Page 27 of Sin City

After my busy morning meeting with clients and many different showings, I finally get to the office mid-afternoon as I need to finish up some emails, paperwork for my clients, send out offers, and other mind-numbing office tasks. I could have Jordan, my assistant, handle most of it, but to be honest, it’s keeping me sane and not thinking about Jameson and about my imploding marriage. Our three-month agreement is coming to an end in about a little over two weeks…I feel utterly heartbroken. I know I need to contact a lawyer to end it, I just haven’t found the strength to do so yet. Maybe I’m holding on to hope that somehow, he will want to make this work.

“Someone got some special flowers sent to her today?” asks Jordan playfully as he is typing on his laptop at his desk outside my office.

Why is he chipper on who sent me flowers? I am sure it is one of my clients or lenders to say thank you for helping on a property or something. I am not one who is used to getting flowers, so that all comes to mind. But when I walk into my office, it is not just a small bouquet in a vase sitting on my desk…no. No, it is a rather large, beautiful bouquet of pink peonies…my favorite. Oh my gosh, they are stunning. They are the perfect bloom, and the aroma it’s giving off, they’re perfect. Not many people know my favorite flower.

I bend down to inhale the smell, and I sigh, instantly feeling calm…until I read the card.

Angel,

I miss you.

I am incredibly sorry for everything.

Please meet me for dinner to explain everything.

Xo Your Husband (Diablo)

I hold the card up to my chest and let out a deep breath. Jameson thinks all I needed was flowers and a simple note to make it all better? Is he joking? It had taken him over a week and half to even reach out after the bomb that blew up in my face. He needs to do a lot more than send gifts. And honestly, I am not ready to speak to him at this moment. I’m still beyond angry as well as hurt.

I toss the card in my drawer and slam it shut. It’s too late anyway. The three months are over soon. And so is this marriage.

***

Three days later, I am leaving my apartment to head to my favorite coffee shop that is around the corner from my place. They make the best oat milk lattes with the right amount of foam and cinnamon. I open my front door and I come face to face with those sapphire eyes that haunt my dreams. Jameson. I should have known that it would be a matter of time. He is looking sexy as fucking hell, dressed in his black jeans with rips along his knees and with a grey hoodie with his shops logo on the front, the black beanie that is keeping his long hair out of his face. I can tell he has not trimmed his beard, and it is thicker than normal. God, I bet it would feel amazing against my thighs as he fucks me with his tongue.No, Aria! Do not think about sex with this man. Bad…bad, Aria. Focus. I am mad at him. I do not want to jump in his big, strong biceps and have my way with him. No…oh, that does sound so good…No, Aria. Focus.

Of course, I would be dressed in my black yoga pants, baggie hoodie from college and my hair tied up in a messy bun without any makeup on my face. Yep, I look like a freaking homeless person on my way out of my apartment.

Sighing, I try to keep my voice flat as I don’t want to show him that him being here has an effect on me. “The three months are over. Go away.” I try to shut the door, but he stops it with his black boots.

He smirks as he grabs the door with his tattooed hand. “I know you got the flowers, Aria. But I did not hear from you about meeting me for dinner. I gave you space to let everything settle in.” He inches a little closer and my breath hitches slightly. Damn hormones and this husband for being so damn sexy and remembering my favorite things. “And I also know that most Sunday’s you cannot resist going to your favorite coffee shop to get your oat milk latte with a dash of cinnamon.”

“Yes, I got your flowers.” I cross my arms and stare at him, trying to not get sucked into his blue irises. “But that does not make this all rainbows and unicorns for us, Jameson. I’m hurt…very hurt, and I told you about my past. So, no, I am not ready for dinner.”

He lets a deep sigh, closes his eyes and rolls his lips together. My heart hurts seeing him look so defeated. The dark circles under his eyes like he has not slept since the gala. I know I haven’t. But at the same time he had time to tell me everything. Though, he chose differently. I am just not sure this is something that I can move past. “I understand, Aria. I do.” He moves in closer, coming within inches from my face with his lips hovering over mine. “But know this, Angel. I am not giving up just yet. You are still my wife and I plan to keep it that way.”

Jameson steps back and winks before he turns and walks away. I let out a breath that I did not realize I was holding until he left.

He didn’t stop at the flowers and showing up to my apartment, no. Jameson has been showing up almost every day either at my office, my open houses, or my apartment. He is not pushing the subject of meeting with him to explain either, no he is bringing me my favorite food, coffee, flowers, and more. It is the littlest gesture, but it makes it all the better. I know Jameson is a good and kind person, but I’m not sure if I am ready to fully accept his past because of what it represents. I feel if I do, then I’m forgiving the person who took my parents from me.

After work, I head to Hayley’s new place located right in the heart of the city. I found a place to park and make my way up to her floor. She lucked out with this old-style brick building and the inside gives off an old industrial feel. This is a rare find.

Before I get a chance to even knock on her door, she pulls it open as if she was waiting for me by it. “It’s about damn time, bitch!”

I laugh at her antics. “I had to find parking, loser. Now, show me this sweet new place!” I give her a hug and make my way inside.

I was right about her place. High ceilings, metal beams and brick walls on the inside. This place screams Hayley, and how she found it, it is beyond me.

She pours me a big glass of white wine, and we sit on her white couch. I take a huge sip of my wine before Hayley asks me about Jameson.

“Are we going to talk about the tattooed elephant in the room or are you going to bury your head in the sand like you always do?” She raises her perfectly shaped eyebrow at me.

I do not even make eye contact with her. “Talk about what?”

Hayley sets her wine down on the table in front of us. “Okay, so this is how you want to play it? That you are not sulking about that fine ass man who chased you all the way to Seattle, opened up a new shop, hired you as his realtor, and oh yeah, he alsomarried you. And the fact he maybe forgot to share a piece of his life with you and now you are butt hurt.”

I roll my eyes. “Well, why don’t you just say how you really feel, Hayley. Shit.” I rub my forehead because this is the last thing that I want to discuss right now. I just want to girl talk about Hayley’s love life and drink my wine. That’s all. Not be questioned as if I am on trial.

“I am going to say how I feel, Aria. I am your best friend, one of your longest best friends. You went through something so traumatic that no one should have to go through in their lifetime. Greg was a shitty boyfriend too when it happened and shitty husband too. But Jameson, Aria. Jameson is a good man. I noticed the first time I saw the two of you together that he was meant for you.” Hayley grabs my hands with hers to get me to look at her. “He worships the ground you walk on. Whenever you two are in a room, his eyes never leave you. And if he isn’t willing to bare his scars with you, then give him space and time to let him. Do not let Greg win this. He does not get to take this away from you. You deserved to be happy and to be in love.”

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