“I understand you’re unhappy with me.”
I scoff. “Unhappy?”
Lo saunters up with a fake smile. “Everything okay here?”
“It’s fine,” Arturo says.
“Oh, we’re just fuckin’ peachy. The only reason I’m not beating your ass right now is because I don’t want my kid to see, but you’re not welcome here.”
“Gabe!” Lo gives me the look she gives Axl when he’s in trouble. I’m suddenly feeling very naughty.
“It’s okay, Lo. He has every right to be angry. I should go.”
“No. Axl invited you. He wanted you here. It’s irrelevant how Gabe feels about it.” She gives me a pointed look. “Can I talk to you?” It isn’t a question. She grabs my wrist and drags me around the side of the house where it’s leafy and quiet. I need tocome and trim these goddamn trees, but for now, I relish having this little bit of privacy with her. “What the hell was that?”
I lean against the wall and fold my arms over my chest. “What?”
“I thought you were okay with Arturo being here.”
“I wasn’t even asked.”
She frowns and shakes her head. “Because your son wanted him here. You know Axl loves him. I would never have asked him if I thought you’d be uncomfortable.”
“Like it matters.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means it doesn’t matter who invited him because I want to kill the motherfucker for touching my wife.”
“Gabe—”
“I’m still fuckin’ madly in love with you.”
Her mouth gapes open in what I think is surprise, but it could very well be horror. Things haven’t exactly been good between us for a long while now. She shakes her head, but I don’t want to hear her response. I lean forward and grab her, lowering my head, I lean in and kiss her. She doesn’t kiss me back. At least ... not at first. Lo’s hands are firmly planted on my chest and she slides them up and over my shoulder to grip my neck the way I’m gripping hers. She opens her mouth and I slide inside, tangling my tongue with hers. She pushes me back against the wall and I know she can feel my hard dick pressed against her abdomen.
She breaks away from my kiss, and I cup her face, unwilling to let her go yet. “I fuckin’ love you, Lo. I never stopped.”
Her eyes are bright with unshed tears, and she opens her mouth.
“Lo?” Her head whips around to the entryway, to her douchebag boyfriend standing a few feet away with a seriously pissed off expression on his face.
“Arturo.” She steps back, pressing her fingertips to swollen lips that I just want to kiss again. He slings a volley of insults our way—or what I assume are insults, fucked if I speak Spanish—and leaves. “Arturo, wait!”
She runs after him, and I wonder what the hell I’m doing here. I could use a drink right now.Fuck. My hands shake with the need to hold a whiskey glass to my lips. I close my eyes and swallow down my craving, and then I head into the house and grab a glass of water because even going through the motions makes me feel a little saner. Besides, I have no fucking desire to go out there and mingle with the snotty parents of Axl’s kindergarten friends.
Lo enters the house with an empty platter. She slams it down on the counter, and it shatters in two. One of the ceramic pieces slices her palm, and she huffs. “Great.”
“Here, let me help.” I grab a clean dish towel and wrap her hand, but she yanks out of my grasp.
“You’ve done enough.”
“Lo—”
“How am I going to explain this to everyone? You humiliated him, Gabe. You humiliated me.”
“Why the fuck do you care what everyone else thinks?” I shake my head. “Jesus. What happened to you, Lo?”
“I grew up!” she snaps. “Something you never did.”