“I don’t know.” I shake my head, and tears threaten to burst free from my eyes when I say, “Just go home, Gabe.”
His upper lip twitches. “I don’t want him around my son.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“Go home and stop making an ass of yourself. Art has been good to Axl and me. Who the hell do you think kept us fed while you were in rehab?”
“Maybe I wouldn’t have needed rehab if my fucking wife wasn’t cheating on me with her boss.”
“That is not fair,” I say, fighting tears as my voice breaks over the words.
He sneers. I glance at Axl, who’s ceased roughhousing with Arturo and the two of them meet my gaze.
Axl runs inside and all the fight leaves my lungs. I can’t believe we just said all of that in front of him. I can’t believe we’re breaking our promise to one another, to never let our mess affect our kid.
“Gabriel,” Arturo says. “Why don’t we all go inside and talk?”
“Why don’t you get the fuck outta my face, asshole.” Gabe fronts up to Arturo, who doesn’t look the least bit fazed by my ex’s male posturing. Gabe shoves Arturo, and I step up and growl. “Don’t you fucking dare, not with your son watching. Don’t you dare let him see you treat his mother like a possession you don’t want to share.”
I don’t know what effect I expect my words to have on him, but he locks eyes with mine and he gives an infinitesimal nod. “I hope it was worth it, Lo.”
“Gabe.”
He shakes his head and walks away, his shoulders sagging.
“I’m sorry, mi amor. I didn’t come to start anything, only to return this.” He hands me my cardholder.
It must have slipped out of my bag last night when I dropped it to grab my boss’s ass while we sucked face. “Thanks for returning it.”
“Poor timing on my part. I should have known you’d be with your family.”
“It’s okay. I guess I was going to have to deal with the fallout sometime. I’m just sorry you got caught up in it.”
“Your ex does not intimidate me.”
I frown. “He just needs some time to cool off.”
“Are you okay?”
I shake my head and dissolve into tears.
“Oh, mi amor,” Arturo soothes as he pulls me into his arms and rubs circles on my back. “Everything will be okay, you’ll see.”
He’s sweet to try and console me, but I’m not sure I believe that. I don’t know how to fix this, but I know I need to start with my son.
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
Gabe
Iwalk around the packed courtyard of my bungalow, a house I’m not even allowed to live in anymore, and stare at all the random faces I don’t know. Clem and Tommy are here, as well as Lo’s friend Judah from the restaurant.And then there’s the new boyfriend. The fucker who told my wife he loved her on our wedding day. He’s dressed in a fucking suit. Who wears a fucking penguin suit to a kid’s birthday party?
I peruse the food table and notice it’s all mini tacos and Mexican street food, but kid-sized. Jesus.How many of our important life events is this guy going to cater?
“Hello, Gabriel.” Arturo’s smooth, accented voice rolls over me as I frown at the mini churros. “Thank you for inviting me.”
I turn and look at him. “I didn’t invite you. Lo did. The last time I invited you to an event, you watched us get married, and then you told my wife you loved her.”