“What’s going on? I thought she ran away…”
“Mindy, you know that’s not true.”
“That’s not what I meant. I meant to say…I thought you had gone. I didn’t know…what’s going on?”
That last was directed at me but I didn’t get a chance to answer since my wife found her voice then. “What are you doing here? And what’s this about getting married?” The look she threw my way did not bode well.
“I’m sorry, but when we thought you were gone Cade and I had planned to get married. I guess I know now why he called things off at the last minute.”
She turned eyes filled with tears up at me and that guilt turned like a knife in my chest. I couldn’t even reach out to offer comfort because the fire- breathing dragon in the room would lose her shit if I did.
“Now I understand. All you had to do was tell me the truth Cade…”
“Get out!” Oh shit. Mindy looked back at me with so much hurt in her eyes I felt that shit.
I could understand why she’d expect me to defend her; she was the victim in this situation. The one who’d been strung along and dropped like a bad penny.
And even though I hadn’t known that Zandi was back when I broke things off, it was still because of her that I’d put an end to our fucked up relationship.
As much as I wanted to offer words of comfort, I’m not dumb enough to pull that shit. Later I’ll explain things to Zandi so she understands that it wasn’t Mindy’s fault, but now was not the time.
“I said get the fuck out!” Zandi approached her and I had to get between the two women. That shit escalated quickly, something that didn’t surprise me knowing Zandi’s temper.
It was then that I remembered a conversation we’d had in the past. It was after a party at my parents’ home when she’d had a little too much to drink. She’d told me then that Mindy had a thing for me.
Something I’d brushed off then since Mindy had never shown any real interest in me, not even when our mothers were doing their best to get us together before Zandi came into the picture.
“Zandi, stop, don’t…” Now she looked like I’d slapped her. How could I get her to understand without any more hard feelings? It was more than obvious from the bitch brow that she was in no mood to listen to shit.
But I couldn’t in all good conscience let her mistreat the woman that I’d already hurt. If I didn’t stop this now there would be no way to make up to Mindy for the fucked up shit I’d done to her life.
“It’s okay Cade, I’m leaving.” There were tears in Mindy’s voice as she made her way to the door and left, with one last look thrown over her shoulder. That look of betrayal will be imprinted on my brain for a long time to come.
My woman was breathing fire when I finally turned my attention back to her. There was a mix of anger and hurt in her eyes when I reached out for her.
“I’m sorry!” She wouldn’t let me touch her and I felt a kick in the gut. “Zandi it’s not what you think.” I tried wrapping my arms around her but she evaded my touch.
“You lied to me. You said you didn’t move on.”
“I didn’t, I promise, just let me explain.”
“There’s nothing you can say I’ve already heard it all from your bitch.”
“Don’t say that, she’s not a bitch. She was very supportive while you were gone.”
Wrong fucking thing to say! Her glare packed a punch. “I bet she was asshole. Did you fuck her?” She brushed my hand aside and folded hers as we faced off.
“No I didn’t. Let me explain what happened.” I’d wanted to see her fire and self-assurance returned, but not like this. How could I have let things come to this? All of this could’ve been avoided if I’d just picked up the phone.
She made a wide swath around me and headed back towards the stairs in a huff with me hot on her heels. “What are you doing?” I snatched the overnight bag from her hand as she stormed around the walk-in closet in a fury.
“I’m leaving.”
“To go where? Put that down and don’t be stupid. We still don’t know who took you or where they are. I’m not letting you go anywhere on your own so you can just calm your ass down…”
“Fuck you, you lying bastard.” I closed my eyes and begged for patience. I can’t say that I blame her. This was no way for her to learn that I’d almost married someone else. But I can’t exactly go back and change shit.
“Watch your mouth. I said I would explain.”