Then five minutes when he’d broken my heart right before he left the planet.
I saw him again, Carmen nearly hits him with the car, and less than an hour later he’s taking me against the wall and I’m sobbing his name.
Then, I’m just sobbing.
Two bouts of hot sex, three days of watching him fall in love with his daughters, and one sad conversation on the beach.
What did that add up to? Love? That was just stupid. When he was here, the thought crossed my mind that I was in love with him. But how could I be? I was in love with the idea of an Atlan beast. Real love didn’t work that fast. Did it?
“You going to stare out the window all day?” Carmen sipped a cup of coffee and stared at me in my wrinkled pajamas and puffy rabbit socks. She was dressed for work and, as usual, looked like she’d stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine. “Nana said that’s all you did yesterday. All. Day.”
Nana was the nanny we’d found. She was an older widow with lots of baby experience. Her own children had moved across the country. And yes, she was more than old enough to be the twins’ grandmother. Besides, Nana was easier than Margaret. Or Mrs. Westerhall.
She was with the girls while I sat here wondering how it was possible to miss someone I barely knew.
“Earth to Stefani? Are you going to sit here all day?”
“I don’t know.” I spoke the truth as I knew it. “Henry moved out last night.”
“I know.” She didn’t say another word. She didn’t need to. Henry had shown his hand, laid everything on the line for me, for the twins. When he’d asked me, again, to marry him? Tried to kiss me?
All I’d been able to think about was Velik.
Henry kissed me on the forehead and walked away. I cried, but I couldn’t ask him to stay, not when I knew I would never love him the way he deserved to be loved.
The way I loved Velik and my girls. With all my heart. Oh god, there it was. I swiped a tear off my face. I loved Velik. Not an idea. An Atlan.
This was stupid. I was going to call him. Today. Tell him I’d thought things over and wanted to try again. Start over. I’d asked for time and he’d given it to me. I’d known it was a mistake when I’d dropped him at the airport and drove away.
I was stubborn. And stupid. Carmen had called it. Stupid about Henry. Stupid about Velik. Stupid to keep lying to myself. I wanted Velik and he wanted me. Sometimes shit happened and it sucked. Sometimes people got hurt. No, not sometimes. All the time. I was tired of being afraid. Maybe I’d get my heart broken again. If I did, I’d survive. I knew that now. I would cry and then I would get on with my life.
Forget tonight. I was going to call him now.
I waited as the phone rang on the other end. When I got Velik’s voicemail, I hung up and sent a text.
Call me. I miss you.
My cell phone buzzed less than a minute later. In a rush of fumbling fingers, I checked the message. Not Velik. Adrian.
We’re at LAX. Be there in an hour.
Adrian was in L.A.?
“What’s that look?” I’d completely forgotten that Carmen was still standing there, sipping her black coffee and watching me.
“Adrian and Kovo are on their way.”
“Nice.” Carmen and Adrian were good friends as well. “Girls’ night! When are they flying in?”
I shook my head. “No. They are already here. Adrian said they’re at the airport and will be here in an hour.”
“Guess you better get dressed then.” Carmen wiggled her eyebrows at me and left for work. The roar of her convertible’s engine speeding down the street made me smile.
Some things changed, and some things didn’t.
I checked my phone every couple minutes.
Velik didn’t respond to my text. Maybe he was mad at me now.
