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“Yes. Fine,” he answers. “I didn’t see Javier when I got home. Where is he?”
I inhale slowly through my nose. My heart races as I contrive a quick lie. “My parents were going into town for lunch. He wanted to go with Leti and Alex. I thought it would be okay since Manuel was with them.”
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He stops walking. I can’t read his expression, which terrifies me.
“It’s okay this time, but in the future I would like you to call and discuss it with me first.”
We have no future.
“Of course.” I smile.
Soon, I will never have to answer to him again for anything.
I spend the afternoon in my hotel room at my laptop. Everything is in place to take Eduardo down. All that’s left to do is wait until Sunday.
My phone rings and when I see the name on the screen, I’m afraid to answer. I send the call to voicemail, knowing I can’t bear to hear her voice. Up until yesterday, I’d held onto a little piece of Peyton. Until I saw Maria, I wasn’t sure I could let Peyton go. I kept a place in my heart for her as a backup in case I was wrong about Maria. I’m a piece of shit. Peyton always deserved better than me.
When I held Maria in my arms, any feelings I had for Peyton were overwhelmed by my love for Maria. I’ll always hate myself for being with Peyton, for leading her to believe the risk we took was more than me trying to heal my broken heart. A heart that knows I’m a liar. The feelings I have for her are real, only concealed by my love for another. What I feel for Peyton is love, because if it weren’t, I’d never have the strength to set her free.
The phone rings again and while I don’t want to answer it, I need to stress the finality of our relationship. I answer with a stab of pain through my heart.
“It’s me, Peyton.” I remain quiet, afraid if I speak I’ll have to admit I’m in love with two women, but I only want to love one of them. “Did you find her?”
“Yes.”
Her faint sniffles filter through the line. “And were you right? Does she want you back?”
“Yes.”
The line quiets as I consider hanging up. My confirmation is permanent enough, but I hang on, knowing I owe her a firm good-bye. “I’m sorry, Peyton.”
“No. I’m happy for you. I know this is what you wanted. You were always honest about your feelings for her. We took a risk, remember?”
I sigh, my head pounding. “I really do care about you.”
“Okay,” she says quietly before the line goes dead.
She’s not okay this time, but I believe she will be. She’ll take another risk and find someone worthy of her love. Someone who can give themself to her entirely. A man who deserves her.
I pop my head into Eduardo’s office. He looks drained, the stress of his work showing in his tightly pinched brow.
“My parents are heading to the beach this morning. Can they take Javier?”
“Fine,” he waves me off. “But tell them to take Marco, and they need to be back by four?” He finally lifts his head, looking at me with skepticism. “Are you not going?”
I smile, shaking my head. “I’m working on someone’s birthday surprise.”
His face lighting up is laughable. The only birthday surprise I have in mind is a pine box. The truth is, I want to be home, in case an opportunity arises to text Tug.
“You remembered my birthday?”
After the time I spent in Tug’s arms, pretending has become easier because I know how short-term it is. “Of course, I’m your wife.”
“Yes, you are.” He smiles as his gaze lowers to his desk, cuing me that I’ve been dismissed. As I walk to the door, he says, “Don’t you ever forget that, Maria.”
After my family leaves for the beach, I workout in the gym to keep busy before I find an excuse to go see Tug. Our plan to be together is so close to happening. I can’t risk making a mistake now. I increase the speed on the treadmill and run until my legs burn.
