“She wants to leave, then I can’t stop her. Maybe she was right when she said she wasn’t made for this life.” Unscrewing the lid of the half-full bottle I tipped the bourbon to my lips. “Maybe I only wanted her to prove I could get her. It’s over. Leave it alone now.”
Maggie swatted the back of my head with her old hand. “You fool.” Her voice was strident. “If you really believed that you wouldn’t be drinking right now. Are you really going to let her go, Havoc? With everything that is happening are you really going to let the woman you love go and face it alone?”
“I’m not in love with her. It’s been two weeks.”
I ducked her next slap easily. But I couldn’t get away from her accusing eyes. “Stubborn fool of a man, if you won’t do anything then I guess it’s up to me.”
Chapter Twenty Three
Darcie
“Thanks for meeting me, Lucas.”
His eyes widened just slightly as he watched me over the table. “I’m glad you called me. I was hoping you would come to your senses sooner or later.”
“I’m not here to get back with you Lucas. Me and you are over.” Slowly I sipped the frothy cappuccino. It tasted like ass. I used to love a good cappuccino but in the few weeks I had been with Havoc my tastes had obviously changed.
I liked things simpler now. Less flashy and more real.
“And you and my brother?”
His words made me pause. I didn’t want to think about Havoc. Or how he would react when he got home and found me gone. “I don’t want to talk about Havoc with you.” It was painful even saying his name. “It’s none of your business.”
Something hardened in my ex’s face. “Still I’m glad you aren’t roughing it anymore Darcie. A good girl like you doesn’t belong in his world. I’m glad you realise that.”
“That’s not why I’m leaving Lucas. I’m not leaving him because I am too good for him. I am leaving him because I don’t want him hurt. You said on the phone that if I did this one thing then everything would be forgotten. What exactly is it you need me to do?” I kept my voice low so no one could accidentally overhear, but I couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that someone was watching me.
The sound of a phone ringing made me jump, spilling my coffee over my fingers. I watched as he frowned down at his phone. I had spent two years of my life with the man opposite me and had never really known him but I did know the look on his face. I had seen it often enough in our time together, he was debating whether to pick up the call or not. Which probably meant it was one of his other women.
I should be jealous, we had been together years and had only been split up for two weeks but I felt nothing. Not jealous, not anything but indifference.
“You can answer it, you know.” I took a gulp of my coffee, wishing the entire time it was the sweet black coffee I had gotten used to. The cappuccino in my cup tasted bitter.
“Hi, Maggie.”
My head snapped up at the sound of Havoc’s grandma’s name, my heart beating a little quicker. If she was phoning Lucas it could only mean one thing. She had found the letter I had left. Had she already told Havoc? Was he even home? He had been so angry, he had forgotten his phone. A phone I had used to aid my getaway.
Lucas turned his eyes on me unblinking. “Yeah, she’s with me now.” His voice was guarded. “Of course she’s fine, you don’t need to worry about her, she just asked me to meet her with her bags so she could get on her flight…” He paused for a second. “Yeah she’s going home. I think she’s had enough of the states. Sure…” He held out the slim new device to me. “Maggie wants to talk to you. I didn’t realise you knew her?”
“Yeah, Havoc took me to meet her.” I grabbed the phone, pressing it to my ear and half turning my body from my ex like it would offer me some sort of privacy. “Hi, Maggie.”
“Come home Darcie, now.” She didn’t waste any time with pleasantries.
“I can’t Maggie, it’s for the best. Havoc... Does he…?”
She swore long and loud down the phone. “Does Havoc know you have gone? Yes, and he’s a mess.” There was a pause where she shouted something to someone in the background. “Come home girl, you and him can sort this out.”
“I am doing this for him, Maggie.” I swallowed hard around the lump in my throat. Tears made my voice thick. “Tell him I said thank you, but I’m doing this for him.” Half covering my mouth with my hand, I lowered my voice. “And tell him I could see it as well.”
“See what Darcie?”
“I could see myself falling in love with him as well.” I ended the call before she could say anything else. Passing the phone back to my ex, I clamped my hand over my mouth. Nausea was rolling up my throat.
“Are you ok?” Lucas slipped the phone back into his pocket. “You don’t look so good.”
“I feel a little sick.” That was an understatement. Sweat beaded my brow, my mouth was full of saliva. “Maybe some fresh air.” I didn’t understand what the hell was wrong with me. I had felt fine just minutes ago. Maybe it was all the emotional stress.
Having Maggie phone had just made things worse. Hearing that Havoc was having a hard time meant I couldn’t pretend he would be happy about me leaving. It would be so easy to get a cab and go back to him.
