Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
My gaze follows hers to three board games sitting on a table nearby.
“You don’t need every little detail of their conversation, but suffice it to say that William is crazy about you. His exact words were that he cares deeply about you, Opal.”
I look down at the floor to try and regain my composure. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It doesn’t matter?” she repeats. “How can you say that?”
I don’t want to have this conversation with her. I’m glad William isn’t cheating on the woman I saw him with. I’m grateful that he doesn’t have children he didn’t tell me about, but the fact of the matter is that William lives in that building in Tribeca.
We made love in an apartment in Brooklyn where I believed he lived. He never corrected me the entire time we were there.
I lived through too many lies with TJ to do it again. I won’t. I can’t.
“Can we drop it?” I ask Myra. “Please.”
Her gaze jumps over my face. “Of course. I can take off if you want some time to yourself.”
“I think some alone time would be good for me,” I whisper.
“I’ll be back bright and early tomorrow,” she says as she stands. “I’ll lock the door behind me.”
I stand, too, and give her a quick hug. “Thanks, Myra. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
58
William
I don’t know what the fuck I thought I’d find on the Upper West Side, but it was just more frustration.
I took a cab there, thinking I’d spot Percy or Opal. It was a fool’s mission since all I had was an approximate location and hope. Hope, the woman, may have sent me there, but hope, the desire to find the woman I’ve fallen in love with kept me there for more than thirty minutes.
I wandered the sidewalk in a two block radius of West 78th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, studying everyone I passed. I didn’t spot Opal or Percy, for that matter. I did run into a former client who was excited to tell me that his wife is expecting their first child.
I listened to him tearfully tell me that I gave him the life he always wanted while my own life is crumbling at my feet.
When I left him in the same spot I found him, outside a baby store, I got into another cab and headed straight to where I am now.
I’m on the sidewalk outside of Turquoise Crown.
I haven’t formulated a plan for what I’ll do if Opal isn’t here. If push comes to shove, I’ll sit my ass down on the pavement, rest my back against the bar’s door and wait for her to show up eventually.
I push that plan aside as soon as the door to the bar swings open, and Myra walks out. Her eyes widen when she sees me. “William.”
“I haven’t found her,” I say in a rush. “I haven’t been able to find Opal.”
Softly closing the door behind her, she steps closer to me. “She’s inside, but she’s in pain. She’s so sad, William.”
That’s my fault. She knows I lied about where I live. She thinks I’m involved with someone else and I have kids I never mentioned.
She thinks I’m an asshole, and in some ways, I am. I have been.
Lying to her about where I live was wrong.
My fear of letting a woman into my life may have cost me the love of my life.
“I hope I didn’t overstep, but I told her about your conversation with Chuck earlier.” She tugs on the pendant hanging on the gold chain around her neck. “I told her that you explained to him that the woman you were with last night is your co-worker, and those were her kids, not yours.”
That should bring me some relief, but if Opal is in pain, I am, too. “I need to see her.”
“The door is unlocked.” She glances over her shoulder. “I may regret this, but go talk to her. I don’t know her very well. I barely know you, but I do know that you both have things you need to say.”
She’s right about that. “Thank you.”
I’m standing just inside the doorway of Turquoise Crown. I entered quietly, closing the door with an almost silent click. I have yet to lock it because I don’t know if Opal will demand I leave as soon as she realizes I’m standing behind her.
Just as I’m about to say her name, she turns slowly.
Our eyes meet, and I see what I feel reflected back to me.
Anguish.
Her lips move as if she wants to say something, but there’s nothing.
I take a step closer. “If you want me to go, I will.”
Again, her lips move, but this time, the motion is accompanied by a shake of her head.
“I’m in love with you,” I say. It’s selfish and not the perfect time, but I may never get another chance if I don’t say it now. “I love you, Opal. I know you wanted this thing between us to be casual, and maybe that’s still the case, but I’m so far past that now.”