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I didn’t talk about Rosa, even to my family. They knew, in general, what had happened, but not how I felt about it.
But for some reason, looking into her blue eyes that stared at me with curiosity and compassion, I wanted to tell her.
“Rosa and I met in college and were together for several years. We had planned on getting married. We were living in Austin and she wanted to move home to Horizon City on the western border, where her family lived. Damn ten hours away. I wanted to stay in Austin and we had an argument.”
Remembering the arguments we’d had about it still made my stomach burn.
“I decided I’d make the compromise, because I loved her. I knew she was home, but when I called, her phone was off. I had a sense that something might be wrong. She always answered her phone. But—”
I had to take a deep breath before saying it out loud. “I let my emotions get to me. Decided she wasn’t answering because she was pissed. So, I didn’t go home to check on her as fast as I should have, because I assumed she was ignoring me.”
Callie’s face had gone pale. “She wasn’t ignoring you.”
“I got there in time to keep the bastard from killing her. But he’d hurt her. She didn’t like to be touched after that, and despite me telling her I was willing to wait for her, as long as it took, she went home alone.”
“I’m so sorry,” Callie breathed.
“If I hadn’t been so emotionally fucked up about our fight, I’d have gone right away. And maybe I’d have been in time.”
“Maybe? You can let guilt weigh you down for years over a maybe. Maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference, Blake.”
“Doesn’t change the fact that I let emotions override my instincts. I worked in security for fuck’s sake. Protecting people was my job. I should’ve known.” I paused and shook my head. “If I’d been any later, I don’t even want to think about what I might have found. There’s no room for emotions when it comes to my job. I need you to understand how I feel about that.”
She nodded, and I got the sense she at least understood. Even if she didn’t agree.
“I’ll try to see it from your point of view, Blake. Thank you for telling me.”
I was still surprised I had. But it felt good to have it out. Really good. I’d do my best to see things from her perspective too.
And I’d make sure she wasn’t tempted to do something foolish again.
Especially with Andrew.
I finished up some work in my office for the rest of the afternoon. When I came downstairs, Callie was reading in the living room.
“Hey,” I said.
Callie looked up and smiled. “Hi.”
“I know you’re stuck here when you’re used to doing what you want. We can go do something. Get you out for an evening so you feel less caged up.”
Her face brightened. “Really? That sounds great. What’s the hippest, funnest place around here?”
I coughed into my fist to hide my laugh. “Hip and Elm Grove... well, there’s BINGO at the senior center. Sometimes the park plays kids’ movies on a projector and people bring blankets and snacks. I’m up for either,” I teased.
“You think you’re funny, but you’re not. I want to go somewhere fun!” A look of horror passed over her face. “Elm Grove isn’t a dry town, is it?”
I chuckled and shook my head. “Nope.”
“Then let’s go to the most popular bar. Bar food for dinner and a couple of drinks at a hoppin’ place sounds great.”
I could tell she was teasing back a little, calling it a ‘hoppin’ place. The most popular bar actually did a pretty good business. Sometimes they had live bands, and a string of drink specials kept them going even in slower times.
I’d been there too many times to count to break up drunken brawls over the years.
“I was thinking more that we’d go have dinner somewhere, not paint the town.”
She held up her thumb and forefinger, squinting at me. “Just a little painting? A little?”
