I wish I was joking.
As we watch him storm off down the sidewalk, Desi squeezes my shoulder. “I’m sorry, babe. None of that was true, what he said. I never said any of that.”
“I know.” I look up at him. “Seriously, though? You datedhim?” I gently pull away and head inside because Jester’s starting to get heavy. Throughout all of this, he remained happily purring in my arms and enjoying the attention I was giving him.
“I know, I know!” Desi follows me inside. “Last time I let my mother pressure me into anything, Iswear.”
I’m not really mad, but I’m still feeling petty so I’m going to make him work for it. “Guess you’re going to have to prove that to me, aren’t you?” I put Jester on the floor and head upstairs to change my clothes, because now I’m covered in cat hair.
Chapter Fourteen
Desi
As I watch Tom head upstairs I’m trying to decipher his tone. I’m not sure if he is really mad at me or simply aggravated because of Freddy’s appearance.
Although I suppose the two options are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
When I pulled up to Tom’s house and saw Freddy standing there, I was convinced that I was going to kill the man because he’d just irretrievably screwed up my life.
Freddy, I mean.
Thank goodness I thought to call ahead and warn Tom about it. I can only imagine the damage Freddy might have done to Tom’s trust in me if I hadn’t derailed Freddy’s sabotage. I’d hoped Freddy wouldn’t be this desperate, but there I go, thinking again.
It seems no matter what I do, I’m still screwing things up between me and Tom. I want to chase after Freddy and punch him but assaulting someone isn’t going to make my life easier. Especially not someone like Freddy who wouldn’t hesitate to prosecute at best, or use the incident to extort me into doing what he wants me to do at worst.
Based on Freddy’s behavior so far, it wouldn’t shock me if he does call Mom and tattle on me like a three-year-old. As if that would make me want to date him ever again.
The eventual confrontation with my parents when I tell them I’m leaving Miami won’t be pleasant, but it’s long overdue. I meant every word I told Tom—I’m going to give my notice as soon as I have everything finalized for Keith Barnes.
Miami will never be my home. How can it when Tom is here in Maudlin Falls?
Thank god I never slept with Freddy.Much less anyone else, but especially someone like Freddy. I wouldn’t be able to deal with the guilt if I had.
I remember my bags are still out in my SUV so I go retrieve them. Glancing around to make sure Freddy isn’t still lurking nearby, I hit the button on the key fob to lock the doors—even though locking cars in Maudlin Falls is nearly unheard of—and I return to the house.
I even lock that door behind me.
Just in case. I wouldn’t put anything past Freddy at this point. I hope he doesn’t turn violent, although he is shorter than me. I can probably take him in a fair fight. I’ve never been in a fistfight in my life, though. Never had to, thankfully.
Heading upstairs with my things, I pause in the bedroom doorway. Tom’s just pulling on the T-shirt he wore earlier and he’s already changed out of his jeans and into shorts. I can’t help but stare at him for a moment and take in the sight.
As my body responds, I realize now I would have continued to be miserable. This man owns my heart and soul and always has.
I feel like I’m treading in some odd Twilight Zone territory now. In some ways, this bedroom feels exactly like home. In other ways, it feels like an infinite lifetime’s passed since it was truly my home.
When he turns and stares at me for a moment, I don’t break the silence.
“How do you want to do this?” he eventually asks.
“It’s your house. You tell me where you want me to sleep.” I used to keep my clothes in here, with his. We slept together every night I wasn’t traveling for work, which in the early days meant pretty much every night we were together.
“I don’t know what the right answer is, Des.” He sinks onto the bed while still watching me. “Part of me wants everything back exactly the way it was before you left, and as soon as possible.”
“What’s the other part of you say?”
He smirks. “That I’m an idiot for trusting you, and that I should make you sleep in the guest room for a while and keep you groveling.” When Jester jumps up on the bed and nudges his hand, Tom scratches the top of the cat’s head. “I meant it when I said I won’t fight your battles for you with everyone. You have to win people back to liking you on your own.”
“I know.”
