“But I will be…” She hangs up with a giggle without finishing her sentence. And I couldn’t be happier for her.
I want that same happiness and maybe Echo can give it to me.28EchoWhen Mom leaves, I’m almost speechless. My mother was in my home and not once did she put me down or say anything bad about me. It was a first that’s for sure.
Walking into the hospital to see my brother, I notice Selena sitting out the front in the waiting area. She looks up when she notices me, hope is evident in her eyes until I walk straight past ignoring her. I really wonder now what I felt for her. How did I get so lost in thinking I was in love with her? Whatever it was it wasn’t love.
Mike’s laying down, his television is off when I open his door. He’s staring at the food in front of him not moving. He looks up when I enter, surprise filters through his face as I walk in closing the door.
“Didn’t think you cared if I lived or died,” he harrumphs, clearly still pissed from the other day at the coffee house.
“I care.” He doesn’t say anything merely turns back to look at his food. “Your wife is sitting outside.” I walk closer sitting next to him. He goes to move then his face scrunches up in pain. “Don’t move. Do you want me to get her?”
He shakes his head. “No.” His breathing starts to even out before he turns his head to the side so he can look at me. “I’m divorcing her.”
“You love her.”
He rolls his eyes. “What the fuck is that anymore? You thought you loved her, too.”
“True. Selena gives out fake love so we will give what she wants in return.”
His eyes thin as he looks at me. “You don’t love her anymore. So, why did you kiss her?”
“I never kissed her, she kissed me. Big difference.”
He looks at the ceiling away from me. “I figured as much, I just needed to hear it from you.”
“You believe me, over her?”
He doesn’t look back at me when he answers, “One thing you aren’t is a liar, Echo. You never have been.”
“I’m sorry, you know… for bringing her into our life.” I stand to look at the time, Storm will be here soon.
“So am I. So am I,” he mumbles. Clearly not just hurting from his physical pain. “Tell her to come in, will you?”
I nod my head. “I’ll come back if that’s what you want?”
He nods once not looking back at me as I walk out. Storm’s there already waiting for me. Selena’s standing opposite to Storm death-staring her. Walking up to Storm, I slide my arm around her waist and pull her to me then touch her lips with mine, before I pull back to see Selena blowing smoke from her ears while she glares at us.
“Mike wants to see you.” She stomps off like a child. The minute she’s gone, Storm pulls away from me anger written on her face.
“Did you do that just then to make her mad?”
Shit.
“No,” I answer truthfully.
Her hand clasps the strap of her bag. “Are you sure, because that’s what it seemed to me you just did.”
Grabbing her face so she can’t move from me or even look away. “I don’t see her. I haven’t for a long time. You’re at fault for that.” Then I lean in and kiss her again, just because I can.Storm sits across from me at a restaurant we frequent with the guys. Darby’s a fussy ass and only eats the finest foods. It’s the best place to bring her as it gives you privacy in a public forum. Best of both worlds for the both of us. She pushes at her drink, her hands just moving the glass around.
“So?” I ask.
She looks up her head shaking. “You just asked me to be your girlfriend. Is that not something we do when we are teenagers, not adults?”
It’s true, I did. I want to start afresh. The only way I know how to do it that is to ask her to be mine. And not in the macho way which I know will scare her, like me kidnapping her and locking her in my bedroom. She probably wouldn’t take too kindly to that.
“So what do you say?”
“Do you love her?” she asks lifting the wine glass to her lips, her eyes stay trained on me.
“No,” I answer as clear and concise as possible.
“Do you want to be with her?”
“No,” I answer again as clear and concise as possible.
“Am I meant to just take your word for it? You could be lying, then in a few months’ time when I don’t want to go back you could miss her, want her,” she says as she places her wine on the table.