“This is a lot to take in. We need to slow things down and not act so possessive. It could scare Amelia,” Ricky said.
“Do we agree to take our time here? Maybe let her get to know us individually, too?” Brody asked.
“Agreed,” Murphy replied. Then Ricky followed and Waylon was last.
He knew this was going to be difficult for him. All these years home and he avoided getting down to his fears and emotions. One passionate night with Amelia, and a whole new light had been shed upon his life and his attitude.
He couldn’t lose her. She was instantly so important, and he would do what was necessary to hold on to her forever.
Chapter 10
Amelia finished setting up the display tables in the hospital. She gathered all the brochures about the programs and put out some nice baked goods for the two volunteers that would run the table.
She felt her cell phone vibrating against her hip and fear gripped her insides.
Mano had called her three times last night and texted, too. When she walked out into the kitchen this morning, she saw her phone on the counter and prayed that none of the men had seen it. They could misinterpret Mano’s words as something of meaning to her. Mano was a pig.
His words and his text messages showed his arrogance. As she checked out the caller ID, she didn’t recognize the number. Amelia debated about answering it as she headed toward the atrium doors. She would have privacy out there.
“Hello.”
“I was going to pretend that you never received my first message, but the other five? Come on, Amelia. You can’t still be angry with me,” Mano stated.
Her blood pressure rose beyond the fear of his wrath.
“Angry with you still? What the hell do you think, Mano? Of course I am. Disappearing for a year didn’t send a clear and precise message?” She looked around her, grateful that no one was there to hear her raise her voice.
“I know I fucked up. Hell, Amelia, I was caught up in feeling like I wasn’t good enough. I drank too much that night. Those women meant nothing.”
“Stop! Just stop it right now. I can’t believe you, Mano. It’s been over a year. What about Kyle? Explain that one, Mano. If you cared, then why hadn’t you stopped that fight?”
“Your brother made the decision to get in the ring with that monster.”
“You had money on it. You know what? I’m not interested in anything that you have to say. It’s always about you. It didn’t work out. It’s over. I meant nothing and I got it loud and clear.”
“Don’t hang up, Amelia. Let me explain. Let me apologize. When I heard that you were in the city, I fucking rushed there from across town. You were gone before I had the chance to tell you in person.”
“To tell me what?”
“That I’m making it big now. No small time anymore. No underground, illegal shit.”
“You don’t seem to get it, Mano. I don’t care. That life is behind me. You’re behind me. I’ve moved on. I need to go.”
“I’m not behind you. We’re meant to be. What, did you fucking say that you moved on? Are you fucking some other guy?”
“Stop it. It’s been over since the moment I caught you in bed with those two whores and the second you beat me and blamed me for all your faults.”
“You are fucking someone else. Who the fuck is he? I want to know right now ’cause he’s a fucking dead man walking!”
“Don’t call me ever again.”
“Oh I will and I might even take a trip out to Houston to see you in person.”
She disconnected the call.
She was so angry. Hearing his voice brought back so many bad memories and feelings. She didn’t need this shit right now when she had so much to worry about with Murphy, Ricky, Waylon, and Brody.
She’d thought about them all day today. She was starting to have second thoughts about last night. Not total regret. No way. Not with men so sexy and charismatic as the four of them. They each represented things she was afraid of and had yet to overcome. She would ha