Page 65 of The Spy Ring

TWENTY-TWO

Jagger

“But, I’m alone. It’s not like I have anyone there with me when all the bad thoughts come creeping into my head,” Tiffany said as she looked up at me.

“I’ll be there. I mean, I want to be there.” I struggled to find the right words to tell her how I felt. “How we met, it was fucked up and the time since hasn’t exactly gone to plan.”

I shook my head at the last month with her.

“You could say that again. I remember when you showed up for the PT appointment the first time I thought you were the worst. I was itching to call the physical therapy center and get another person.” She laughed as she edged closer, leaning back against the couch.

I loved her laugh. It was throaty and sensual and the world felt lighter.

“Little did you know I was married to you,” I said causing joyous tears to stream down her face as her laughter grew.

“Ugh, and you still didn’t say anything.”

I covered my face with my hand. “Don’t remind me.” I shook my head letting my hand fall. “I guess I forgot how beautiful you were. I didn’t really mind being married to you.”

While there was a part of me that didn’t want to tell her that, I felt like she needed to hear it. All these lies I had been living almost my whole life, it was time to change that.

Her smile faded along with her laughter. “Jagger, I didn’t realize. I thought you felt sorry for me. The poor struggling single mom, which only made me mad at you.”

“How could I ever feel sorry for you? You have everything I wish I had. I wanted to stay married to you, even in secret, because I wanted to pretend that I had a family like yours.”

“I had no idea.”

“I’m kind of glad I got fired from the agency. It was time for me to get a life. I know I was drunk when I came over to your place last week, but I remember telling you I had no one in my life. It’s true.”

She reached over and rubbed my arm and it was nice. I sounded like the most pathetic person on earth. Glancing around my place, I realized my life matched my apartment.

Something needed to change.

“Let’s move in together,” I said.

Tiffany’s eyes widened and she sat up. “What?”

“I really need to find a new place, and you need to get out of that neighborhood.” I scooted closer as she moved back on the cushion.

“Yeah, but I don’t know if moving in together would solve anything. Besides, you don’t even have a job.”

“I’ve been toying around with starting my own business which I think your son might be able to help with.”

Tiffany stood holding out her hands. “Whoa! You want to move in with me and use my son for your business venture? No, thank you.”

I got off the couch and moved closer to her. “I’m not going to use him. If anything, he’s already a part of it. As you can see, I don’t spend a lot on living expenses.”

“Obviously,” she said rolling her eyes.

I chuckled. “But I was paid well enough by the government so I shoved most of it away in savings. I was thinking of buying a studio and starting my own ninja training business.”

“That actually sounds like a good idea.”

I came over to her, putting my hands on her upper arms. They remained folded as her eyes stayed weary. “So, we can move in together?”

“No, I never said yes to that. Only that the ninja thing was a good idea.” Her arms drifted down, and I edged closer until I could feel her breath flutter over my skin.

Tiffany’s eyes were like saucers of chocolate milk and her neck, like creamy butter. I lowered my head for the promise of a taste and when my tongue lapped at her sweet cream, I didn’t stop until I reached her earlobe. “I bet I can make you change your mind.”

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