I catch her arm and push her gently. I step back, putting more distance between us. “What do you want, Diane? Cash? A stash?”
Diane laughs softly as she walks toward me. “You,” she coos. “I want you, Carlos. Now that I’m back in town, we could pick up where we left.”
“Whatever was between me and you ended years ago, Diane," I say firmly. “I have no wish of rekindling any old flame. Not now. Not ever. I have a woman that I love.”
I place my hands on her shoulders to push her away. Unfortunately, Diane swoops into my embrace and plants her mouth on the edge of my lips. I push her off me immediately but just in time to see Abby gaping at me from a distance, her face wrought with disbelief and hurt.
Seeing Abby makes my heart drop at the implication of my situation. I watch a million emotions cross Abby’s face in a second.
My heart shatters into a million pieces at the broken expression in my woman’s eyes. I started to shake my head slowly, hoping she’ll see the truth in my eyes. I hope she’ll trust me enough to know that I would never hurt her like this.
It seems like it’s too late to hope.
“Abby...,” I whisper brokenly.
She spins around and takes off. I stand there, unable to move or think. I can hear Diane’s voice behind me, but I can’t make sense of her words.
I just stand and watch my woman run from me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Abby
The tears won’t stop. Not when I hail a taxi or when I get to the home I shared with my mother and sister. Not even when I’m in my room, surrounded by its warm familiarity. Even then, the tears still flow.
My heart feels like it’s being picked apart slowly and in the cruelest way. I grappled at my chest, almost paralyzed by the pain resonating inside of me. I pick up the phone and dial Beth’s number.
She picks up on the second ring. “ Hey, sissy. What’s up?”
I open my mouth to talk, but I can only muster a pitiful whimper that soon turns into a full-blown sob.
“Oh my God, Abby?” Beth asks, her voice filled with worry. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
“Carlos,” I manage through my tears. “Carlos...I think he’s been lying to me all this time. I meant nothing to him.”
“You know that’s not true,” Beth says, sounding very confused. “The man loves you.”
“No, he doesn’t!” I yell. “He’s just a lying bastard like everyone else. I caught him kissing another woman at his party.”
Beth falls silent at my words. And just when I’m beginning to wonder if the call dropped, she sighs. “Did you wait to confirm the situation? Or did you condemn him as a lying bastard from the get-go?”
“What are you even talking about?!” I snap angrily. “I knew it! I knew this was going to happen. He didn’t have any business being with an ugly woman like me in the first place. I was just an available fuck. I’m so dumb! Look how easily I ate up all his lies.”
“Think about it, Abby,” Beth says gently but firmly. “Is what you have with Carlos worth throwing away over this? Your relationship is as good as doomed if you don’t let go of your insecurities, Abby.”
“But….” I swallow, trying to recall the moment by the poolside. He had his arms around her shoulders and she... “But I saw them...she had her lips on his.”
“What you saw is a part of the story,” Beth says. “Did you wait to hear the whole story?”
And then it occurs to me, his eyes at that moment before I turned away from him seemed to beg me to have faith in him.
What if I overreacted?
“I... I don’t know, Beth,” I say in a weak voice. “I don’t know what to think.”
“How about you rest up tonight,” Beth says kindly. “I’m sure you’ll feel better by morning. After that, everything will be fine.”
“What if Carlos wants nothing to do with me?” I ask, biting down hard on my fingernails. “What if I lose him to my insecurities? What if he really was with that pretty woman and....”
“Forget the what-ifs for tonight,” Beth interrupts gently. “Rest up. Tomorrow will bring answers.”
Two hours later and I still can’t sleep. I jump out of my bed and snatch my jacket from my chair. I need to see Carlos.
Tonight.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Carlos
I run a hand through my hair for the thousandth time and let out a long string of curses. I glare at my phone screen like it’s the root of the burning anger in my chest.
I’m about to give in to the urge to throw my phone across the room when a call comes through. It’s from an unknown number. I quickly pick it up, hoping against hope that it’s Abby calling.