. Probably not. I’m the new guy on the block.”
“What are you supposed to be tonight?” Miles asks, looking Dev up and down. “The Jolly Green Giant?” He laughs at his own lame joke.
Dev laughs good-naturedly. “Close. I’m a green bean, actually.”
Miles shakes his head, but wisely says nothing. He’s lucky, because I’m seriously considering slapping him right now. I just need one more reason. Just give me one more, Miles. Just one.
Miles turns halfway and looks up the stairs at his girlfriend. “Chastity, why don’t you come on down here and say hello?”
The girl, who’s still learning her social manners, apparently, walks down, teetering on very high heels. I have to grit my teeth to keep from mumbling anything unkind. She’s young. She’ll learn eventually how to act, I hope. As long as she doesn’t stay with Miles for too long, anyway.
“Hi,” she says, “nice to meet you.” She gives me her hand, but only manages to get her fingers into my grasp. They’re as limp as a pile of worms.
“Nice to meet you.” I want to say that I’ve heard a lot about her, that my kids don’t like her, and that I think she’s too young to be dating an old man like Miles, but of course I don’t. I just smile and smile and smile. It’s easier to do with Dev at my side.
“I’m going to take Jacob inside if it’s okay with you,” Dev says to me.
“Of course. Go ahead. I’ll be right in.”
Dev gets on with the business of lifting his son and his chair up to the porch, walking backward. I admire the way his muscles strain under the weight, smiling to myself as I picture him under me in the backseat of that stupid Pontiac. He is such a good man. Seeing him here next to Miles makes it that much more obvious. I can’t believe I was so blind. I spent ten years with that turdbasket.
I shift my focus to him, speaking quietly so only he will hear me. “So, why are you really here, Miles? Because I know it’s not to visit the kids.” They’re in the house now, digging into their candy, so I can afford to be honest.
He hisses out a sigh of annoyance. “I don’t want to have another fight with you.”
I shrug casually. “I don’t either. I just want you to be honest. You can do that, can’t you?” I glance at his girlfriend, who’s staring at the ground. Good. She’s uncomfortable. She should be. “Oh wait, that’s not really your forte, is it? Being honest . . .”
“Just shut it, Jenny. I’m here for the watch.”
I frown at him. This is coming out of left field. “The watch? What watch?”
“The watch that I gave you. It’s mine. I want it back.”
My jaw drops open. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious.” He has the grace to look uncomfortable, at least.
I’m whisper-yelling now. “Did you seriously break into my house so that you could steal the watch you gave me for my birthday two years ago?!”
His jaw tenses up. “I didn’t break into the house, Jenny. I used to live here. I still have a key.”
I shake my head. “Well, you shouldn’t. I’m changing the locks. Don’t ever come in here again without my permission.”
I walk away, because I don’t trust myself not to get physical with this man. He’s obviously got a screw loose, and he doesn’t realize he’s about to tangle with a Bengal tiger on her front lawn. In her territory. I will use my claws on his sorry ass.
His tone changes. Now he’s trying to sound pitiful. “I’m a little short on cash, Jenny. I need that watch.”
I laugh bitterly. “Why don’t you get a real job, Miles? Then you won’t have to worry about stealing jewelry from your ex-wife.” In typical fashion, he probably decided that his one week of commissioned sales should be enough to last him for the month and he’s slacked off and spent every last dime he made that week. God, I’m so glad I’m not married to that sloth anymore.
The kids are all inside, but the door is still partway open. I walk up to the porch and shut it before turning around to face the couple below me. They’re both looking up at me. “Chastity, I don’t know you, but let me give you a little piece of advice: If you’re as smart as you are pretty, you shouldn’t settle for a guy like Miles. Trust me. You’re better off without him.”
“Fuck you, Jenny,” Miles spits out.
I smile and nod at him. “Nice. Classy. Just what I would expect from a guy like you.” I walk into the house and shut the door behind me, locking it for good measure. I pull my phone out of my back pocket and send myself an email.