“Lo ciento hijo. I am just worried about you. You haven’t been yourself.” No shit. The very thing that keeps me alive is also the thing that has the ability to slay me. To rip my insides out and lay them on the concrete.
“I know. I will be back.” I throw on my glasses and drive down the driveway. As always I idle in front of her house and look up at the window to find her looking back at me. “Fuck I miss you baby.” I say in my head before zooming off.
I got a tip from Rory, that bitchboy’s father might be my line to freedom from his shit. So, for the past four days, I have camped a block from their house, watching and following him. So far nothing, but I can’t stop now.
Pulling up I immediately know something is different. Even from down the street I can see the minivan is missing. Huh. The front door opens up minutes later and his dad comes out, opening the garage door. His Toyota Camry pulls out and I wait a beat before following him.
We are driving twenty minutes on the outskirts of town. The seedy parts of town if you know what I mean. He pulls into the redlight motel in front of room 2213.
Pulling out my camera, I get pics of him walking up to the door, standing there and then the door opens. “Holy shit!” I say before snapping the photos of him and another man embracing in a way only couples do. My hands are fucking shaking. My adrenaline is so damn high I might fucking wipeout my bike if I don’t calm down.
I sit on my bike, head muddled with what I just learned trying to find the best way to handle this. “Shit.” My concentration is broken by my messages.
Rory: How is your stakeout?
Me: Fucking Jackpot!!
Rory: Excellent. Anything good?
Me: Better than we even knew.
Armed with more ammunition, I drive back to the house. Not in the mood for conversation, I pull into the driveway and look up at her window. My cock is demanding I go up there and fuck his woman and force her to admit she wants this life with me. My heart, though, wants her to want it with no coercion. Either way, I can’t go to her right now. It is too dangerous. I sit on my bike staring at her window, willing her to come and look at me, but when she doesn’t, I give up and head inside. It is late.
Walking up the terrace, I open the door and walk in. “Where have you been?” Her voice floats through the air, landing straight through my heart like an arrow. Turning, I am prepared for a number of emotions, but what I don’t expect is for her to be crying.
I drop my helmet and jacket and in two strides I am across the room pulling her into my arms. Her eyes are open and looking at me, but they are as dead as I have felt. There is no light, no life in them. Did I do this?
“What the fuck is with the tears baby? Why are you crying? What happened?” As quickly as I am wiping the offending wetness from her face, they are replaced by more. “Baby please. You are making me crazy. Tell me what happened Imogen so I can fix it.” If she doesn’t tell me something I am going to lose my shit.
“I know I hurt you. I’m sorry. I was shocked. And now you won’t come for me or touch me. Were you with someone else tonight?” she basically spills it all in one sentence. Is that what she thinks? Have I been so unclear about the depth of my devotion to her that she thinks I would cheat?
“Is that who I am, Pequeña? Am I the unworthy vermin that dishonors his heart by cheating on the very reason he breathes?” My hands are still holding her face because I want her to see me.
“No. I don’t know. Nothing makes sense when we are not together Alex and ever since the weekend I spent with you, you have been distant. I thought..” She stops mid-sentence and bites her lip.
“Finish, baby. Tell me. I want every beautiful thought in your perfect head.” She looks up and I see a little life entering her eyes.
“I thought you didn’t want me anymore because I didn’t say I wanted to marry you.” Well shit. She did hurt me, but not enough to make me her hurt. “I do, Alex. I want to marry you. I was just stunned and wasn’t expecting it so I froze and said I trusted you. But I want all of it with you.”
Standing on her tiptoes she kisses me, wrapping her small arms around my neck. “I will follow you anywhere, Alex. Anywhere.” Her little tongue skates across my lips and I growl into her mouth pulling her flush against me. Jesus this is what my soul has been missing.