No one ever questioned it, and she never once mentioned her parents to anyone. The truth was, she found it embarrassing.


    Her status had changed a long time ago. There was no going back to being that scrappy country girl.


    What she wanted now was the title and position of Mrs. Langford. One day, she would make McNeil agree to marry her-she was sure of it.


    That evening, something unusual happened-Curtis Garcia, Marcus Green, and Isaac received an invitation from McNeil.


    He actually asked them out for drinks at a bar.


    Isaac, never one to hold his tongue, cracked, "Is Violeting? Because if she is, count me out. It''s supposed to be guys'' night-bringing a woman ruins the fun."


    None of them had girlfriends except McNeil. If he brought Violet along, it would just feel like he was rubbing it in their faces. Plus, with him ying boyfriend, how were the rest of them supposed to chat up anyone else? It would just kill the vibe.


    McNeil replied tly, "No, just the four of us."


    Isaac grinned. "Now we''re talking."


    Finally, a normal night out. Usually, McNeil insisted on bringing that woman along, which drove Isaac up the wall.


    When the agreed time rolled around, Isaac thought he''d be the first to arrive. Turned out, he was thest.


    But as soon as he walked in, Isaac frowned, taking in the scene.


    "Are you guys sure you came out to have fun? It''s like a funeral in here. Not even


    a couple of girls to liven things up? Just sitting around, drinking? No cards? Aren''t we ying poker?"


    Curtis shot him a look. "How are we supposed to y poker with just three people?"


    Isaac rolled his eyes, then called over two girls to join them, draping his arms around both, looking at the others with mock disgust.


    "So this is why you dragged me out? To watch you all sulk? Seriously, did you all just get dumped?"


    Marcus nced at Curtis. "Can''t get dumped if you''ve never dated."


    All the gifts he''d ever given were snatched, not offered to him willingly.


    Curtis took a swig of his drink. "Not dumped. At worst, it''s unrequited love." Isaac burst outughing. "Wait, don''t tell me you guys both like the same woman? You''re starting to sound alike."


    Curtis and Marcus red at him.


    Isaac shrugged and turned to McNeil. "What about you? You''ve never dated, either. Don''t tell me you''re heartbroken too?"


    McNeil downed arge gulp of whiskey.


    "Got divorced."


    The three of them spit out their drinks in shock, staring at McNeil.


    Isaac asked cautiously, "Are you serious?"


    Curtis and Marcus were watching him closely.


    McNeil''s gaze was shadowed as he slouched against the couch. "Dead serious. Who jokes about that?"


    Isaac suddenly broke into raucousughter. "Serves you right! Two-timing never ends well. Your wife must have finally had enough. Took her long enough to divorce you, honestly."


    McNeil''s eyes went bloodshot. "What did you say?"


    Isaac, oblivious to the danger, kept going. "Come on, everyone knows Violet is your girlfriend—you''re always together. People who don''t know better probably think you two are about to get married. But your wife? We only met her once, and that was by ident in the street."


    Isaac shook his head. "McNeil, man, you''re a real piece of work. Your wife put up with so much. What is she, a modern-day saint? Did you save her life or something? She gave you kids, kept your marriage a secret, and what did she get? If it were me, I''d have left you a hundred times over. To be honest, if you didn''t want to settle down, you shouldn''t have strung her along. Guys like me, Curtis, and Marcus-we keep it simple. If we want to have fun, we do. No one gets hurt, and we don''t make promises we can''t keep."


    Curtis and Marcus threw fruit at Isaac. "Don''t lump us in with you. We''re not womanizers. Leave us out of your nonsense..."