“Why is he being such an ass?” Ryan asked.

I held up a finger for him to wait. “He can’t just take your car, Marie. I don’t care whose name is on it.”

“That’s marital property,” Ryan added.

Desire to kick Gary in the balls was overwhelming. “You need to see an attorney . . .

now.”

“I know. I have some calls to make,” she said sadly. “This was the final straw.” I wanted an answer to Ryan’s question.

“Marie, why is he being like this? I mean, he’s becoming spitefully cruel.”

She scoffed. “Tell me about it. Taryn, I saw him with her. I went over to his work to confront him and he was leaning in her damn car. And then I went over to my house to get some of my stuff and my key wouldn’t work. He changed all of the locks on the house, Taryn! He said since I’ve never appreciated anything he’s ever done for me that I can try going without.”

Ryan nodded his chin at me, wanting to know what was going on.

I shook my head adamantly. “Marie, he cannot just lock you out of your own house.” Ryan’s eyes opened wide with shock from hearing my side of the conversation.

“You know, I’ve been trying to figure it out. Ever since he went out that one night with his bachelor buddies in January, we’ve been fighting. Right after that he started getting mysterious phone calls and texts and shit. Telling me to mind my own business whenever I asked about them. He was never like that, Tar. Never.”

“Did you flat out ask him why he’s being like this?”

“Yeah, I did,” she sighed. “But he never answers the direct question. He just throws it up in my face about how he’s sick of me doing this shit to him, whatever that means.

At first I thought it was because we weren’t spending enough time together, but when I am home, he’s out in the garage working on something, ignoring me,” she scoffed. “He’s dredging up shit that happened years ago.”

“Oh man,” I groaned.

“Whatever. Anyway,” she breathed out, sniffing. “Enough about that. How are you?

I’ve been really worried about you since you left Paris.”

There was no way I could think of my petty problems. “Do you need me to come home? I’m coming home. You shouldn’t be alone. I’ll see about getting a flight—”

“No you will not,” she said, cutting me off.

“You and Ryan need this time together.”

“But—”

“No, I’m good. You stick to the original plan and I’ll see you when you get home in a few weeks,” Marie insisted.

After we had said our goodbyes, Ryan nudged me, frowning. “How is she holding up?” One look was all I needed to give him. I could barely contain the tears and rage within myself. “He repossessed her car?” I nodded. “Came into the bar and demanded the keys.”

“I can’t believe Gary’s being such a prick.” Ryan gave me a consoling rub. “Seems out of character.”

“I can. They’ve been fighting and I’m sure she’s said some things she might regret. But now he’s trying to prove a point by stripping away everything he’s ever given her. God, I need to do something. She has the keys to my car so she’s got a way to get around, but still.”

“She needs to hire a good attorney is what she needs to do. He can’t do shit like that.

And I tell ya, if he’s fucking around on her, then I want nothing to do with him. You know how I feel about that.” Ryan snuggled next to me and I rested my head on his shoulder. “I need to go home soon. I can’t strap her with running the pub while her life is crumbling. I want to be with her when she goes to the lawyer. It’s important to me to be there for her. She’s my best friend.”

He sighed. “I know.” He laced our fingers together. “She’s got my support, too.

Whatever she needs. You know we can afford it. After all, I do owe her a huge debt of gratitude. She helped me see things clearly when I wasn’t.”

I knew just by his expression that he was referring to all that she had done to keep him and me together, even when it seemed that we’d never get over our trust issues. Should I be doing the same for her? Trying to patch things up between her and Gary before they became irreparable? One thing was for sure—I’d pay for an attorney before I’d let Gary do more damage.

“Tar, tell me the truth. The way he’s acting . . . did she cheat on him?” My head popped off his shoulder. “No. No, never. I suspect it’s the other way around.”