“And let’s be honest, you failed her too, meu amigo. You let your mother move your ex into your house without consulting her. You lied about where you were during the blizzard,” Antonio added.
I start to protest, but Jaxon cuts me off. “Both of you messed up, man. Different ways, sure, but neither of you is perfect here.”
A heavy silence falls over the room as Jaxon’s words sink in. I open my mouth to argue, then close it again, suddenly too exhausted to continue the debate.
Kamal clears his throat. “Look, we didn’t come here to lecture you.” He reaches for the takeout containers. “We came to distract you with greasy food and dominoes.”
Antonio nudges a plate toward me. “Eat something, homem. You can’t think straight on an empty stomach.”
I hesitate, eyeing the food, then grab a wing, realizing I can’t remember my last meal.
“Double-six goes first,” Jaxon announces as he finishes arranging the tiles, pushing one toward each of us.
Antonio picks up his dominoes with a confident smirk. “Prepare to lose,” he says. “My grandmother taught me domino strategy before I could walk.”
Despite everything, I feel the corner of my mouth twitch upward. “Tes grand-mères aren’t here to help you now.”
The game begins, our hands moving pieces across the desk as conversation flows more naturally. After several moves, Jaxon remarks casually, “Antonio, are you finally going to tell us why I saw Jasmine leaving your suite in Vegas?”
Kamal holds up his palm in protest. “Look, let’s not discuss this, a’ight? I had plans for that woman.”
I glance up from my dominoes, momentarily distracted from my strategy. “Plans? You?”
“He has a crush on Jasmine,” Jaxon offers, placing another domino.
Kamal shoots Antonio a dark look. “Well, clearly it wasn’t mutual,” he says.
“Jasmine’s off limits,” Antonio says, his tone casual but with an edge. “Just so we’re clear.”
The table falls silent for a beat. Jaxon raises an eyebrow, exchanging a quick glance with Kamal.
“Noted,” Kamal says with a shrug. “Besides, I wasn’t planning on marrying Jasmine until we’re in our sixties, anyway.” He looks directly at Antonio. “She’ll be a beautiful widow.”
Antonio’s eyes narrow, but the corner of his mouth twitches. “In your dreams, man.”
As my friends’ banter continues around me, their words fade into background noise. What matters more? My wounded pride or the woman I’ve loved for a third of my life?
I’ve spent five days replaying her betrayal, but what about the thousands of days before that? The countless moments when she chose me, supported me, loved me unconditionally.
“Connor?” Jaxon’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Your move.”
I stare at the dominoes, suddenly seeing beyond the game on my desk to the larger one I’ve been playing. By isolating myself, refusing her calls, I’ve been punishing us both.
Our relationship won’t heal with one conversation or sex. Our journey back requires honesty and choosing progress over retreating into hurt.
The work ahead will substantial, but so is the reward; a lifetime with the woman I love, made stronger by the fracture we’ve survived.
“I need to go,” I say abruptly, standing up.
The guys exchange glances. “Where are you headed?” Antonio asks, though his knowing expression suggests he already has the answer.
“To find your sister. Right now, là.”
Jaxon’s face breaks into a satisfied grin. “About damn time.”
I move quickly through the house, my mind suddenly clear. Upstairs, I shower, shave and get dressed. When I descend the stairs, Maman stands at the bottom.
“Where are you going, mon fils?” Her tone carries a note of suspicion.
