Isn't It Bromantic (Bromance Book Club #4) by Lyssa Kay Adams

            “He was cheating on you?”

            “In our bed.”

            Elena swore in Russian.

            Michelle tipped her mug in Elena’s direction. “I have no idea what that means, but ditto.”

            “It means he is a pig.”

            “Yes. Very much.” She shrugged. “Anyway, I discovered during the divorce that the woman I found him in bed with was not the first. He’d been cheating me on since our first year of marriage. I got the house, went back to work full-time at the Nashville Public Library, and the girls and I are making a new life.”

            “You are very strong.”

            “I have to be for my girls.”

            “You are alone in Nashville?”

            Michelle’s face turned compassionate, as if Elena had revealed some kind of hidden subtext in her question. “No. Not at all. I mean, my family lives two hours away, so they can’t help much on a day-to-day basis. But we get by. We have amazing friends.”

            “So does Vlad. He has built a very good life here. I’m—” Elena bit her lip. “I’m glad you’re part of that.”

            Elena sipped her coffee to cover the tremble of her bottom lip.

            “Elena,” Michelle said gently. Her tone suggested a lot of practice dealing with stubborn children. “I think I know why you’re here.”

            “You do?”

            Michelle nodded and set her mug on the coffee table. “So, I think I should just be straight with you.”

            “It’s okay,” Elena said, jumping in before Michelle could continue. “I know . . . I know about you and Vlad.”

            “Yeah, see, that’s what I think I should be straight about. There is no me and Vlad.”

            “Maybe not now, but it’s obvious there is something between you two—”

            “Elena, there is nothing between Vlad and me. I like him very much. He is one of the sweetest men I’ve ever known, and maybe there is a part of me that might be tempted to pursue something with him, because who wouldn’t? But there’s just one massive problem.”

            “What?”

            “You.”

            Elena looked over. “No. You have my blessing.” The words cut like broken glass, but she had to say them. “You are smart and sweet and . . . you are actually what he wants and deserves. I won’t get in your way.”

            Michelle pressed her hand to the cushion between them. “You misunderstand. It’s not that I’m worried about you being in the way.”

            “Then what are you worried about?”

            “The inconvenient fact that he is and will always be in love with you.”

            If Michelle had said those words twenty-four hours ago, Elena would have insisted they weren’t true. Now, she didn’t know what to believe. Not after all the things he said to her last night. But there was something she knew with certainty still. “It’s too late.”

            “No, it’s not.”

            “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

            That set Michelle back. Her mouth opened and closed before she let out a disappointed sigh. “Why, Elena?” Her voice was at once sorrowful and recriminatory.

            “Because some things became very clear last night. I’m hurting him by being here. It’s better for him if I go back to Chicago now.”

            “But do you want to go?”

            Elena sloshed hot coffee on her hand.

            “Is that a no?”

            Elena sucked on the burned portion of her thumb and realized she was too exhausted to do anything but tell the truth. “No, I don’t want to go.”

            “Thank God,” Michelle breathed. “I was afraid I was going to have to beat you with a giant zucchini.”