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)
“Don’t go there. You can’t condemn me for something you’ve done, too. Which, by the way, there isn’t a man; I’m just putting our past to rest. I should have done it before walking away. Sign the papers, call me, and move on.” There’s a hitch in her voice, and when she walks away, I let her. Like a goddamn coward, my wife leaves me. I stand stone-cold sober, watching as she gets in her car, a car we purchased together. One where she bitched and moaned that it was too much money, too many bells and whistles, when it’s really only a step or two above the basic model. As it is, the four-door black sedan isn’t anything to sneeze at, and it’s also one that will last her till the wheels fall off while keeping her safe. The argument we had over me paying cash for it instead of Winnie financing it was worth it for the make-up sex alone.
“Cońo, soy un tremendo estupido.” Fuck, I’m so stupid. I stay where I’m at, near the edge of the grass, watching until the last I see of my wife is her taillights. Only then do I bend down, pick up the stack of papers, and start leafing through them. I couldn’t give a damn about what she does or doesn’t want. I’ve spent years without her, became a workaholic and an all-around asshole, and look where it’s got me. A pile of money without a lick of fucking happiness.
I do a quick scan of the papers, finding what I’m looking for—her phone number. Winnie Gonzales doesn’t know it yet, but this time, I’m going after her, and I’m not letting her leave me, not ever again.
“You alright?” Trent asks. It’s then I notice he’s got Briar in his arm while the other is wrapped around Kennedy.
“I will be. You?” He lifts his head, acknowledging we’ll talk about it later. “Catch you later,” I tell him as he walks across the lawn to Kennedy’s place, which is really Lennon’s. She rents it to Asher’s sister; something tells me that will be changing soon enough.
“Sure will,” Trent replies.
“Later, Johnny.” Kenny sends me a finger wave. With that out of the way, I head into Asher’s. I’m going to grab my shirt, shoes, and keys, then I’ll head to the apartment, have a tall fucking drink, and do some research on where Winnie is staying.
3
WINNIE
Italked a big game to myself, to Isla and Santiago, and to whatever room I was in that I’d be okay seeing Johnny for the first time. I wasn’t prepared. I don’t think I ever will be. He looks great. No, he looks amazing. Somehow, he’s managed to fill out more in the muscle department, his hair is a bit longer with those dark loose curls, his skin is tanned from his Cuban heritage and a lot of sun because anytime he’s outside, his shirt is off. Which led me to seeing even more of him that I thought possible. A pair of black swim trunks hung low on his hips, the length meeting midthigh, and showed off every bit of him, including his tattoos, like our anniversary date in Roman numerals wrapped around his thigh. I figured by now, he’d have it covered up, but there it was, on full display. The others would be hard to cover up considering he didn’t have a shirt on. The half sleeve he carries on both arms as well as a chest piece all portrayed sentimental meanings to him.
When he’s wearing his work clothes, a three-piece suit, completely buttoned, no one would be the wiser in knowing a lot of his body is marked with intricate ink. Then there are days like today, when he’s out in the open with his friends, hanging around the pool without a care in the world. Then there were our days, lazy Sunday mornings, him in nothing but a pair of jeans, walking around the apartment barefoot, while I was in one of his discarded shirts, the two of us locked away from the outside world.
I drive around for a few minutes, meandering away from Asher’s and heading into a direction I haven’t been it too long to remember. It’s a park I know all too well, where I went whenever I needed to get away from my parents and sister. This place is peaceful; it’s also where parents take their children to play. It reminded me so many times that I’m breaking a cycle, except I’m not sure I did. I put my sister above my husband, and while I can’t change the past, maybe I could have gone about everything in a different manner. I pull into a parking spot, not quite ready to get out and head for the swing set, which is where I’d like to be right about now. As a child, I’d run for the metal chain, hop on the scorching-hot molded plastic seat, not caring that I’d be burning the back of my thighs, and swing for as long as possible.