Page 84 of Casita Casanova
“My husband cheated on me.”
I blow out a breath, turning toward her, but her focus remains on the ocean.
“At least seven women, that I’m aware of.”
“Jesus, Maryn.”
She chuckles. “Hemight be the only person whodidn’thave an affair with my husband.”
I smile at her ability to joke about something that cut her so deeply. She gets more attractive by the second. My hands itch to touch her, to pull her into my arms and make her forget that prick and everything he did to her.
“The thing is…” Her words trail off and she shakes her head, then her shoulders rise and fall on a deep breath.
I wait, because this part is obviously tough for her to say, and if she can give me grace when I speak of painful things, I can do the same for her.
“I knew.”
My eyes widen at that admission.
“I knew and I just… let it continue.” She sips on her wine, shaking her head slowly as she watches the waves crash onto the shore. “What does that say about me?”
Chewing on my bottom lip, I stare at her profile, unable to respond. I don’t have an answer for her. I don’t know what that makes her. But I know it’s not her fault. A man who cheats not only doesn’t respecther, but he doesn’t respecthimself.
I’m a fucking dirtbag and I’ll be the first to admit it, but I don’t cheat. I avoid relationships for this very reason. I’d never want to give someone false hope—or false security. We’ve already established that I can’t keep my dick in my pants.
No one has ever made mewantto keep it in my pants.
I’ve never cared enough to stick around long. I don’t even sleep with women more than once, save for Alexis.
The thought of her tightens my throat.
The last time I saw her, she had that look in her eyes.
The one I saw in Maryn’s last night.
Eddie put that look in Maryn’s eyes.
Iput it in Lex’s.
Fuck.
I have to make things right with Alexis. I led her on. It wasn’t intentional, but fucking someone for five years isn’t casual, no matter howIviewed it. Her broken heart is proof that she didn’t see anything casual about what we were doing.
I’ll have to apologize. It’s not something I’m very familiar with, but all this fresh air has me thinking clearer, has me wanting to be a better person.
I smile as the sky darkens above us, the only light coming from the afterglow of the sunset and the stars starting to wink at us in the sky.
It’s not the fresh air.
It’s the incredible woman beside me.
Maryn makes me want to be a better man.
Watching tiny birds scurry along the waterline for their meal, I finally break the silence. “What are those called?”
“Hmm?” She looks up, following the direction I point. “Those are Sanderlings. They’re a type of Sandpiper.” Her voice is soft and raspy. I turn toward her, noticing that her eyes are swollen and wet.Fuck, I’m dense.
I’ve been in my head and she’s been crying.
