Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“Think it’s better to stay,” Jude says, putting in his two cents for the first time.
Winnie flinches; she’s probably worried about the guys potentially ganging up on her, asking her the questions that have plagued my mind for more years than I care to admit. I tried moving on, dated a few women, messed with a couple, and not a single one of them could fill the void my wife created.
“I won’t take much of your time. Please, Johnny, sign the papers. We should have done this a long time ago. It’s time.” Winnie blinks her eyes. The usually bright blue is dull, like the light has gone out inside of her.
“We’re good. Head back to the party. Briar’s inside, and I don’t want her worrying about this after what just went down, sí?” I turn, giving Winnie my back. Maybe if I reassure them, they’ll do as I ask. Which is why I make sure I’m rock fucking solid. I keep my limbs loose and my expression blank. One by one, they give me a nod, then slowly head toward Lennon, Kennedy, and Briar. I wait a beat, making sure they’re out of earshot, until one by one, they make it inside the house. I can hear the quiet whispering and figure now is as good a time as ever.
“Here. I’m not asking for anything. I mean, the car is already paid off, and if you want me to sell that and take half the profit, that’s fine, too. I just really need you to sign these papers, Johnny.” She pushes them at me yet again, pressing them against my bare chest. I can feel the pressure coming from her between the thick pages.
“Why are you pushing this, after all these years? It’s been a long-as-hell time, esposa. A few more days won’t hurt you.” Winnie closes her eyes for a beat, and it makes me notice a lot of shit I do not fucking like. When she opens her eyes, she rolls her shoulders and lets go of the papers. In doing so, they fall to the ground, and if I had a match, I’d light them and watch ‘em fucking burn until nothing but ashes were left. The shirt she’s wearing moves to hang off her shoulder.
Jesús Cristo.
Winnie has always been tiny, smaller in stature. She’d complain about her weight here and there until I told her I loved her, all of her. Her smile, her eyes, her tits, that buddha-style belly she has, or had, really, her ass, and definitely her legs. She’s got great fucking legs. Though, what I can see now, her clavicle sticking out as much as it is, there’s something else going on.
“Johnny, I can’t do this. There isn’t enough time. I’m not asking for much, just your signature. Can’t you do that for me, please?” She wrings her hands together, and my gaze zeroes in on the nervous habit. It’s also then I notice my rings are still on her finger.
“Give me a reason why.” I put my hands in my pockets. She doesn’t see that my thick platinum ring is still on my finger as well. The guys asked why I still wore it. Asher told me it was time to move on. Tysen looked at the band, then at me, shrugged his shoulders, and walked away. Trent told me to figure out what I wanted, and if that was him nosing around on the police data base, he’d do it. Matthew offered to draw up the papers even though he doesn’t specialize in family law. Jude mumbled something beneath his breath about how I was a dumb ass, but he’s there if I needed him. Crew started listing pros and cons of staying married. A lot of it had to do with the money being a sticky situation when Night Moves is as profitable as it is. Then there was Jagger, who told me the band on my left hand would be a pussy magnet. He also said it with a sneer. Jagger’s fondness for my wife hasn’t dwindled.
“Johnny, you wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.” I put my hands on my hips, slide my foot until it’s on top of the stack that fell to the ground. I may not sign the divorce papers, but I’m damn sure going to look at them.
“I can’t, I’m sorry. Sorrier than you’ll ever know. My number is on the paper. Please sign them. I’ll meet with you to pick them up, and then we’ll be done. This time forever.” Winnie turns away from me, taking a step closer to her car, and I’m trying to get my body to move.
“Are you wearing my ring while you’re with another man, Winnie?” My mouth gets away from me. There’s only one reason she’d come back years later without her sister in tow.