“I know what today is!”
“Tell me then.”
We were both breathing hard, the evidence flowing out of our mouths in clouds.
“I don’t have to prove anything to you, Fausti!” He hit his chest. “I know today is hard for Scarlett. I get it. It is for me too. But not every knock on the door is going to be doomsday either!”
“You’re a selfish bastard lately, Lewis.”
He shoved me and I shoved him back.
“Why? Because I’m enjoying my life for once!”
“Enjoying life,” I murmured. “Tell me something, Lewis. Do you even talk to that woman? And if you do—tell me how deep the conversations run. Is it, let’s get some booze, what kind, and should we party first or just fuck? Or are you planning for your future?”
“Planning for our future?” He laughed, almost manic. “Who are you, fucking Dr. Know-it-all now?”
He almost had me there, but I plowed forward. “Better than Gutter Mitch.”
“You know, everyone warned you about marrying Scarlett. They told you she was out of your league, money-wise. She was going to be big, too good for anyone in that town. And here we are, at the grand residence of Mr. and Mrs. Fausti.
“You plowed ahead. And look at her! She’s been abused, abducted, and people are still after her. Not to mention the fact that yourefuseto give her a baby! All she wants from you—and it’s a solid no. Let’s talk about that for a second, shall we?”
I shoved him, hard, and he fell to the ground. He popped right back up, throwing snow in my face.
“That’s fucking mature,” I said, swiping it off my eyebrows.
He shot me the bird. “Mind your business, Fausti. What I do ismybusiness.” He punched himself in the chest again.
“You want to destroy your life.” I shrugged. “Go right ahead. Be my guest. But I’m only telling you this because I love you. Those boys, they need you too. You used to spend so much time with them. Now, you pull a disappearing act because you’re getting some on the regular.”
“They have a father. I have a new baby coming.”
“Yeah, about that—”
He came at me, and we collided, sliding around in a slippery circle.
“Don’t even say it, Fausti!”
“Proof, Lewis.”
“I trust her!”
“You better. You’re marrying her.”
We shoved apart, both of us sliding back before we righted ourselves. He stood, hands on hips, eyes lowered, breathing in labored puffs.
“The circumstances, Lewis. Her rent was due, she was about to be evicted, and then all of a sudden—I’m pregnant.”
“Fuck off.” He spat at the ground.
“Your call,” I said, turning to go in. “Just think about it—with the head on your shoulders.”
“I’m not the only one with issues, Fausti. You can deliver the blow, but you can’t take the heat. You still think you’re a bastard—that you don’t deserve kids. Once you get that straightened out, then come and talk to me. I’ll be all ears then.”
I shot him the bird. He threw a bunch of ice at my retreating back. Some of the slush made it down my shirt, rushing against my hot skin, until it settled and clung with icy fingers.
“Make sure yourwife to besends the message to her friends. It better not happen again, Lewis. Next time, women or not, there will be retribution.”
