Page 68 of Labria

“Who taught you how to cook?”

“My mother.” I used to be sad when I mentioned my mother. I no longer felt that way. I was just so happy I had her for as long as I did. “How do you feel about last night?”

“I’m fine.”

“Do you regret the drinking and everything else?”

“No, I don’t have any regrets.”

“I’m happy to hear that.” I reached around her and pulled her body into mine. She rested her head on my chest. “Does he know you’re here?” I needed to know if I had a battle ahead of me.

“He doesn’t know anything. He left for New York yesterday and whenever he returns, I won’t be there. I didn’t leave a note. I just left.”

“Do you feel like you want to go back to him?”

“No, I will never tolerate cheating. This isn’t the first thing he’s done. There are so many things I can’t overlook.”

“You can hide out here for as long as you like.” I assured her.

“Or until you get tired of me.” She joked.

“I would never get tired of you.”

“I only have enough clothes for a about four days. I’m going to have to go back eventually and get some more of my things. I think he comes back to Vegas on Sunday. I don’t want to see him.”

“And you don’t have to. I could take you shopping.”

“You don’t have to take me shopping.” Labria stroked my chest with her hands. Not enough to get me hard, but almost.

“We could go someone far away for a few days so we wouldn’t run into anyone in the family.”

“I don’t want anyone to know where I am, but I can’t disappear completely.”

“I don’t want you to feel obligated to have a confrontation with him until you are emotionally ready for it. Just think about it. It’s no pressure. Just think about it.”

“I will think about it. It just can’t be now. I have a meeting on Monday morning. I’m not going to let this derail my life and everything I’ve worked for. I have the basics and I have my work laptop, so that’s all I need for now.”

“Okay, I won’t tell anyone you’re here. You have my word.”

“Wait a minute. You don’t have any leftover clothes in a closet from of your lady friends?”

“No, why would I have female clothing in my home? I’m completely single. I live alone.”

“Why do you live alone?”

“It could be because I haven’t met the right woman. Or it could be I’ve met the right one, but she’s taken.”

“Zio, Zio, you are tricky. I have a question.”

“What’s your question?”

“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“Not really. My father had two kids before he married my mom. His first wife ran off with the two kids because he was abusive. She disappeared and from what I was told, he stopped looking for her once he started seeing my mother.”

“Did you ever get a chance to meet your half siblings?”

“No, my pops never talked about them. I could never get him to give me any information about his first wife or their kids. When he was young, he did some time in prison because he almost killed her.”