Luther couldn’t even compare to him. Those were two different men, one fit for the streets while the other was fit for the throne.
“Don’t you think me seeing Luther get arrested was too much of a coincidence?” I asked as my nail tech applied a clear coat of polish to my pinkie finger. “I don’t know. It just felt way too easy. Like that was just a prank, and he’ll pop up and harass me again.”
“Octavia, you have to stop that.”
“Stop what?”
“Thinking that every single win you receive is supposed to be through hardship. Last I checked, he’s definitely locked up, and if you ask me, his ass needs to be in jail.” She rolled her eyes, temporarily pursing her lips. “You see it as too easy. I see it as a blessing. Lord knows you don’t need any more drama in your life.”
I laughed at that. “That’s true. There’s so much going on. I just want it to level out a bit and go back to normal.”
“And it will, now that he’s out of the picture.” She shot me a wink. “You have your man, your job; your family is thriving and healthy. This is your time to heal and bloom, my love, regardless of how easy it feels. You deserve more in life than heartache and pain.”
“Aww, Naomi,” I cooed, my eyes burning as emotion pumped through me. “Honestly, without you and Davina, I don’t think I’d have my sanity.”
“Wait ... you’ve been sane this whole time?” she teased.
I busted out laughing, bumping her with my elbow.
“All done,” Naomi’s nail tech announced after applying the last of her cuticle oil.
“Thank you.” Naomi examined her nails with a grateful smile. “Damn, girl. You were right. These nail techs don’t play.”
“I told you. You ready to go?”
“Yes, please. I’m starving.”
After paying, we left the building and found Naomi’s car on the curb. She drove us to one of my favorite restaurants in town. Venicio’s had the best melt-in-your-mouth baked cod and cocktails. It was a bit on the pricier side, but neither Naomi nor I cared about splurging.
Truthfully, since I was living in Javier’s guesthouse, and considering how much he paid me, I was able to save a lot of money. The main things I used money for were food, gas, groceries, and maybe a little online shopping.
A lot of it also went to Mama, to help her out with bills at our house in Maple Cove, or to cover Abe’s therapy appointments. I couldn’t wait until I could see them again. Maybe Javier wouldn’t mind if Mama and Abe visited us. He’d probably enjoy it way too much.
Naomi and I walked into Venicio’s, where a hostess greeted us and sat us down at a booth. As I scanned the menus, I heard a voice. A familiar, deep, conceited voice that made my stomach lurch.
“—thinks I have a fair shot at custody. I gotta say, this was way easier than I expected. I mean, it’s right there. I can taste it.”
I gasped, and Naomi’s eyes swiveled up to mine. “What?” she asked.
“The guy in the booth behind me. I know who he is.”
She frowned, then tilted to the side just a bit to see past me. “He’s got nice hair.”
“Yeah, I bet he does.” I scowled as I plucked my phone out of my purse, ready to text Javier and let him know.
“I’d be so fucking embarrassed if I was that guy. Think about it. The whole world knows his wife fuckedme?” Rafael snorted an obnoxious laugh. “Not saying I’m the hottest guy in the world, but imagine what kind of catch I’ll be considered if a famous basketball player’s wife feels the urge to go to bed with me. Imagine all the other women who will be ready to do the same.”
“She was on your design team, right?” the man seated with him asked.
“She was. And the way it happened, bro. Oh, it was like a dream. I still remember it.” Rafael paused, and when he released a wet gasp, I figured he’d taken a sip of his drink. “She was in my office, taking sips of my whiskey. Then she lets me put her on her hands and knees—”
I cleared my throat, resisting the urge to twist around and slap him on the back of his head. How could he talk about a dead woman like that? He was a horrible human being. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Of all the odds in the world, I was here—right here in a seat behind the man trying to ruin Javier’s life.
“It had to be fun if you ended up getting her pregnant,” the other man commented.
“Well, see, that’s the crazy thing.” Rafael’s voice became quieter as he said, “She told me about the baby—or at least that she suspected it. And she straight-up tells me she doesn’t want me involved or raising it. At the time, I didn’t give a fuck, you know. I had other shit to deal with, and a kid is the last thing I fucking want. Even now, I’ll probably have to hire a few fucking nannies to keep an eye on her.”
My heart thumped faster. I couldn’t believe I was hearing this. He wasn’t talking about Aleesa like that. Not my sweet girl.
