“Agreed. He needs evidence that’ll stand up in court. There’s a pre-nup involved.”
Leaning over, my partner kisses me. “Do you think we should get one, just in case? I got two hundred bucks and a cat.”
“Nuh-uh. The cat belongs to me. I kept the receipts.”
“But you gave her to me.” Her lower lip goes out so I tuck it back in and grin.
“There’s no evidence, sugar.”
“Oh, is that how it’s going to be?”
“Damn right it is.”
“Fine. I will never, ever grant you a divorce.” She smirks and I lean in for a kiss, but we have to stop kidding around when Mr. Nardo and his girlfriend exit the building.
“Holy shit.” Sam frowns. “That was fast.”
Chuckling I remember how we did it on the kitchen table in less than twenty minutes.
“Not funny.” The tops of her cheeks flame.
“Noted.” Still smiling, I take a few more shots of Mr. Infidelity, drive her home, and hit the sack.
Chapter 6
Sam
“What the hell?” My eyes pop open, the cat yowls, and next door, the jackhammer pounds as our floor trembles.
Fully conscious, on my hands and knees, I scramble away from the futon where Suds thrashes and moans.
Recalling how his fingers wrapped around my throat during a similar episode, I wait at a safe distance. Catrina, however, unaware of his PTSD, jumps on the bed and kneads his chest.
Horrified, I wait for the death blow, but apparently soft fluffy animals, even in his dream, are not dangerous.
“I’m awake, sugar. C’mere.” Suds opens his arms and grimaces as something crashes downstairs.
“This day already sucks.” I return to bed, snuggle, and pull the covers over our heads but he taps me on the shoulder.
“What?” All I hear is the ear-splitting tat-tat-tat as I read his lips.
“I’ll call the city today.”
“Who?”
I point to his phone and text him what I said. Then, wearing my earplugs, I roll out of bed and stand at the banister searching for the origin of the damage.
Shit. I hate mornings like this.There used to be a nice framed watercolor of Coney Island hanging on the wall. Now it lies shattered with shards of broken glass everywhere.
Suds stands behind me with his arms around my waist, kissing the back of my neck. I turn into his chest, inhale Sebastian-scent, and all my troubles fade away. If I could bottle his essence, we’d never want for money again.
My eyes lift to his, haunted by wisps of his fading nightmare. When his gaze softens, I reach my fingers to the back of his neck and bring those wonderful lips to mine. Together, we can do anything.
A few hours later, I run down the stairs and into the cold. I pass the construction where a crane looms high overhead with a wrecking ball hanging from the top.
Bang!
What the fuck?I swivel on my heel, walk backwards, and stare with my mouth dropped open. Debris falls from a third floor window and lands in the dumpster so hard, pieces bounce out onto the sidewalk.
