Page 119 of Real Fake Husband

I pause.Focus, idiot.

“Okay, so muchIhave to say. The thing is, this is all new for me. I love you, Josie. I fucking love you. Madly. Irrevocably.”

I pause again. I shouldn’t be telling her this over the fucking phone, but I need to get it out.

“You’re my woman, babe,” I continue. “You get me. You always have. You were right about why we butted heads when we were younger. I was a dumb kid with fucked-up parents, and you saw me better than I saw myself. I’m sorry I gave you so much shit about living in the past. I had no right to do so. I will spend my time making up for the harm I did to you. I promise. I don’t deserve a chance, but please listen.” I sigh. “Baby, I don’t want this to be over between us. I don’t want a fucking divorce, and I don’t want to fucking stop seeing each other. I get it. I really do. I get that you need to live your own life…”

The entire time I’m talking, I’m riding the elevator upstairs. When I get to my front door, the words are flowing faster than I can process them. I fumble with the keys, trying to get them in the lock, talking on the phone, “…and that your heart is in The Diner. Okay, fuck it, I’m not going to pretend that I agree with it, but I love you, and I promise to let you make your own decisions—and support you no matter what, please know that. No matter what. I will never stop loving you…”

Stop talking. You fucked this up.

Stop creeping her out.

The flowers were too much.

This is too much.

I hang up.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Of course she’s not going to be texting or answering my calls. Why would she? She’s made her decision. She has her own life to live. We’re not together anymore.

Well, I guess we were never really “together.”

I unlock the door. For one month, I entered the apartment, looking forward to seeing Josie. Now I enter emptiness.

44

CAL

GRAND OPENING

Saturday

Amid the blinding flashes of photographers, I cut the ribbon halfway and hand the scissors to Theo to do the honors. I couldn’t have done it without him. He grins, grabs the scissors and squeezes. The ribbon floats apart.

“Bad to the Bone” starts playing and everybody cheers.

Theo hollers, bringing me into a man hug. “You did it, bro.”

“Wedid it. We,” I correct him.

The grand opening of Ashford Motors is here. Sweet Jesus. I can’t believe it. It’s so damn nice. Charlie’s words ring in my head as we shake hands: “There ya have it. A feckin’ motorcycle enthusiast’s kingdom on 22,740 square feet of state-of-the-art showroom and workshop space for repairs and all sorts of custom shite, now officially one ofthelargest dealerships in the New York City area. Feckin’ cheers to that, boss.”

We’ve been working on this dream for months, and now it’s a reality.

Theo and I are on hand to greet guests and give tours of the facility with “Riding with the King,” “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” and our anthem, “Born to be Wild” booming out the speakers around us. Pizza trucks from our favorite go-to place are present, and free gifts are handed out: black custom hats and keychains with our shop’s logo, free motorcycle inspections, and—my favorite—free test rides on selected bikes.

Guests enter the showroom, and they are greeted with gleaming chrome and polished finishes. Theo and the rest of our team did one hell of a job. Ducks, Hawgs, and Kawis (Ducatis, Harley Davidsons, Kawasakis) and other brands as far as the eye can see, in a wide range of models, from classic and vintage to sport and touring. Each motorcycle is displayed as a work of art, undoubtably capturing the hearts of all who lay eyes on them. We also have a cozy lounge area where our customers can sit and relax while they browse our collection of leathers (protective gear, jackets and pants), or just hang out and chat with fellow bikers.

The opening is a huge success, with hundreds of visitors pouring in.

When a grinning Theo informs me that he’s spotted Jake Whitlock fromRevved Up, I offer him my fist, and he bumps it. I can’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment, even pride. I’ve put my heart and soul into this dealership, and seeing the excitement and admiration on the faces of the visitors today is a fulfilling experience that makes me excited about my plans to expand.

But one thing is missing. No. Not one thing. One person.

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