Page 45 of At The End Of The Day

Snorting, I leaned to one leg and set my hand on that side, tipping my head to rub brusquely at my face. This was what my sister had been going through all these years being married to Jackyl while longing for someone else. It seemed we were alike in the department that involved the heart. Once we fell in love, we stayed in love, refusing to give up regardless of how dismal the outcome was.

At least, in her situation, she had a chance. I was seeing there would never be a future with me and Billy, but if I could help Violetta grab that elusive golden ring, I would do whatever the hell I had to to help. I would live vicariously through her.

“The kids are almost done eating their brownies and I was about to clean up. You guys ready for your treat?”

He flashed a knowing glimpse my way and chuckled, thumbing his nose. “Uh, yeah, sure. We’ll be right in.”

“Okay, baby.”

The door squeaked close and he strolled over to the shelf, cutting off the speaker. The only sound in the garage now coming from the fan, it wasn’t enough to drown out the voice of reasoning I’d been ignoring for years. Reality was falling down around me, crumbling my house of cards where he was concerned.

Billy strutted toward me, fisting the front of my shirt. His head tipped back to peer down the length of his nose, he smirked mischievously. “Man, I fucking love you, dude,” he said before claiming a heated, passionate kiss.

He loved me, I knew he did. He always had. It wasn’t enough for me anymore. He wasn’t strong enough to allow that love to be public, and I was tired of being his secret tucked deep in the closet. I wanted a real life. I wanted a partner to come home to every day after work, to lay in bed with at night, to plan a future with. To love, dream, hope with.

The kiss ending, he winked and smacked the side of my ass. “Get your fine, sexy ass inside and let’s eat some brownies. You gotta hit the road again soon.”

My heart heavy, I followed him to the door, peering back at the spot we’d just had sex. In my soul, I knew it would be the last time, because I was at my wall. I was done. Billy ended us six years ago when he said vows to Rebecca and then kissed her with my cum still on his tongue from a quickie ten minutes before the wedding.

Always hidden, always a secret.

Clearing my throat, I tore my focus away, trying to force myself to let go. I had no choice. It was time to set aside dreams that would never come true. I was tired of being alone, I wanted a partner. I wanted something better than Billy was willing to offer.

Emotionally detaching, I was already mentally closing this chapter on my life for good. It was time I expected better. I wanted to receive what I was willing to give. That would never be Billy. Somewhere out there, however, there was someone that would be proud to be mine, and I was ready to find him.

Chapter 19

Dario “Dash” Mangiacavallo

Tyler was slouched low in the leather chair, smoking a cigarette while scanning the monitors. When I noticed Violetta on the camera hysterically crying herself to sleep while he stood outside in the hallway, listening, I’d decided to throw him a life preserver and called him upstairs. Using the excuse that my eyes were tired and I needed a break, it gave him something to do other than suffer in her misery.

An arm across my stomach, my elbow perched on top, I was relentlessly chewing my nails, my insides knotted and tight. I was pacing back and forth, having so many questions I wanted to ask, but knew I had no right. We weren’t friends, I busted his knee, made him a permanent cripple, and helped destroy his life. What right did I have to pry or question personal tidbits?

“What, Dash? What?” he blurted out of nowhere.

Damn near jumping out of my skin, I scoffed, right away defensive. “Nothing. Damn. What’s wrong with you?”

He snorted and sat up, peering over the back of the chair. “Me? What’s wrong with you?”

“You’re really uptight. Do you talk to your fans like this?”

He rolled his eyes and sat properly, shaking his head. “My fans love me,” he grumbled.

Curious, I stopped pacing beside the chair and leaned into one leg. “You fuck your fans?”

“Once in a while,” he answered flippantly with another drag.

“And yet, you claim to have never stopped loving Tiny.”

Clearly, I struck a nerve because he very slowly turned his focus back to mine, fire flickering in his blue eyes. “Are you for real, here? What does sex have to do with love? Please don’t tell me a hardened, criminal gangbanger is so sentimental and old fashioned.”

Heaving a sigh, I dropped to the corner of the desk, my fingers tapping my sides. “No. Absolutely not. I just…you never dated after her?”

“Not really. Well, once, but it wasn’t exactly my choice.”

I snorted and smirked. “What?”

“Well, I had a friends with benefits type thing when I was still a teenager. When I got discovered by my uncle—”