Complicated

by Kristen Ashley

“I really appreciate you being cool with Greta this weekend.” “Greta didn’t date some chick like, right after she divorced my mom,” she returned and immediately commenced storming off. Hix blew out a sigh. Shaw called after his sister, “Uncool, Cor.” “Whatever, Shaw,” she called back. Shaw looked to his dad. “I’ll talk to her again.” “Maybe we should let her get where she needs to go on her own, kid.” “And maybe I’ll give her the shot to do that, say, she’s got this week, and then I’ll talk some sense into her,” Shaw retorted. “Son, we’re all getting used to a lot of new things.” “And Dad, life is gonna throw a lot uglier things her way and she needs to learn to deal with it without bein’ a pain in the butt,” Shaw replied. “I mean, it isn’t like it’s lost on her that that woman’s husband got dead helpin’ some guy out and she was there right after Greta got attacked in her own kitchen. She needs to clue in. Stuff happens. You deal. Then you move on. The end.” “Gotta admit, it’s freakin’ me out how smart you are,” Hix murmured, and Shaw shot him a big grin. “Yeah. I’m like Yoda except taller, younger and hotter.” Hix started chuckling.

Hix didn’t. “It’s you. It was you from the first time you sat your ass across from me at that table at the Dew and you know it. I knew it. It freaked me and I bailed, that’s how strong your pull was. All the shit I jacked up between us was because I couldn’t deal. I couldn’t adjust that fast to being given a shot at something so fucking beautiful when my life had turned to such shit. I couldn’t believe in it. I wouldn’t let myself believe. But in the end I didn’t have to do dick because you turned out to be just as beautiful as you are and I had no choice but to let you make me believe.”

“Hope, I don’t want to get angry—” “You don’t want to get angry?” she snapped. “Stop it,” I hissed, leaning into her, and when I did her eyes got big, sharing surprise that stated eloquently Hope didn’t often have people call her on her shit. “Hix says you go all out until you get what you want but you’re an adult now, Hope. You have to learn that life is about getting what you want and it’s also about dealing appropriately when you don’t.” “He talks about me to you?” she asked. “Okay,” I stated curtly. “It’s clear you’re in a space where you can’t think of anyone but yourself, but if you manage to pull yourself out of that for a second, first, you’re the mother of his children so that’s gonna happen. Second, you’re his ex-wife so that’s gonna happen. And last, you’ve been pretty active lately in ways that don’t make him real happy so that’s gonna happen.” “You need to step aside,” she bit out. “That is not gonna happen,” I shot back. “He’s my husband.” “He’s not your husband, Hope. He’s my man. I’m angry you forced this situation but I honestly don’t intend to hurt you when I say that’s where this is at. This is real. It’s serious. It’s going places. And you have to focus on yourself and your life and your children and not on the man who is no longer yours not because he’s mine, which he is, but because he . . . is . . . no longer yours.” Her expression turned catty. “We’ll see.” “No, we won’t. I know how it is. You’ll see. And Hope, honest to God, you need to prepare bec...