Page 8 of The Devil In Disguise

You have got to be kidding me.

I yank my arm away and take a step back. “Give me a break,” I shout, pushing past him. Taking advantage of him getting clothed, I grab any basic essentials I need and stuff them in my backpack along with my keys and head for the door.

“You’re just gonna give up that easily?” His words stop my hand from turning the handle and if I was mad before, I am fuming now.

Dropping everything by the door, I meet him in three quick strides, shoving him back with all my force. “Fuck you! I should have left you a long time ago. You are nothing but a piece of shit.”

Regaining his composure, he stays at a distance holding his hands up defensively. “I have been great to you, baby. If you want me to change something I will. I can be better for you, just...” He takes a slow step towards me. “Stay. We can fix this.”

The disgust I feel towards this man is evident on my face and shaking hands when I take a step back and spit, “There is nothing to fix! Time and time again you walk all over me and treat me any way you feel like, but guess what? Never. The fuck. Again. Will you have any power or access to me. I never want to see you or your limp dick again.”

With that, I turn to leave again and pick all my things up. Just as I pull the door open I hear Duke yell behind me, “Come on, where are you going?”

“Anywhere but here, hijo de puta.” I slam the door shut to punctuate my statement and hurry to my bike.

The man could have been a serial killer for all I cared, but no. He had to be a filthy cheater.

Who knows how long he has been cheating, or with whom else. The thought makes me sick to my stomach because he still put his dick inside me after he probably fucked some random bitch. He has disrespected me and my body on so many different levels. This is the last straw.

Diablita takes me on a joyride for an hour or two. I lose track of time, but enjoy the sun setting and scenery changing. My nerves are still buzzing though, so I decide to let it all out the best way I know how.

When I arrive at the gym, there are still a few people inside, but most of them are sparring. The punching bags are mostly empty, save one guy who looks like he has been here for a while already. Luckily, I always make sure to leave a spare change of clothes in my locker here.

By the time I’m done changing, there are even less people. Turning my music all the way up and playing my playlist titled female rage, I head to the punching bag and scream through my fists, practicing different combinations with my punches and kicks. After a while, I go into the city and park in my old parking spot.

The elevator doors stare back at me, taunting me, waiting for me to hop on. The minutes fly by until I stare straight up at the ceiling, take a deep breath, and tell myself to stop being ridiculous. My heart speeds up as I enter the elevator and type in the code. I’m so anxious I contemplate turning around, but I don’t really have anywhere else to sleep tonight.

I can do this. We can do this. Yo puedo hacer esto. Podemos hacer esto.

Mama’s face lights up when the doors open up to reveal me. I do my best to give her a reassuring smile, but her expression grows worried. She eats up the distance between us and pulls me in for a hug.

“Are you okay?” she asks when she pulls back. “Your dad is working late again, it’s just us here,” she adds when she notices me scanning the room.

My body visibly relaxes and I walk to the couch with Mama on my arm. I don’t know where to start. I am so embarrassed that I defended him and even more embarrassed to be coming back here after finally moving out. It’s like I’m back at square one.

If I rip the Band-Aid off, then we can move on.

“Mama,” I start, shifting so my body is facing hers, “would it, um, be possible for me to move back in?” I wait a beat before blurting, “I broke up with Duke.”

Both of her eyebrows shoot to her hairline and her face goes from concern to delight as soon as my words click.

“Gee, I’m glad you’re taking this news better than I am,” I say dryly.

Her smile only widens.

“Mi amor, I am sorry that you’re hurting right now. I really am, but that boy was never going to make you happy. You deserve better and now you can find it. Plus, I’ll have my baby back home. You can see where my happiness comes from, right?”

One side of my lips tip up as I roll my eyes, leaning back on the couch. “Yeah, yeah. Do you think Dad will be upset that I’m back?”

“Of course not, he loves you.”

I mumble under my breath, “Doesn’t act like it.”

“I can’t explain his behavior, but he has skeletons in the closet that still haunt him to this day.”

She has the same faraway look in her eyes that I never understood when she gives me these vague pieces of information, if you can call it that, so I disregard it and change the subject.

“Well, now that I am here I need to start asking the serious questions.” I pause for dramatic effect. “What’s for dinner tonight?”

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