Page 63 of Depths of Destruction
"How?"
"I wouldn't move here."
"Why didn't he relocate? Why were you supposed to give up your career? Belize City is on the ocean." I nod to the boats. "What does he do?"
"He's a fisherman."
"He has a really nice place for a fisherman." Darien's house is top of the line and bigger than most places we passed in Punta Gorda.
"Yes. He knocked down his old one and built this about five years ago."
"Well, he could fish off the coast of Belize City, couldn't he?"
She stays quiet then says, "That isn't all I did."
I wait for her to speak with my stomach flipping. The expression on her face is riddled with guilt and a self-loathing I've never seen on her before.
"For twenty years, we were off and on. It wasn't because I was in love with him. I've always known how he felt about me."
"But you kept coming back to him?"
"Yeah. I kept giving him hope. Until two years ago, when he told me not to contact him anymore unless I changed my mind. And then I realized what I had been doing all those years."
"Why did you keep coming back if you weren't in love with him? I'm pretty sure you can get a date any day of the week."
Shame fills her face. "It was comfortable. We'd been friends forever. The more my career grew, and people knew who I was, the safer he felt."
"I can understand that."
"You can?"
"Sure. I've stayed with some women because it was comfortable."
Surprise fills her expression. You have?"
"Yes. And I'm sure being famous adds another layer to things."
She sighs as she studies my face.
"He thinks I'm making a mistake if I take you to Europe with me," I blurt out.
"Why?"
The beating of my heart rings in my ears. "Something about taking you away from everything you know."
She pins her gaze on me. "But you'll be with me, right?"
"I don't have any plans to let you out of my sight."
A tiny smile plays on her lips. "I've always wanted to go to Europe."
"You have?"
"Yep. A sexy tour guide is an added bonus." She winks at me then kisses me.
"Did I tell you perks come with the tour guide?" I murmur and slide my tongue back in her mouth.
"I think I need a preview."
