We barely have the snow kicked off our boots and the front door opened when the distinct sound of the radio cracking makes Ace rush inside.

“I repeat, this is Alpha-seven-two-niner…”

My shoulders tense up as I shrug out of my winter coat, I’d know that voice anywhere and, unfortunately, I still recognize that call sign. I sigh with a combination of irritation and disgust and stomp over to the table.

“Don’t bother,” I hold up my hand to Ace, “it’s Bill. My ex-husband.”

I flop down in the chair and pick up the receiver.

“Yeah, Bill, it’s Caitlin.” I cut the call sign crap and get to it. “Whaddya want?”

Psscht! Crackle!

“Seriously? That’s how you greet me? I’ll have you know I’ve been trying to get you on here for over an hour now. You think you’d be grateful.” His snippy, nasally voice whines over the system.

Oh, I’m grateful all right. Grateful as fuck that I’m not married to him anymore.

“I’m over brimming with gratitude, Bill. Now what do you want?”

The radio goes on the fritz for a second and part of his message is cut off. Suddenly it comes back in tune and he’s getting worked up.

“…and as soon as I heard, I got on here to see if you’re okay. You know, I was gonna offer to fly out there and get you, but now you can forget it.” He sniffs.

“Well, Bill, don’t start doing me any favors now. I already know Jenn left your ass,” I toss the gossip I heard about him and the woman he cheated on me with, a woman who was supposed to be my friend, back in his face. “I know exactly how your little mind works, and I’m not interested in the kind of charity that comes with strings. I’ll get out of here just fine on my own, thanks,” I snap.

He doesn’t answer me, he probably knows that everyone with a receiver can hear our little exchange and he’s cringing at the judgment. Bill always was a sneaky fucker. He doesn’t mind committing the crime, but he hates the toll it takes on his reputation. In my opinion, if you don’t want people knowing you’re a scumbag cheater, don’t stick your dick in people who aren’t your wife.

Ex-wife now. At least I had the good sense to leave his ass.

The radio is static and I drop the receiver on the table with a clatter. I figure Bill dropped the call, but then I hear, “Bitch! Over and out!”

I shove the chair back across the plank floors and slam it back underneath the desk. How is it he still knows exactly how to get to me. I divorced his cheating ass over a year ago, but he still knows how to get his hooks dug in and twist them under my skin.

“Fucking asshole!” I pace back and forth over the worn throw rug.

“Good friend of yours?” Ace’s eyes twinkle as he teases me, but one glance at my contorted, angry face shuts him down.

“Yeah, my best fucking buddy,” I bite the words off.

“Was that the ex?” Razor watches me closely.

“Yep, wasn’t I the lucky one in that relationship?”

The guys don’t try to stop me from pacing. There’s no big group hug to try to calm me down. They just give me my space.

“Bill wants to be such a fucking hero now, doesn’t he. He must think I’m a special kind of stupid. He wanted to fly here and pick me up, but you know what?” Razor and Ace don’t say a word. They just let me vent my frustrations, listening.

“That fucker got caught cheating with my neighbor because he was too busy fucking her to pick me up from the doctor’s office. Like, he couldn’t keep it in his pants long enough for me to get an annual check-up done. So, I cab it home and what do I find? Mr. Knight in Shining Armor banging my friend like a screen door in a windstorm. In my fucking bed.” My voice trembles with the last words. Not because I’m going to cry. But because, if Bill was here right now, he’d probably be in danger for his life.

“He sounds like a fucking tool,” Ace cuts in.

“Yeah, if he didn’t see what he had when he had it, then that’s his loss, Caitlin,” Razor agrees.

Even Gunnar looks like he’s agreeing with the guys, he pads across the floor and scoots his head under my hand, looking for some love.

“Yeah, well, thanks.” I force myself to give a smile, even though I’m far from calmed down. “You know, that’s why I don’t do the whole relationship thing anymore. From now on, this is the kind of thing I’ll be doing.” I wave at us. “No strings, no expectations, no broken hearts. Just fun while we can have it.”

“So, you’re flying out soon?” Razor’s lips tug down in the corners.

Ace doesn’t say a word, he just stares at me, his eyes the color of steel.

“Yeah, I’ll be gone as soon as they can come get me. Or if they won’t fly me out, I’ll give you guys some gas money to take me back once they’ve got the roads cleared off enough.” I sigh and suddenly feel very tired. “It’s for the best, right?”

I can see the hurt dash over Razor’s face, but with Ace, I can’t tell what he’s thinking. As soon as the words come out of my mouth, I wish I could eat them. I wish there was just about any way to take them back, but like most things, you can’t undo what’s been done.

“I’m gonna lie down.” My anger deflates inside and I feel like I need to collapse. The guys don’t try to stop me or say anything as I make my way into the bedroom and softly close the door behind me. I throw myself across the bed and suddenly I can’t stop the tears from flowing. It’s like all the emotions are suddenly gushing out of me. The pain of my loss, my loneliness, my betrayal, all of it is being soaked up by the pillowcase as I try not to sob.