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Is that what you want?
What does he mean by that? I was scared to ask. I’d made countless gushing, drooling comments about him, but truthfully, I never wanted to ruin my friendship with Elizabeth. She’d always just rolled her eyes and laughed, shrugging it off. The reality of anything with him would never work.
Is what…what I want?
Me to delete those photos.
Oh my God, he’s asking me what I want! Me! Wait a second. Is he flirting? No way. My mind was running in circles, and I felt lightheaded. I just needed to go to dinner and forgive myself. I knew he was only asking because he thought I meant them to go to him.
James Whitman would never flirt with me. He was being considerate… and respectful… as always. That was just who he was. My thumbs tapped the keyboard furiously as I typed four different replies before I settled on one.
They weren’t meant for you so I think that’s best
And with that, he left me on Read… again.
2
NEW REALITY
JAMES
It’d been a vacation from the fiery pits of hell, but I survived it. Just as I’d survived the last year living with a woman who played the perfect housewife to everyone outside our home. Behind closed doors, I was living my worst nightmare. But my kids made it worth every excruciating moment.
Six months ago, when I found out Alicia had been cheating on me for a year, I went into shock. I blamed myself, wondering what I’d done to drive her to it. Though I was far from perfect, I treated her with nothing but respect and put her on a pedestal. The pedestal I thought she deserved.
After the truth came out, I slept in a guest room every night stewing over it. I toyed with the idea of kicking her out. But what kind of man would that have made me look to my daughter? What kind of example would that have set for my son? I was supposed to be a role model. Day and night, I lived a lie, pretending as if everything was just fine for the sake of Elizabeth and Lucas.
Since we’d returned from Turks and Caicos, Alicia had disappeared after slapping me multiple times. She yelled at me the entire way home from the airport because I took Elizabeth’s side in her choice to be with Vincenzo.
I’d thought about disowning my best friend and ruining the vacation, but a part of me felt a shroud of guilt after confiding in Maddie months back when shit hit the fan with Alicia. It felt hypocritical when I’d befriended my daughter’s best friend, sometimes texting her until it was time for me to get ready for work. But it helped me through a dark time. It was my safe place and escape.
Though I was sure Alicia went to stay with the man she had an affair with, I didn’t care enough to ask for details. She was gone, and I was glad. I only wish she’d stayed in Elizabeth and Lucas’s life for their sake, but neither of them wanted much to do with her either. And maybe her being around would have done more harm than good.
Now, a week later, my daughter was moving in with my best friend. It’d taken some time to get used to, and I still wasn’t sure how I felt just yet, but I was begrudgingly happy for them. I hoped it would last, and I’d never be caught in the middle of a nasty breakup between them. Having to be her pissed-off father and his best friend at the same time would not be pretty.
I’d been buried in work in my home office trying to make up for all the days I was away. Thinking I should go spend some time with Elizabeth before she left, I pushed back from my desk, sauntering through the house and up the stairs. It was going to be lonely without her cheerful smile around. It’d been nice having her home from college over the summer, regardless of the drama she brought with her.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
“Come in!”
When I pushed open the door, she had clothes draped over her arm, carrying them to a suitcase. A part of me felt her absence already in the almost bare room, but I didn’t want her to feel bad about venturing out on her own. I was happy to watch her spread her wings and fly, knowing I’d given her the best life I could. She’d made me proud by choosing her own path and not conforming to the one I’d chosen for myself, and Alicia wanted her to.
“I can’t believe you’re actually moving in with Vinny.” I perched on the edge of her bed, mindlessly running my fingers on the black, braided cording of her rose gold Gucci duvet.
“I know.” She dropped a few more items in her suitcase, then kneeled, zipping it closed.
My gaze roamed the room. Only a few nails and thumbtacks remained on the wall that had once held her trophies and artwork; mostly fashion related. She’d spent the week moving most of her stuff over to her new home, and only a few items remained. I opened my mouth to speak but closed it when I saw a shadow in the bathroom. I’d been so busy, I hadn’t realized she had company.
“Eliza, I need a trash… bag.” Maddie entered, her gaze settling on me. “Oh, hi.”
I grinned sheepishly. “Hi.”
“The box is over there.” Elizabeth nodded toward the dresser before narrowing her gaze on me.
I could tell by the heat in my cheeks, I was blushing. I’d not spoken to Maddie since the day she accidentally sent me photos of herself wearing a bikini while I was sitting in the hot tub alone at the resort; after Vincenzo and I talked.
Asking her if she wanted me to delete them after her panic might not have been the best reply. But there was no good response to that. I knew better than to keep them, but for some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off them. When she assured me they weren’t meant for me, I didn’t reply. I was too embarrassed. Instead, I locked my phone and wrapped it in a towel on the edge of the hot tub until I got out.
