“You didn’t!” She covers her mouth but then yells, “Is this retribution for me breaking up with you? Is this how you teach me a lesson?”
“Audrey, it had nothing to do with you.”
“Obviously!” She clenches her fists at her side.
“I didn’t do it to hurt you.”
“You had a booty call right when I’m supposed to show up at your door!”
“She’s not that.”
“Oh, so you return to Richmond, but you’re fucking random women?” I gawk at Audrey. The entire time I’ve known her, she’s never said that word.
“No.”
“Is she a coworker? Or did you bring work home, and she’s a prostitute?”
“Watch your damn mouth! She’s my girlfriend!”
“In two seconds, you suddenly have a girlfriend? You’ve already replaced me? I made a damn mistake, Dylan! I told you I’m sorry! I thought we were going to try again!”
“I thought I could, but no. Talia showed up here and—”
“You don’t have to fill me in! I was there! What does this bitch have that I don’t? She doesn’t even seem to be your type!”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Talia. She’s stunning. Is she a stripper? Did she win you over with a lap dance?”
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Audrey?”
“She’s not me!”
“I know that! I love her!”
Audrey’s acidic laugh irritates me more. “How do you know that for sure? Like you know what the fuck you want! We were together for almost three years! You couldn’t decide about school, work, or what you wanted to do with our lives!”
“You were the one who pulled the plug on us because, for a second, you lost control of our future together, and it scared the hell out of you! I didn’t get a fucking say!”
“Because you kept stalling with everything! I held off giving you my virginity because I wanted to wait for marriage!”
“You never told me that! I thought you didn’t want me!”
“I finally gave in because I didn’t know if you’d ever be ready for a marriage and kids! I needed you to fucking grow up!”
“Maybe it’s because I didn’t want them with you!” Audrey gapes at me as her tears drip like a faucet. I throw out my hands. “That was…I’m sorry.”
When I walk toward her and reach for her arm, she twists away from me. “Fuck you, Dylan!”
“Come on. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“You never really loved me!”
“Yes, I did!”
“If that were true, you would’ve tried harder to save us! You hung on until I couldn’t take it anymore, making me look like the jerk!” I don’t refute that because I realize that may be the truth. “You took so much from me! I stupidly gave you a part of myself that I’ll never get back!”
“I don’t regret us, Audrey.”
“I do! You came back here, giving me hope that we could fix us, only to fuck another woman in front of me!”
“That’s not how it happened. Talia’s my ex. She showed up here, wanting to get back with me. We had a misunderstanding.”
“And then she hopped on your dick!”
“Jesus Christ!”
“You crushed me all over again! I’ll never forget the sounds of you confessing your love to another woman while fucking her. I hope you’re happy, Dylan.” Audrey sobs, and I feel like shit. “There’s no way you love her! You told me the same thing the hundreds of times you were inside me! Well, look at us now! If you have any decency, you’ll end it again with her before she regrets you too!”
She turns to go to her car, but I yell, “Audrey, I’m sorry! I’m not an asshole who doesn’t care! I loved you, but I couldn’t make you happy!”
Audrey whirls around, glaring at me. “You didn’t try! I couldn’t count on you to be my partner!”
“I fucked up! I loved you, but it wasn’t all my fault! You wanted things I couldn’t give you yet!”
“Or refused to! I loved you first and the longest! It’s your fault we broke up, and I’ll never forgive you for that!”
Stunned, panicked, and powerless, I watch Audrey storm to her car and then tear out of the lot. She’s right. I sabotaged us. How in the hell can I plan a future with Talia when I’ll only do the same thing to her?
Swallowing through the pain I inflicted on Audrey, I choke on my own sudden sobs. I can’t make the same mistake again. I have to make it right with one of them.
Or neither.
Chapter 32
Natalia
Lying in bed next to Dylan and watching him sleep, the air conditioner hums, blowing cool air on us as lights from a nearby hotel softly filter through the heavy drapes. Dylan’s dirty-blond hair is a shadowy mess against the white pillowcase.
After leaving him at Jordan’s apartment, I went to a drugstore and picked up condoms even though he said we didn't need them. Though he wasn’t in the mood for much more than holding hands and a quick kiss when he arrived at the hotel. I can’t believe I told him about wanting his kids. It’s way too soon for that. At dinner, he told me about his ex-girlfriend’s visit earlier, saying he forgot that he agreed to have lunch with her before I showed up. What else did he plan to do with her? Were they getting back together? Dylan didn’t add to that, other than they talked outside, and she left. Since then, he’s withdrawn from me, not wanting to talk about it. Still, I can’t help but wonder how much he isn’t telling me.
It’s hard to think about him with another woman. She is an important part of his past. He loved her, and she’ll always hold a special place in his heart that I can never occupy. Does he want her instead of me? I’m not usually the jealous type, but Dylan is different. Every part of him is mine.
After dinner, he took me to meet his parents, Dean and Deirdre. Dylan is the spitting image of his dad, only with more unruly hair. I can see how his mother couldn’t resist a McGrath man, either. His parents are the nicest people, but Dylan was mentally somewhere else, and I had to keep the conversation flowing since he wouldn’t.
The clock on the nightstand’s red numbers blare in my face. Dylan will leave for work in an hour, and then my flight leaves after my meeting at the studio. I can’t sleep. I won’t see Dylan for about three weeks. Will he miss me? Can I trust him not to break my heart as I broke his, albeit temporarily?
Moving up against him, I put my arm around his waist, and with my forehead against his naked back, I listen to his steady breathing. My love for him is visceral and only grows more intense each day. It fucking terrifies me to love him so much, so fast, but I wonder if his love for me overwhelms him the same way.
Lips on my cheek rouse me, and I blink awake. It’s still dark. Dylan whispers, “Have a good flight. Let me know when you land.”
I roll over and see him next to the bed, hovering above with his hands propped on the mattress on either side of me. We quietly stare at each other until I raise my head and put my hand on his cheek. I kiss him, but he’s hesitant. Against his lips, I say, “I’ll miss you every day. Will you miss me?” He nods but doesn’t answer, so I ask, “How much?”
Dylan mumbles, “A lot.”
When he doesn’t say more, I ask, “Are you okay?”
Averting his gaze from mine, he answers, “Yeah,” but I know he isn’t.
“Are you sure? You want to talk about something?”
“No.”
Somewhat dejected, I say, “I’ll ache for you until I see you again, weeks from now. I guess this is goodbye until then. Stay safe, officer. I’ll worry about you every second.” I smile as Dylan returns his blue eyes to mine, but he doesn’t smile back.
Then Dylan kisses me with a determination that surprises me. His kiss is all-consuming, and it ignites us. His arms shuffle against my hip as I hear the urgent sound of the zipper of his jeans. Hearing that, I pull down my shorts and underwear without either of us leaving our kiss. Dylan climbs on the bed, pushes my legs open
, and fingers me before pinning me with his hips as he enters me, despite me not being ready. Still, Dylan pumps in and out of me without a word. Hearing his harsh breaths next to my ear, I moan, but it’s not all from pleasure. As I slicken more, Dylan softly moans and whispers, “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Just…I’m sorry, Talia.”
Putting my arms around his neck, I hug him as he continues to use me like a sex doll. To erase that feeling, I say, “Oh, Dylan. Make me come.” He again moans in my ear and slams into me faster and harder. “Damn. I want to cream all over your cock. I want to drip with yours.”
Dylan stutters, “Shit,” as he grunts along with the pulsing stream he delivers. I bite my lip as Dylan slumps against me, making no further move to finish me. Somehow, I didn’t expect him to this time.
Dylan pulls out of me but surprises me by putting his hand between us to finger my pussy. As I moan, I grab his hand and guide him over my wet clit, using his cum to get me off. “Dylan, oh my God.”
He breathes over my neck but says nothing as I use him this time. And when I come, I hug him to me as his fingers work to draw out my orgasm. “Baby! Fuck!”
When I’m done, I catch my breath and say, “That was unexpected.”
Rising from the bed and me, Dylan goes to leave, but I grab his arm, asking, “Dylan, what is it? Why are you so distant?”
“I’m not.” When I frown at him in the dim light, he sighs. “I don’t mean to be.” He gets dressed as I watch him. “Have a safe flight.”
“That’s it? Wham, bam, and you’re out of here?”
“It isn’t like that. You got off too.”
“Like that’s all I cared about. Thanks so much. Don’t forget to leave me a tip on your way out.”
“I’m not trying to start an argument.” He puts his hands on his hips and looks down at the floor. “If you’re not happy with me, then maybe…”
“Maybe what?”
He shakes his head but doesn’t look up. “I don’t know how…I might…” Dylan abruptly steps over to me, kisses my lips, and whispers, “I’m sorry, Talia. I can’t do this right now.”
Before he leaves, I grab his arm and get out of bed. “Dylan, what are you saying? Do you still love me?”
He hesitates but says, “Yes. I always will.”
“I love you too.” Dylan kisses me again before grabbing his things and leaving the room.
Almost three weeks later, I’m sitting on the couch and watching the news with Gerald. I sigh as I review my moving checklist. I’m now officially homeless in California. I glance at Gerald’s wheelchair as I compile last-minute things to add. Last week, my apartment became available, and I added Dylan to the lease, which allowed him to pick up the keys and move in. But now, I feel like he’s changing his mind.
“I’ve never seen a nun snort a line of coke that fast.”
Looking away from his wheel, I ask, “You what?”
Gerald laughs. “Caught you daydreaming again. Care to share?”
I shake my head but say, “Dylan. We haven’t talked much. I don’t know what I did.”
“Nonsense. It’s him, not you.”
I laugh. “How would you know that?”
“He’s sorting through something. Men. We’re all the same.”
“It’s irritating.”
He shrugs. “Yeah. Just let him be. He’ll work through it. And if he needs your help, he’ll ask.”
“I don’t think he will.” My phone rings with Marilou’s number. Going into the kitchen, I ask, “What’s up? You want to have lunch?”
“There’s a problem, and I need you.”
“For?”
She loudly sighs. “Verna quit. Thank the Lord for small favors, but it’s at the wrong time. Ollie and I are the only ones here at work. Please…”
“Seriously? I quit over a month ago.”
“Just for this afternoon? Ollie booked a luncheon and closed the diner to other customers. It’s a new venture he’s trying. It’s a bunch of stuffy corporate raiders, but they’re big tippers. Helen is out sick. You can’t leave me to fend for myself. He said he’ll pay us double. That man is driving me crazy. He’s an over-inflated balloon, ready to pop at any second, exploding his guts all over the place. His cirrhotic liver will land—”
“Okay. But never bring that shit up again.”
“Oh, goody. Thank you. Your uniform is still in the back. Now, get your ass down here before I hire a hitman.”
“Damn. Okay, I’ll be there soon.”
“Make it sooner. Come through the front entrance since Ollie has delivery people using the rear. That sounded terrible. Anyway, scoot.”
She ends the call, and I look up at the ceiling with a deep sigh. Of course, the diner reeled me back when I’m about to leave the state for good. Nevertheless, I’ll do just about anything for Marilou, and she knows it. Regardless of what Dylan is going through, I now have a new life waiting for me in Richmond. If Dylan doesn’t want me in his, then I’ll somehow forge a new path for myself, no matter how horribly painful.
Since my boyfriend is having a moment, I don’t call him. He’s working, anyway. Getting Dylan to talk past three mumbled sentences would be a waste of my time. I don’t care what Gerald says. When I get to Richmond, Dylan and I will talk about this.
I park in the lot, only seeing a smattering of cars so far. Maybe I’ll have time to reacquaint myself to being a waitress again. Rolling my eyes, I walk to the main entrance and go inside. It’s as quiet as the parking lot. Checking the time, I hear squealing, and when I look up, Marilou slams into me. “Oh, girl! I missed you! My God, I could hug and slug you all at the same time!”
I giggle but untangle myself from her. “I just saw you yesterday.”
“I know! But not in this context! Don’t be a joy sucker!”
“A what?”
Her smiling balls of sunshine earrings swing with her head. “Just be happy to help me out.”
“Yeah.” I plaster an exaggerated smile on my face.
“That’s better.” Marilou then looks me up and down and turns my head from side-to-side.
I swat her hand. “What the hell are you doing?”
“There’s something about you today. You look…different.”
“I’m no different from twenty-four hours ago.”
“No. I can’t put my finger on it. You have this…” Her mouth drops open before she grabs my hand and tows me toward the storage room, shoving me through the door. As soon as we’re in the room, she spins around, blocking the door. “Oh, Lord.”
I frown as I clutch my purse. “What is with you today?”
“You have that look.”
“Excuse me?”
She swiftly fans her face with both hands like she’s on fire. “Dylan fertilized your garden, didn’t he?”
I spit out a laugh. “Marilou! Verna infected your brain.”
“That trollop has her claws in Prescott. It’s not pretty. I think he fertilized her garden.”
“Sick.” No doubt.
“Don’t deny it!”
“That you’re weird? No argument there.”
“No, ma’am. I know these things. The shiny hair, the luminous skin, and that sparkle in your eye.”
“You just described a Barbie doll. No more plastic surgery shows for you.”
She crosses her arms underneath her ample boobs. “So, tell me this. Is it a possibility?”
I can never lie to Marilou Brooks, but I still try. “Nope. None. Zero.”
“Mm-hmm. That’s about as much as I believe you. Does Dylan know?”
I frown. “There’s nothing to tell him. Can I please get changed?”
“Well, I’m telling you right now you are.” Marilou loses her scowl and claps her hands. “Baby shower!”
“Fuck. Stop it.”
“Fuck. You didn’t stop it.” She shakes her head like she’s disappointed, but I know if it were true, she’d keep her promise of a shower tomorrow
. “As your best friend, I will not tell anyone.”
“Good. Thank you.”
“But you will tell him.”
“Absolutely. When there’s something to tell.”
“I just told you. X marks the spot, and Dylan planted that sucker.”
“Why do you say shit like that?”
Marilou shrugs as she gathers clothes from a shelf. “It makes me colorful.”
“If cuckoo were a color.”
“Okay. We need to get out there. Quit running your mouth,” she says as if I’m at fault, handing me a powder-blue pile. “Your uniform, mama.”
“Cut it out. I guess I’ll change in the restroom.”
“Probably since I’m pervy, but I hear you like to get down and dirty with a sexy police officer who watered your begonias and whose name may or may not rhyme with chillin’.”
I laugh. “Shut up, slut.”
“Call me what you want, but you’re the one who’s unmarried and in a family way. I hope you know the father’s last name, at least.”
“Yeah. I should look that up.”
Marilou narrows her eyes at me and goes to her locker. She spins the combination lock and snaps it open. “Shove your things in mine. I won’t charge too much rent. I’ll even give you a two-for-one discount and expectant mother parking.”
“Such a friend,” I mutter as I put my purse into it. “Don’t go spreading rumors,” I warn.
“I’m not one for gossip,” Marilou says with a straight face but bends to say to my stomach, “Hello in there.”
I push her away from me. “See a therapist.”
“Just saying hello to my godchild. Don’t mind me.”
“No, that’s a psychiatrist’s undertaking.”
Marilou waves her hand, dismissing me as we leave the storage room, parting ways for the restroom and the dining area.
After I change, I go to the mirror. Checking my ponytail, I sigh. This is the last place I want to be. When I’m finished, I meet Marilou at the counter. Seeing Ollie through the window, I wave, but he only grunts. “Always the charmer,” I say.
Marilou laughs. “Girl, you know he’s weeping on the inside.”
I glance at the empty podium. “No Doris? Really?”
Rebel Rook: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World) Page 34