Perfect Excuse (Mason Creek Book 11) Read online

  Perfect Excuse

  A. D. Justice

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  Books by A.D. Justice

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Synopsis

  Who knew fighting for custody of an African grey parrot would be the perfect excuse to stay married?

  Ryder King was always the one for me. He stole my heart in second grade, and I never imagined after seven blissful years of marriage, I’d give it back.

  We made one tiny mistake by spending the night together during our separation period and the judge read all about it in the local gossip column. Okay, maybe it was two or three mistakes… but who’s counting?

  Instead of granting our divorce, the judge mandated us to marriage counseling. The only way to get out of our marriage without waiting another six months was if our counselor agreed we’re all wrong for each other.

  That’s when the fun really started…

  A probing therapist, a gossiper who knows all, and a few of my unmentionables on prominent display revealed all our secrets. Seems Ryder and I were both guilty of hiding vital truths from each other.

  And what happened behind closed doors…. well, let’s just say it’s the stuff headlines are made of.

  For my love

  PERFECT EXCUSE.

  Copyright © 2021 A.D. Justice.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, resold, or transmitted in any form without written permission from the copyright holder, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. If the location is an actual place, all details of said place are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to businesses, landmarks, living or dead people, and events is purely coincidental.

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  All copyrights are held by A.D. Justice and have not been transferred to any other individual. Sharing or posting of this material in any group is considered copyright infringement and will be reported to the authorities. Criminal and civil charges will be pursued for damages.

  Chapter 1

  Olivia

  “Hide in the closet. Quick.”

  I hit replay and the incriminating phrase fills the room again. With an intentional glare at Ryder, I exit the app and dramatically lock my phone. “Care to explain how she learned to say that?”

  “You really don’t want me to explain it, Liv. This is all your fault, and you know it.” Ryder points his finger at me with a jab in the air.

  “My fault? How is any of this my fault?” If looks could kill, I’d be a widow instead of an estranged, soon-to-be former wife.

  “Are you effing kidding me right now? You can’t be serious.” Ryder huffs and shakes his head.

  His brows furrow, causing a crease to form between his eyes. I’ve only warned him a million times over the last seven years he’ll cause a permanent wrinkle to appear there one day if he keeps making that face.

  “I give you the master of the English language, ladies and gentlemen. He’s always so articulate in describing his thoughts and feelings.” With a flick of my wrist and an exaggerated roll of my eyes, I effectively end the negotiations.

  Again.

  Our mediator sighs heavily, then drops his forehead to the table. But even his muffled voice can’t hide his irritation. “You two will be the death of me. I’m retiring to Tahiti the moment your divorce is final.”

  “Believe me, George, I feel your pain.”

  He rolls his head to the side to peer up at me from his partially prone position. His right eyebrow arches upward as his gaze changes from irritation to disbelief. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re fighting to stay married instead of fighting to be apart.”

  “You do know better than that.”

  “You’re crazy, George.”

  Ryder and I spit out our responses at the same time. Our matching intensity catches us off guard momentarily, followed by a pregnant pause when our eyes connect for the first time during this mediation session. When I stare into his sea-green eyes, I get lost there. It’s an automatic response my body can’t seem to shake.

  “That’s the first time you’ve both shut up over the entire past hour. Clearly, I have no clue what I’m talking about. Same time, same place, next week?” George sits up and folds his arms across his body, waiting for one of us to break free of the trance.

  I’m the first to look away as I drop my gaze to the unsigned divorce papers in front of me. “Sure. Why not. Maybe Ryder will realize he has no business asking for joint custody sometime in the next seven days.”

  Before my almost ex-husband can reply, I snatch up the papers, push away from the table, and storm out of the room. The mediation process drains the life out of me every time we meet. It’s hard enough to avoid seeing Ryder in the small town of Mason Creek, Montana. Population not even three thousand people. Add to that our businesses are practically next door to each other, and it’s not exactly easy to remain separated during our legal separation.

  On my way to Queen’s Unmentionables, my lingerie shop, I call my best friend, Faith, to vent my frustrations. At this point in the game, she expects my call and has already penciled it in her busy schedule as the owner of Serenity Salon.

  “Let me guess. You’re still married.” Faith doesn’t bother to offer a greeting when I call anymore. She simply gets straight to the point.

  “Yes, I’m still married. At this rate, I’ll be an old wrinkled woman before my divorce is final. The truth is, I’m exhausted after rehashing the same argument every week for the last several months because we can’t come to an agreement on the custody arrangement. We both refuse to sign the papers until we’re completely satisfied with the terms.”

  “Liv, that’s never going to happen. You and Ryder love her equally, so it’s only natural neither of you wants to concede. I mean, you’re already losing each other as it is.” Faith understands loss better than most, and she tries to help me deal with the effects of mine every time we talk. “Maybe the underlying reason you two are fighting so hard is because you both need something to hold on to after all the years you’ve been together. Being alone is hard, especially when you’re used to having someone around.”

  Her insight quickens my soul and steals my breath, making my steps falter until I stop and lean against the back wall of Wren’s Café. She didn’t say it to hurt me, of that I have no doubt, but the implications cut deep. Is all this bickering our way of keeping a part of our marriage alive so we don’t feel so alone? Every day, I realize something small that makes me miss Ryder, but our irreconcilable differences are… irreconcilable. We reached this point in our relationship for a reason, or rather, for many minor reasons that all add up to an unresolvable large one.

  “Maybe you’re right, Faith. Even if Kiwi didn’t hear
that phrase from him and his extracurricular activities, Ryder and I are on completely different paths in life. We want different things, and our goals are too important for either of us to compromise. No matter how much we loved each other, we couldn’t make the most vital parts of our relationship work. Maybe there’s no love left between us now. Maybe we’re simply more afraid of being alone than anything else.” Merely saying the words out loud drives a knife deep into my heart.

  “What in the world are you talking about? That’s not what I said or meant at all. You and Ryder are so obviously still in love with each other, it’s sickening. Even a blind person can see it. You’re just both stubborn as hell and you’re trying to hold on to a sliver of anything that keeps you together. If you two would only admit that to yourselves, you’d find a way to work through the rest of your shit together.”

  “What makes you think we’re doing this to stay together, Faith? What proof do you have of any of it? We can’t get along anymore, and our life goals are the exact opposite. Given that, there’s no way either of us will ever be happy together.”

  “Olivia Anderson-King, you’ve dragged your divorce out the last seven months over custody of a bird. A pet bird. I’m not stupid, sweetie. You’re not fooling anyone around here but yourself. You and Ryder haven’t let go of each other any more than you’ve let go of Kiwi. She’s a great bird, don’t get me wrong, but you’ve allowed this to go way too far. Even your mediator has threatened to leave town every week for the last six months because you two drive him crazy.”

  “I can neither confirm nor deny George may be in need of a vacation in Tahiti.”

  She chuckles. “A permanent vacation. You don’t have to confirm or deny anything. We live in the smallest town in Montana. Everyone knows everything within minutes of it happening.”

  “You’re right. Sometimes they know what’s coming before anything even happens. The grapevine grows too fast around here.”

  “You should think about that fact. Don’t you think everyone would know if Ryder had someone on the side? He may as well put his personal business on a billboard in the middle of the town square because everyone would be talking about him.

  “All kidding aside, think about what you really want. Listen to your heart, not your pride. If you can’t see your future without Ryder in it, you’re making a huge mistake. I don’t want you to regret this for the rest of your life.”

  “Thanks for always looking out for me, my bestie. I’m so glad you moved back here. Our long-distance relationship just wasn’t working for me.”

  “I missed you too. But no matter where I am, I’m always here for you.”

  We disconnect as I walk into my store. Annie’s behind the counter, already checking out one customer this morning, while Jasmine is on the sales floor, helping another. When I first opened this store, I doubted I’d have any customers who would dare to use the front door. My shop is filled with lingerie that would make Agent Provocateur blush, and I was sure this small town wouldn’t accept my creativity with open arms.

  “How’d it go today?” Annie turns her attention to me as the customer turns to leave.

  “The same as every other time we’ve tried to come to an agreement.”

  “George threatened to quit again?”

  “He said he’s retiring to Tahiti today.” I shrug one shoulder as the corner of my mouth lifts. As much as I hate going to these mediation sessions, George’s quick wit at least provides some entertainment.

  “Word around town is George didn’t have gray hair before he started your divorce negotiations.” Annie can’t hide the enormous smile splitting her face in two. She loves busting my chops every chance she gets.

  “George is a hundred and seven. He’s had gray hair since I was a kid.” We laugh together, and it feels good to release a little tension.

  To everyone else, I’m fine.

  As far as the town’s wagging tongues know, I’m eager to get this divorce finalized and move on with my life without Ryder.

  But what I know is, some days my heart and my head have a hard time getting on the same page.

  Jasmine joins our no-progress-divorce party with a smirk. “Don’t look now, but Mr. King is taking a leisurely stroll past the shop. Why do you suppose he’s taking this route to his store?”

  “He’s just going by Java Jitters to get his caffeine fix before he goes to the jewelry store.” With the utmost betrayal, my eyes land on Ryder as he walks past the front picture windows.

  His jeans glide over his legs with every step, mesmerizing me until I forget I’m openly gawking at him. He has always had this effect on me. The way the denim hugs his thighs also can’t be missed. But it’s the view from behind that makes every female in town salivate over him. His thick brown hair, mesmerizing green eyes, and sexy smile are all equally lethal. We’ve known each other since second grade, but every passing year he becomes more handsome and better filled out. Unfortunately, his good looks can’t fix what’s wrong between us.

  It’s unfair, honestly, how he ages so well, like a fine wine. All I see when I look in the mirror is a shriveling prune.

  That was one of the many fights that tore us apart. My body’s internal clock reminds me every day how time is running out if I want to have kids. His clock only reminds him it’s time to leave this sleepy little town and experience the great wide world, sans children, before we grow old and become permanent fixtures. It’s as if we woke up one morning, realized we’re moving full steam ahead in opposite directions, and what we wanted out of life can’t be found in each other.

  “It’s almost scary how well you know him.” Annie watches him walk into the coffee shop, as I predicted.

  “I’m not so sure about that anymore.” She doesn’t hear my reply, but then I didn’t intend for her to. I used to be so sure about us. But now the seed of doubt has been planted, and it’s trying to take root.

  But what hurts the most is we didn’t grow apart. We didn’t stop spending time together. An offhand comment about turning one of the bedrooms into a nursery sparked a war, and neither of us will agree to a ceasefire. The sudden and abrupt change in the dynamics of our marriage created rifts and fissures in the very fabric that kept us together. One day, my entire world revolved around Ryder. The next day, he was torn from my hands.

  At least it felt as if everything changed overnight.

  The straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back was when Kiwi started repeating the incriminating phrases. I know she didn’t learn them from me, but Ryder insists she didn’t hear them from him either. But then, of course he would counter and deny. Faith’s words keep replaying in my head though. This place is too obsessed with gossip. Any infidelity would get back to my ears within seconds.

  Hindsight may be twenty-twenty, but I’ve replayed our conversations throughout our years together while I’ve been alone the last seven months. I can’t recall a single time Ryder ever said, hinted, or even inferred he didn’t want a family. Turns out, I didn’t know him anywhere nearly as well as I thought I did.

  When my dream of having a big family shattered into a million useless pieces, something broke inside me.

  I haven’t figured out what that something is yet. But I feel it all the way to my core, and it makes me feel incomplete. There’s a part of me that’s missing now, and I fear I’ll never find it again.

  Jasmine joins our conversation when the lady she was helping completes her purchase and exits the store. “Maybe I’m just a hopeless romantic, but I want you and Ryder to stay together. I’ve never met a couple who’s more perfectly matched than the two of you are, Liv.”

  My best smile covers my face, but I don’t feel it. “You’re sweet, Jasmine. But it’s time for a new perfect couple in this town. We need to start a matchmaking business and find your soul mate.”

  “No, let’s not do that.” She quickly shakes her head from side to side as her eyes grow wide with fear. “No more pet projects for you.”

  On cue, my pet bird
hops from the top of her large cage onto my shoulder. “Hi, Kiwi, my sweet girl.” She leans in to snuggle against my cheek as I scratch the side of her head.

  “Hi, Momma.”

  Kiwi is an African grey parrot, one of the smartest birds in the world. This species is known for not only learning words and phrases but showing true comprehension in a conversation. Kiwi is exceptionally intelligent among her kind and has a sizeable vocabulary. Whether it’s my imagination or not, I also like to think she senses when I’m sad and becomes even more affectionate than usual to comfort me.

  She’s the reason Ryder and I can’t come to an agreement regarding our divorce. I won’t sacrifice what’s best for her just to make him feel better about turning our picture-perfect marriage into a second-rate stickman drawing.

  “Kiwi missed you this morning. She kept asking for you.” Jasmine watches Kiwi with a smile on her face. “She loves you so much.”

  “Daddy? Where’s Daddy?” Kiwi’s innocent question nearly brings tears to my eyes.

  “He’s at work, pretty girl.”

  “It still amazes me how smart she is.” Annie leans her chin on her hands, watching us with thoughtful eyes.

  “You know, these birds usually bond with one family member more than anyone else. But I think she loves Ryder and me equally. He and I alternated days bringing her to work with us from the first day we got her. They don’t normally like change either, but we started this when she was young so it wouldn’t be so jarring to her. Now I think she enjoys coming with us. But she looks for Ryder when we get home at night. She doesn’t understand why he isn’t there anymore.”