AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I swipe my cheeks and sure enough, my fingers come away wet. I give her a shaky smile then plod my way back to the parking garage.
Once inside the structure, I let my feet lead the way to Royce’s rental car and let my mind drift back to this afternoon.
It wasn’t so much as the sex we had (although that was out of this world) it was how tender he was. Caring. Caressing me like I’d fall apart in his arms if he was too rough.
And for once, I didn’t need the pain I craved during sex. For once, I was fine with sweet words… the promises of togetherness murmured in my ear.
Reaching the car, I slump against it, crossing my arms over my chest as a dull ache settles over my heart.
I’ve gone and done it. I’ve gone and fallen in love again. No use denying it any more. I’ve said it already. I need to own it.
And I do. I just hope that eventually he will come to have the same feelings for me. It is all I can hope for.
My chest grows lighter when my phone buzzes in my bag. I know it’s Royce calling to say one last goodbye. I hurriedly dig for my device and once it is in my hand, I answer without looking at the screen.
“Hello,” I say breathlessly, my heart beating a mile a minute.
It nearly stops when Matt says, “Hey Gen-bear. How are you?”
Beggars and Choosers
Genesis
“HeyGen-bear.Howareyou?”
Not well. Not at all.
This is the first time I’ve heard from this man in well over two years. I’d expected that the next time I heard his voice, I’d either cry or get angry. So, I’m surprised how I feel… absolutely nothing. Any emotion I once felt for him no longer exists.
Except for exasperation.
“What do you want, Matt? And don’t call me Gen-bear. Those days are over.”
Besides, I’d rather hear ‘Sin’ from Royce’s hot as hell mouth instead of my ex’s lame-ass moniker any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Matt lets out an uneasy titter. I guess he still knows me well enough to know that I don’t enjoy guessing games.
He clears his throat then tries to ease into things by using a tone I had once thought endearing. “Please, baby…don’t be mad. I just want to see how you are doing. That’s all.”
Likely story. You want something from me, I’m sure of it.
I twirl the rental car’s key chain around my finger, lean against the driver’s door, settling in for the long haul.
At the rate he’s trying to inflate his balls enough to ask me for whatever it is he wants, I’ll be here for longer than a minute.
With a sigh that gets lost in the wind, I try to hurry him along. “Matt, we haven’t spoken since our wedding day. You know, the one that never took place? I could’ve been run over by a bus for all your apparent concern. Now, what do you want?”
He chuckles, trying to soften me. How I used to love to hear that sound. Now, it just grates on my nerves and chaps my ass. I fold an arm across my chest and, resting my elbow on it, I clutch the phone to my ear. “Look, I’m outside and it’s hot, so if—“
“Oh, are you taking pictures? You’re so damn good with that. I figured you would have them in a gallery by now.”
I suck in a breath and hold it for a second before blowing it out like a traveler running to catch the last bus home.
Damn. He got me there.
Matt had taken only a passing interest in my photography. When I talked to him about it, his eyes would glaze over after the first five minutes. He didn’t belittle it per se, but his damn mother sure did. Constantly.
The first time she had made her disdain known was when she and Matt’s father had come over to visit. Matt and I had just moved in together a couple of weeks before and they wanted to see our new apartment.
