“Yippee!” he yelled jumping up and sprinting down the hall like the Flash.
When we entered the tiny but well equipped gym ten minutes later, Bryan’s gaze met mine in the wall of mirrors in front of the treadmill he was using. He acknowledged me with a nod but kept on running.
I gave Carter my cell to keep him occupied. He immediately dropped down with it onto a mat next to the water cooler.
I jumped up on the treadmill next to Bryan.
“You’re really good with him,” he commented after a while with an eye on Carter’s reflection. The guy wasn’t even out of breath though he was setting a six minute mile pace.
“He makes it easy to be,” I replied truthfully, hearing the sound of Angry Bird destruction even above the constant whir of the treadmill belts. “You seem really comfortable around him, too. You close to those sisters you mentioned?”
“Yeah. It was just them and my mom and me growing up.”
“What about your dad?” I wondered out loud.
“I got one, but he’s been out of the picture since middle school.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“No. I’m grateful. It’s a good thing.”
“Well, mine was out of my life for a long time, too. But he’s back now, and that’s a good thing, too.” I hit the tab a couple of times to ratchet up the incline. “Must’ve been tough on your mom raising three kids all on her own.”
His eyes went intense. “Yeah, definitely, but she never let on. She’s tough. Like Bridget.”
He was right on that count. I tabbed down the speed on my machine, noticing that Carter had set aside the game. “Speaking of fantastic moms, I know this boy who’s a real champ at taking care of his. Robin to my Batman. He follows the superhero code of honor and everything.”
“What superhero code?” Carter piped in, not even trying to pretend that he hadn’t been listening. I hid my smile knowing I’d gotten his attention. The kid reminded me of myself at that age. I’d loved anything to do with superheroes, too.
I hopped off the treadmill, grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat from my eyes, and filled a paper cup with water. I gulped it down while I worked out a good reply. “There are several rules in the code.” I paused for drama and counted on my fingers. “Be strong. Be brave. Be supportive. Be trustworthy. And most important of all…always protect the girl, in our case, your mom.”
He nodded. His lips were pressed together, his expression was solemn, and he’d leaned forward, absorbing every word. “I can do all of that,” he vowed.
My smile widened. God, I loved this kid. I patted his shoulder. “You already do, Champ. You already do. It’s almost as if the code was inspired by you.”
“Wanna go eat with us later after I take Carter swimming?” I called out to Bryan after we’d spotted each other a couple of sets on the free weights.
“Can’t. I’m meeting Dizzy at Tsunami Sushi. Maybe another time. But if you really don’t mind, I’ll take you up on that offer and give Lace a spin on the Triumph tonight.”
“Consider it yours. I’ll leave the key on the kitchen counter.”
I turned to Carter and offered him my hand. “You’ve been real patient. I’m proud of you.”
He grinned.
“Let’s hit the pool!” I waved to Bryan and pushed through the glass door to exit the room. We could smell chlorine fumes as we made our way down the hall.
When we got there, I pulled off my shirt and dropped my key card on a table while Carter made a bee line straight for the water. I plunged in just a second or two behind him. The heated water felt good on my abused muscles.
We goofed around for a long time, diving and racing the length of the pool. Carter was a natural in the water. He was very competitive, too. Bridget and I needed to find him a swim team to join.
I let him stay in the pool until his little finger tips got all wrinkly before I told him it was time to get out. I nabbed us a couple to towels from the warmer. While he scrubbed off, I walked over to the hotel courtesy phone and ordered us a couple of burgers and shakes. As I made my way back to the table, I nearly swallowed my tongue.
Holy effing hell.
Every overworked muscle in my body went tight. I didn’t know how Antonia had found me and frankly I didn’t want to know. The kind of illicit connections she had usually got her what she wanted. I knew her game now. Her presence here couldn’t mean anything good.
Long dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, grey eyes fixed on me their usual smoldering conceit, she strode purposefully toward me, her stiletto heels clacking loudly against the hard surface of the pool deck, like someone hammering nails in a coffin.
I had a really bad feeling about this. I found myself looking around for potential witnesses.
“Who’s that lady?” Carter asked innocently.
That’s no lady, I thought. But that was a lesson for another day.
“Antonia,” I said flatly when she reached us.
“Surprise!” She leaned over my chair, falling out of the undersized camisole she wore, and I got an eyeful I didn’t want as she kissed both my cheeks.
It sure as hell wasn’t a good one. “What are you doing here? I thought you were staying in Rome until the trial.”
“I changed my mind.” Her wine colored lips formed a familiar fake pout. “I wanted to see you, but I didn’t think I’d get such a lukewarm reception. Why don’t we get reacquainted? Preferably minus those swim trunks?”
I wanted to bang my head on the table, or hers. It was a tossup. “Antonia,” I pointed out, gesturing to the wide eyed boy beside me. “This is Carter, my girlfriend’s son.” With his usual impeccable manners, Carter stuck out his hand. “Carter Dubois, this is Ms. Bartoli, a friend of mine.”
Antonia shook his little hand indifferently, and then resumed ignoring him completely. “We were a lot more than friends, Justin,” she purred, putting her hands on her ample hips.
I didn’t like where this was going. My scrambled brain ran through a short list of options. The only one that made any sense was to get rid of her as quickly and as painlessly as possible. And that would best be done where Carter couldn’t hear.
I stood and latched onto her elbow. “Champ, I need you to wait here. Our food should be here any minute. I’m taking Ms. Bartoli just outside those doors to have a private talk. I’ll be back before you know it.” I gave him my phone and steered Antonia through the glass door out to the patio. A hedge shielded us mostly from Carter’s view, but I could still keep an eye on him over it.
“Let’s cut to the chase, Antonia,” I told her curtly. “Why are you really here?” Warning bells clanging in my paranoid ears. Antonia never did anything unless it directly benefited her.
She clacked closer, her pencil skirt so tight it was a wonder she could move in it at all. Before I could step back and maintain a more comfortable amount of space between us, she reached out and trailed a French manicured fingernail down the center of my bare chest.
I grabbed her hand and removed it, trying to stifle my rising irritation.
She rolled her eyes. “You’re no fun at all anymore.”
“Antonia,” I warned.
“Fine.” She tossed her hair behind her shoulder. “I came to tell you that I’m withdrawing my testimony.”
“What?” I exclaimed. “Why the hell would you do that?”
“Just.” I hated when she called me that. It was always a precursor to her asking something of me. I wasn’t giving her a damn thing, and when Antonia didn’t get what she wanted, she could be a vindictive bitch from hell.
“Because I’m tired of hiding out in Rome,” she whined. “I want to come back to the states. I miss my friends, and Joe says he wants to get back together. His lawyer’s gotten the DA to drop all the charges except for the attempted murder one. Can’t you find it in your heart to forgive and forget all that? It was ages and ages ago.” She batted her lashes at me.
“No way!” Was she nuts? “I’m testifying. Wise up,
babe. Joe’s a bad dude. You cheated on him. Guys like that never forgive a betrayal. If I were you, I’d get my fancy ass on a plane back to Italy and fast. I’d keep an ocean between myself and Campanella. At least over there you have your uncle to protect you. Here, you’ve got no one.”
“I’ve got you, Just.”
“We’re through talking, Antonia.” I noticed Carter was staring in our direction. “You shouldn’t have come.” I was out of patience with her and done sugarcoating. “I’m in a serious relationship now. I’ve moved on.” I pointed to the exit. “Now it’s time you did, too.”
“But,” I protested.
“No, Gigi,” Lace insisted, her hands on door of the taxi. “When you fall asleep in the dressing room, it’s time to go home.”
Lace was right. I was worn out. Even the plethora of bargain priced delights at H&M hadn’t been able to hold my attention. After being up all night with Justin and then shopping with her for hours, I was totally plowed. I fastened my seat belt. “I’m sorry,” I lamented.
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll do it again soon, when you’re better rested.” Her expression turned serious. “I’m really happy for you, girl. You and JJ are good people. He’s really gonna like that shirt you got him from Armani.”
I thought he would, too. I was eager to see it on him. So I could take it off of him. I kept the window down on the way, enjoying the fresh crisp breeze against my face. It reinvigorated me, and I was smiling by the time the taxi dropped me off, and I hit the lobby.
“Miss Dubois.”
I turned toward the unfamiliar female voice. The brunette had a knockout figure, her designer suit painted onto her body. Her handbag, shoes, and Yurman accessories together probably cost more than Justin’s motorcycle.
I felt my brow crease. “Do I know you?”
“I’m Antonia Bartoli.”
Fuck. Shit. Damn. Justin’s ex-girlfriend! What was she doing here? My stomach dropped to the floor.
“He’s told you about us, I see.” Her lips curved into a catty smile.
“Yes.” I felt unsteady and uncertain.
“I met your boy. Just seems very taken with him.”
I couldn’t stop myself from comparing myself to her. She was gorgeous. I didn’t even come close to measuring up.
“I’m not surprised,” she continued. “I’m sure you know he’s got a big hero complex. Goes back to when he and his sister were getting knocked around. He carries a lot of guilt about it. So he’s always trying to rescue ever damsel in distress he comes across. First, he tried to save me from Joe, and now it looks like he’s found a real charity case, the young helpless single mom.”
She patted my arm, but I barely felt it. I was thinking that what she said made way too much sense. Just looking at her I felt inadequate. Why would Justin want someone like me when he could have someone like her? Concerns I had pushed aside pressed back on my troubled mind.
“You look a little pale. I hope I haven’t upset you.” I prayed she was done. I wasn’t that lucky. “Surely you knew what you were getting into with a man like him? He’s very yummy, and oh so charming in the beginning. So honest and sincere. But he’ll leave you. He always does.”
Oh my God.
I squeezed my eyes shut tight wishing she would just go away. My heart beat so hard against my chest that I was afraid I was having some sort of arrhythmia. Not that it mattered. I didn’t think anything could make me feel much worse than I felt right now.
When I finally risked opening my eyes, I saw that my wish hadn’t been granted. Antonia gave me a pitying look. I wanted to run away and hide, but my legs were too shaky for that to be an option.
“I’m sorry, dear. That’s how it was for me, too. He’s a really good lay. It’s too bad he’s got no staying power outside the bedroom.”
I covered my mouth. The coffee from earlier was coating the back of my throat. I stumbled backward into a table. I held onto it a moment trying to find my balance, looking for an escape route, and feeling awash in cold from head to toe. I managed to skirt around her, forcing from my mind thoughts of him touching her the way he’d touched me.
I wobbled into the lobby restroom, only barely making it to one of the toilets in time to empty my stomach into it. After flushing, I rose on unsteady legs and came out of the stall.
I froze.
She had followed me in.
We stared at each other, our eyes clashing in the mirror.
No more. Please no more.
“You didn’t look good. I was worried.” She calmly swiped a wand coated in lip gloss over her lips and smiled at her reflection before turning to face me.
“Why did you tell me all that?” I whispered.
She shrugged. “I think you have a right to know since he’s doing us both at the same time. He’s unreliable, honey. Take it from someone who knows. He just couldn’t wait for me to get my mouth on him. He pulled me over behind the shrubs on the patio. He was so desperate for it. He pushed me down on my knees. Didn’t take me more than ten minutes of… how should I put this delicately, working on him before he was satisfied. But I’m sure you know that a lot of bad things can happen in a short time like that. With an unsupervised kid by the pool. Right?”
My vision tunneled. I didn’t even remember seeing her leave. I lingered in front of the mirror, my eyes burning holes in the pathetic little fool who never seemed to learn staring back at me.
I went through the motions, doing what had to be done.
Methodically.
Efficiently.
Emotionlessly.
I tried not to allow my imagination to wander, but inside of me a yawning chasm had been ripped wide open. It felt a mile wide, dark and desolate except for the echo of my self-chastising refrain.
I hated myself for loving him. This was worse than what had happened with Richard. I’d never really loved him anyway. But now my heart had been shattered. And my son’s would be as well.
I never should have trusted Justin. I never should have let him anywhere near Carter. All my fears had been realized. I wanted to curl up into a ball and die. Dig a hole. Toss my worthless broken dreams into it, and crawl in after them, pulling the dirt over myself. But I didn’t have that luxury.
It was time to wake up. Not from a tender kiss of true love on my lips but from a betraying slap in the face.
After I’d hastily packed and all the arrangements were made, I texted Justin to bring Carter back to the apartment. As soon as I heard his key in the lock, I went inside the bathroom and clicked the latch closed.
I was scared, sleep deprived, and my nerves had been savaged. I had to get away and get my head together somewhere far from him. I had Carter to consider, to protect. Justin had failed two people today.
“Hey, babe.” His voice slithered along the cracks in the door. I loved him so much. I was so tempted to open the door, so close to setting aside my pride, so close to abandoning my plan. But I couldn’t. He would just explain away everything that Antonia had said, and we would end up in this same spot again, a week or two from now.
I despised myself for being so weak where he was concerned.
Down the line, maybe we could talk and I could figure out where I had made my mistake with him, but it would be on my terms and at a time when I had better control of my emotions.
“You ok?” Justin rapped on the door. “We still on for dinner tonight?”
“Yeah.” I pulled in a quick breath and rubbed my hands across my chilled flesh. I couldn’t come out. I couldn’t let him see my eyes. I wasn’t that good of an actress. “See you later.” I’d practiced those words for the past hour. Now I just hoped he’d stay on script and that the closed door and the running water would muffle my wooden tone.
There was a long pause. I counted my thundering heart beats and waited.
“Ok, then. I love you.”
Liar.
Or maybe he just didn’t really understand what those words meant to me.
If I had be
en smarter, wiser, more cautious, and slowed all this down maybe I would’ve discovered that sooner, but either way, it didn’t matter. It didn’t change what I had to do now.
I waited five extra minutes just to be sure he’d actually left. When I finally stuck my head out the door, the apartment was eerily silent.
“Carter!” I yelled suddenly feeing panicky.
“I’m here.” He came out of the bedroom, saw me, and the book he had been reading fell out of his hand. “What’s wrong, Mommy.” He flew to me and threw his arms around my waist. I returned the hug, squeezing him tightly, desperate to grasp onto the only real love I had left, the only real love I’d ever had.
“Everything’s gonna be ok,” I said quietly as much for his benefit as my own. “We just have to hurry to catch a plane.”
“Ok. Mommy.” He peered up at me while biting his lip. “Where are we going? Is Justin going with us?”
My eyes hardened. “Not this time.”
I knew something was wrong as soon as I let myself back in the apartment. The quietness was palpable. A quick walk through confirmed the dread that encircled my heart.
Bridget and Carter were gone.
There was no trace of them. Housekeeping had already been through. The bed was freshly made. No books on the side tables. No juice boxes on the counter. No Lego models on the shelves.
It was as if they’d never been there at all.
I threw open their closet door. It contained only the new clothes I had purchased for her. Most were still on the hangers their tags still intact. A few lay in a neat pile on the floor. The ones she’d worn. They were freshly laundered and folded, and there was a note on top addressed to Lace along with a check made out to me.
I carefully set the note on the dresser. Then I took the check and ripped it to shreds. Just like her leaving me like this without saying a word had done to my heart.
I stood in the center of their bedroom for a while, worry mingling with anger that had me teetering on the ledge. Eventually I dropped onto the bed and glanced at my expression in the mirror. After a couple of deep breaths, I coaxed myself back from the brink. My brain came back on line. I pulled out my cell and tried her number. Even though I got the recording, the sound of her voice made me feel better.
Enticing Interlude (Tempest #2) Page 20