“Do you care?” It’s not like Jake to care about anything but business. Business is all he knows. As far as I’m aware, he has never been married or even been in a relationship.
“She seems like a decent enough woman. Had to be to marry you,” he jokes. “Her son was well mannered.”
He is, which is surprising, especially considering who his father is.
“She’s fine. Cooking breakfast as we speak.”
“So why aren’t you with her?” he asks, his brow furrowing. “You should leave to be with her.”
“I’m not sure that’s the right thing to do. It’s over between us.”
“That doesn’t sound convincing,” he says.
A knock sounds at the door, and he gets up and goes up the stairs to answer it. Two girls come in, giggling. They walk straight past me and head to the back.
“Did you get everything you need over there?” I ask as he sits back down.
“Yes, you Italians sure do love money.”
“It’s our love language,” I reply, smiling.
“Anyway, as I said… you need to leave.” He waves me off and pushes the bag toward me. “And try to be nice to your wife. I’m sure she had her reasons. And it was you she chose to come back to. Remember that. She could have run the minute she got her son back, but she chose you and to stay with you.”
Ha. Did she, though?
Or did she figure I was her safest option?
I’m thinking more of the latter.
“Simone has been asking for you.”
I stop, money in hand. “Did you tell her?”
“I told her you were married, but she didn’t believe me.”
I laugh. Trust her not to believe I could be married. I haven’t seen her since I found out about Adora. It was easier that way. Simone was a piece on the side with needs I could fill. Because in return, they filled my own. I always knew I was destined to get married, so why have anything serious?
“Should I give her your number?”
We used to meet here. This was our spot. She never had my number. Like I said, clean and easy.
“No.” I don’t even have to think about my response.
“See, still pining after your wife. Fix it.”
I say nothing as I walk away.
ELEVEN
ADORA
Joey hasn’t been home, and I haven’t seen him or Abigail since this morning. It’s quiet as I make my way down the stairs with Jerome asleep in his bed. We haven’t left the house all day, watching movies and playing cars, then we had a bubble bath before bed.
It was a good, easy day.
Walking into the kitchen, I grab a bottle of wine from the refrigerator. As I pour myself a glass, I hear someone enter. Joey stands there, his hand scrubbing down his face so he doesn’t see me. When he finally notices me, he lowers his hands and spins on his heel to head back out.
“If you plan to run every time you see me, I’ll move out.” He stops in his tracks, stalks back in, and sits on a stool at the counter. Pouring him a glass of wine, I slide it over to him. He looks at it, unsure. “It’s not poison, I swear.”