I grunt, pointing Sisko back toward the house. “Literally none of this has been helpful.”
“Whatever you say, Wick. Have a good day.”
“You too, Riley. And thanks. I think.”
We hang up, and I head back for supplies.
Yeah, this whole morning’s been a complete waste of time.
14
JOAQUIN
“Joaquin.”
I'm sitting here out on the patio of the Broken Oak, staring off into the distance. I had a crazy thought the other night, and it's…grown.
“Joaquin.”
It's stupid. I was in a relationship, I had my son, and now I have my freedom. What more could a guy want?
“Joaquin Sebastián Gorrión, hazme caso.”Pay attention to me.
My eyes snap up. My ex-wife just middle-named me, which makes me wonder how long I've been sitting here. I continue in Spanish, happy for the ease of communication between us.
“Ofelia, I'm sorry. I didn’t see you there, my dear.” I stand up and buss both of her cheeks. “My apologies. Brain’s been a little busy.”
“I can see that. By the way, our son is running a few minutes late. I assured him that you and I could stand to be in each other's company unchaperoned and there would be neither bloodshed nor accidental pregnancy.”
I laugh, happy that Ofelia is still part of my life. She truly is one of my favorite people in the whole wide world.
“Good because I can't handle one more metamour in my life.”
“How many metamours do you have?” she asks, grinning.
“Just the one. Though, I don't think it counts if I'm fucking him,” I admit with an embarrassed grin.
She narrows her eyes at me. “I think I'm going to need you to explain yourself. Because just the other day, Sebastián mentioned how worried he was that you had been intimate with so many people on the ranch prior to your arrival.”
“Well, one of them doesn't count because he's already married to Wyatt.”
“Joaquin.You slept with Desi? You know Luke…”
I hold my hands up. “Yes, I know. And I don’t like thinking about it. But wait. You and Sebastián talked about this, and he didn't mention that Desi and I have history?”
She taps her chin, her eyes shrewd. “I have a sense that he might want to forget that as well. I was thinking more along the lines of Warwick.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “Ah, yes. That's…that's messy.”
“And he's not the metamour you're sleeping with? Which, by the way, isn't a thing.”
“I'm sleeping with a man who is also in love with Warwick.”
Her eyebrows meet in the middle. “Also?Wait, you're in love with Warwick? I’ve clearly fallen behind on my gossip.”
I rub my hand across my face. “It is most unfortunate.”
“Joaquin. How do you get yourself into these situations?”
