Page 55 of Mr. Delicious
“There’s a few things I have to tell you.”
God, what was it?My eyes widened. “Is it bad?”
“No, I hope not.”
My hands stilled. “What is it?”
“I like honesty. I want you to know that I will always be honest with you.”
“AJ, please don’t tell me you’re married with kids.” That would crush me.
When he laughed, I sighed with relief.
“I can assure you it’s not that. I wouldn’t do that to you or anyone else. Not even when…” His voice trailed off.
“What, not even when what?” I was anxious to hear.
He stared ahead to the lake. The wind caressed the surface causing the waves to ripple.
“I was married once.” Tension filled his voice. “That’s not what I wanted to tell you, but I guess while we’re on the subject it’s probably something you should know.”
My eyes bulged. He was married? Why was I surprised though? Look at him. Of course some lucky woman had him as her husband.
“Oh. Um…what, happened? Is it okay to ask you that?”
“Of course.” He pressed his nose to mine then pulled back. “Her name was Ava. When I think back now it was always clear that she never really loved me. She was just with me because of what I could do for her. Who I was, what I was.”
It made me physically sick to hear that. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. That was just how it was, unfortunately I didn’t see it until it was too late.”
I would never be like that. What made a woman like that when she found a man like him? He was so kind and caring.
But money did things to people. Look what happened to me with Billy, and I was sure what I knew was only part of the whole story.
And AJ…
While on this trip I definitely thought more than once about his family business. Property development. I wasn’t stupid, I knew he had to be insanely rich.
We travelled by limo, he had a Porsche. We were staying in a Chateau, had a maid and staff here. He never asked how much anything cost, and I saw that when we went to certain places we were seen to straight away. People recognized him and acted with respect.
It screamed wealth. Much as I’d wanted to ask I held back. Also because he kind of hadn’t told me that much about his family or business.
I suppose I was guilty of not sharing much about me either but that was because I was so wrapped up in him.
“What did she do to you?”
He pulled in a breath, gazed ahead again then told me what happened to him.
I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be to hear that someone could have treated him that way until a tear ran down my cheek and dropped on to his forearm.
“Hey. Don’t let me ruin the day.” Although he was smiling I could see telling me his story had gotten to him.
“I’m sorry.” I dabbed at my eyes. “And you aren’t ruining the day. I just can’t believe someone treated you that way. It’s horrible.” I shuffled in his arms.
“I know, but seriously I don’t want to spoil our day. I just wanted you to know because it’s something I should tell you.”
I nodded. “I understand. I’m… like the black sheep in my family.” That was me sharing more about me. It was that truth of my life that would always be there no matter what situation I was in.
