Page 21 of Another Round
“I’d slow down for you.”
Unable to see her face, I still know she’s sincere. Especially when she squeezes me tighter. Neither one of us wanting her to let go.
“And I’d haul arse to keep up with you.”
I guess my earnestness comes through because she lifts up and gives me a tentative smile that I can’t read.
“You probably think—”
“Chicken alfredo flat bread pizza and two waters?”
A blond woman balances a tray with our order in one hand while yanking out the red card with a black8imprinted on both sides from the holder.
“Yes, please.” Evie smiles and nods at the waitress, accepting the rolls of silverware wrapped in white napkins she holds out. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Enjoy your meal.”
The woman departs but we have to wait to dig in. The steam billowing off the creamy white cheese too dangerous to ignore. “How’s the wine?”
“Pretty good.” The blush I love heats her face, and she glances toward the petting zoo at the bottom of the hill. “Do you think we can go down and see the animals when we’re done? Those baby goats are just too cute.”
Yes, to everything and anything you ask. “Sure, if you want to.”
Total genius whoever came up with this place. All of the perfect food and activities to lure in women and kids while all of it tolerated by the men who love them.
Another gorgeous smile before she puckers her plump lips and blows on her slice. Tentatively taking a small bite, she moans rather than shrieks so I guess the heat is gone. Along with most of my restraint. I’ve never seen a woman enjoy her food as much as this one. Or be so damn sexy about it. Jesus.
“Okay, we’ve done what I’ve wanted to do yesterday and today so now it’s your turn to pick. What do you want to do tomorrow?”
“Anything’s fine, love. I’ll do anything you want.”
“Nope, that’s not how this works.”
This.
I want to know what she means by “this” but fuck me if I’m too much of a coward to ask her. Afraid of a tiny woman who wields more power over me than I expect or understand.
“You get to choose.”
If she only knew my choice. I rack my brain for a minute trying to think of something since I’m used to doing nothing. “They have a semi-pro baseball team here. If there’s a game scheduled, we could go to that.”
She sets down her glass and picks up her mobile. Already searching without asking me any questions, she taps for a few seconds before she starts nodding. “They do at 3:05 and it’s ‘Gone to the Dogs Day’ where they’ll have rescue pet adoptions available. Yes, I totally want to do that!”
All I can do is smile and shake my head as she devours her food again. Her slight body humming with excitement. The anticipation in her voice confirms I’m totally screwed. There’s no coming back from this. I just know it—we’re going to end up with a dog.
“I’m going to Face Time my mom. Maybe I’ll see you later?”
The video conference is part of her regular Sunday afternoon routine. Although she’s much later than normal today from our outing. Good for her to keep that date before we talk. “Okay love.”
She scurries inside, and I’m still grinning like an idiotic arse myself as I stride down the corridor and inside my apartment. Until I rifle through the mail I didn’t get the chance to look through yesterday. Utility bill for a town too small to be able to pay online, a flyer for low-cost health screenings at the hospital, and a small beige envelope. My chest aches from the greenSunset Ridge Cemetery & Mausoleumlogo stamped in the top left corner.
With shaking hands, I shove the pile across the counter. Covering the tiny type addressing the letter to me that I can’t believe I forgot would come. So caught up in the glorious present I didn’t remember to dread the reminder of my horrific past. Mocking me with the annual notice that I’m a terrible husband and father and man with too many mistakes to count. That I can’t fix. That I can’t forget. That I can’t figure out how to overcome.
Except that instead of grieving like I should have fucking been, instead of mourning my wife and my son stuffed into concrete boxes decorated with flowers that I’m forbidden to put on their graves myself, instead of repenting for the sins that caused the deaths of the only people I failed to protect, I was out having a god damn good time.
Motherfucker.
Not even bothering to get a glass, I grab the bottle from my base cabinet and break the seal. Sucking down the smooth liquid until I have to come up for oxygen. Panting as my body strains to absorb the deluge of alcohol I’m desperate to flow through me. I fly to the bedroom and jerk open the bottom drawer of my dresser, yanking out the heavy black box.
