Page 57 of A Perfect Pairing
“I miss having you in my life,” Lori said with a sad expression he wasn’t sure was real “I… I’m hoping we can try again. I realize I do want the things you want—quiet date nights with just the two of us. I want us to have children. Don’t you still want those things? I know there are some things we need to work out, and I’m willing to give you the time and space to do that.” She reached for him. “Just say you’ll come back home.”
He stared at her incredulously. “You’re kidding me, right? I amhome!” She sounded sincere, but after everything, it was hard for him to believe her. “Do you remember what you said to me? You said I wasn’t ambitious enough, that you needed a man who was willing to climb as high as you. Not someone who just settled for middle ground. You wanted someone who didn’t spend his time fixing and building things, that we should be people whohiredworkers, notdothe work. And the worst thing… you started taking the pill behind my back so you wouldn’t get pregnant, then acted like you were devastated each month it didn’t happen.” Antonio pinched the bridge of his nose. He hated her for making him relive one of the worst times in his life. “Nothing has changed, Lori.I haven’t changed!So, no. Make thathell no. You need to go back to wherever you came from because you and me, it’s not happening. Ever.”
“Baby, I know you don’t mean that. I said a lot of stupid things, but I was angry and we were fighting and… where am I supposed to stay?”
She took another step toward him with tears in her eyes, and he held up a hand. “You’re welcome to try the Firefly Lake Inn. I’m sorry you came all this way, but I’ve moved on just like I told you in the last text message I sent. It’s time you do the same.”
Lori stared at him for a long moment, seeming to measure his words. Her expression registered a mixture of guilt and disappointment. “Antonio, I’m really sorry about the things I said and not putting our marriage first, and I promise things will be different this time.”
“I accept your apology, and I understand that you wanted to do some things for yourself, but it doesn’t change how I feel now.” As hard as it was, Antonio had to let go and forgive Lori, so he could be free to move forward with the beautiful woman waiting at the dinner table. He walked to the door and held it open. “Have a safe flight home, Lori,” he said softly.
“So, it’s going to be you and the hometown girl now?” When he didn’t answer, Lori said, “I’m sorry, too.” She crossed the room, gave him one last look of regret, and walked out.
Antonio closed the door softly and leaned his head against the cool wood. He recalled Natasha’s stricken expression and didn’t know what he’d do if this messed up things between them.
CHAPTER 22
Are you okay, dear?”
Natasha didn’t realize Mama Nora had taken Antonio’s seat next to her until she felt the touch on her arm. She tried to smile. “Um… I’m fine.” Not exactly the truth. In actuality, her emotions vacillated between shock, anger, and embarrassment, and she wasn’t sure of anything at the moment. A part of her couldn’t believe the audacity of the woman showing up like she’d been invited and still had a place in the family. In Antonio’s life.
Antonio. She hadn’t seen him this angry since one of the guys on his high school basketball team tried coming on to her, wouldn’t take no for an answer, and tried to get rough. That guy never said another word to her after Antonio threatened to do him bodily harm if he laid a hand on Natasha again. Her easygoing and even-tempered boyfriend was usually unflappable, but not that time. Natasha knew for a fact he wouldn’t lay a hand on his ex, but from the yelling, she could tell he’d reached his limit.
“I’m so sorry for all this, Natasha,” his mother said, drawing her out of her thoughts. “I don’t understand why she decided to come all this way when she never wanted to while they were married.”
Interesting.“It’s not your fault, Mrs. Hayes.” The only reason for a woman to fly clear across the country out of the blue and show up at her ex’sparents’house was for some kind of reconciliation. And that’s what concerned Natasha. Wearing an outfit that screamed haute couture and hearing the woman use the phrasehometown girlas if it were something bad brought back all the emotions she’d experienced the day she saw the cheerleader all over Antonio. That this small-town girl was no match for a big-city, sophisticated woman. She dropped her head.
“Tasha, can I talk to you for a minute?”
Her head snapped up when she heard Antonio’s voice. They probably did need to talk, but right now she couldn’t do it. Not with everything swirling around inside her. She didn’t want to risk saying something she regretted or letting the anger she felt toward the other woman spill over into their relationship. Natasha followed him to the living room without a word.
Antonio took her hands. “I’m sorry she ruined your day.”
“It’s not your fault. I’m not angry at you, but I can’t do this right now. I think it would be best if you took me home.”
“What are you saying?” His voice held a slight tremble. “Are you having second thoughts about us?”
“I’m saying I need some time to think things through. For me.” She placed a hand on his chest, wanting him to understand it wasn’t about him. It was her. “Please, take me home.”
“Baby, how about you finish your food first, and then I’ll take you home? Okay?”
His eyes pleaded with her, and she finally nodded. Natasha went back to the dining room and forced herself to eat the delicious meal his mother had prepared. Although his family tried to keep the conversation going, the rest of the time was awkward, to say the least. In the end, she thanked Mrs. Hayes and said goodbye to his family.
“Don’t be a stranger, Natasha,” Mrs. Hayes said. “You’ll have to come back to dinner soon.”
She just smiled but didn’t commit to anything.
April embraced Natasha. She whispered, “Trust me, you don’t have to worry about Lori. Let me know if you need to talk. I got you, girl.”
That made Natasha smile. “I’ll let you know.” She slung her purse on her shoulder and trudged back to the living room, where Antonio stood waiting at the door. They didn’t exchange words from the time she walked out until he parked in her driveway. Despite the tension between them, he still helped her out of the car and walked her to the door. “Antonio, I—”
“You said you needed time,” he said, cutting her off. “And I’m going to give it to you. But I won’t wait another fifteen years, Tasha.”
“You won’t have to, Tonio. I promise.” She came up on tiptoe and placed a tender kiss on his lips. She watched him lope back to his car, his hands shoved in his pockets. He didn’t look back.
Tears filled her eyes again. She closed the door and leaned against it, her arms wrapped around her middle.
Natasha made her way to the bedroom and dropped down on the side of the bed. She tossed her purse aside and massaged her temples. Maybe she should’ve just talked to him, but she didn’t want him to know how humiliated she’d been. She dug her cell out of her purse, scrolled through her top contacts, and hit the button for Serenity’s number.
