Page 82 of Out of the Shadow

“Juliana,” I cut her off. “Listen. It doesn’t matter. I got tired of it all anyway. He’s free to do what he wants.” I can’t bring myself to confess the truth—I got so caught up in him that I didn’t remember Dante for a whole half-day.

“But you saw how good it could be, right? Sex without any entanglements. I bet King set your body on fire. Just look at that man’s feet. You know what they say about feet.”

I do. And his dick more than lives up to the hype. I fiddle with my wedding ring. “Sure. Yes. It was good. And now it’s over.”

“Well, I really am proud of you, honey.” A strain underlies her upbeat tone, but I dismiss it. “Now that you’ve seen the benefits of casual, the next time won’t be so difficult. And you didn’t break your pledge to your soul mate.”

Her last words wound me deeper than the photos from last night, and the waterworks start all over again. Not wanting her to know how much I’m hurting, I end the call and throw the phone onto the bed. Still crying, I pick up the Bucket List.

“Dante, I’m so sorry. Our vows mean more to me today than ever before. It won’t happen again.”

Crickets.

I wish Dante were here with me right this second, wrapping me in his arms and whispering how much he loves me. Kissing my lips with the fierce passion we shared when we first started dating. Which got weaker and weaker as the disease tore him away from me.

My heart stutters at the memory of his last words to me. “I love you, forever.” He took his last breath and left me.

Tears streaming down my face, I jump out of bed and rush into the shower, turning it up as hot as I can handle. As I wash my hair and then my body, my tears cease and my mind begins to knit itself back together.

King doesn’t know the meaning of loyalty, but I do. I will remain loyal to my husband.

Which means King has to go. Forever.

When I step out of the shower, I survey my face in the mirror. My puffy eyes have turned a deeper hue, and the redness has started to fade. Good. I am strong. I can do this—on my own, thank you very much. After all, I got my last two checks from Let’s Do It!

Once I’m dressed, I go to the kitchen and make myself a cup of coffee. I pick up my phone and the last photo I was looking at, King with his hands full of the two sisters, greets me. This is the right decision. I need to let him go for my own sanity—I owe this much to Dante. I clearly was nothing but a casual hook-up to King anyway, so he’ll take it in stride.

That’s what he does.

Pulling up his contact, I call him. His baritone voice sails through the phone. “Hey, Angie. How are you feeling?”

I must be a much better actress than I thought, since he obviously believed I was sick yesterday. Well, I guess I was. In a way. Even though he can’t see me, I raise my chin. “I’m much better now.” Not a lie.

“That’s great.” The clank of a spoon hitting the counter reaches me ears, and he swallows what I presume to be his coffee. “I’m getting ready to head out to the gym and I’ll be at your place by noon.”

“That’s what I was calling you about.”

“Oh?”

Girding my whole body, I vomit the words that have been running around in my head. “Yeah. You see, filming is over and the crew is gone. The show won’t air for a couple of months, and I’ve decided I was too impetuous originally. It was important for you to work at the agency during filming, but now that it’s over, I don’t think it’s important anymore.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying”—I pick up my spoon from the counter—“I don’t think it’s necessary for you to work here. It was a ridiculous idea in the first place. Without the cameras around, it doesn’t make sense.”

“Angie, whatyou’resaying doesn’t make sense. The show will air and then people will call wanting to see me. I need to be with you.”

He doesn’t get it. Plus, the show wasn’t all about him. A frost coats my heart. “No, King. When people call, I’ll handle them. I can say you were a hired actor.”

“What the hell? I got my license. Becauseyouinsisted on it. I’m a true real estate agent, and you know it.”

The knife twists in my gut. I ignore it. “You can use that license anywhere in the state. From now on, your presence is no longer required here.”

A harsh breath comes through the phone. “Angie, what brought this on? We’re a good team.” His voice deepens. “A very good team.”

Memories of just how good we were together hurl through my brain. Those new pictures flash through my mind’s eye. I’m overwhelmed with the need to lash out. “King, it’s all over. The show, your working here, our relat—whatever we had going on. Done.”

“You’re out of your mind. You must still be sick.”

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