Page 4 of Never Again
He gulped, his fingers tightening on the cool glass bottle. He wanted to know what she’d been up to, was she seeing anyone, but he no longer had the right to ask or to know. The thought of another man touching her, whispering sweet nothings in her ear, made him physically ill, but he’d successfully—for the most part—kept those thoughts at bay since they split. He swallowed down the nausea and shook his head in self-disgust.
He’d left her behind and couldn’t revisit those old feelings now. They were dangerous. They would consume him.Shewould consume him—like she had before. He had put up with a lot of shit to be with her and would do well to remember she was wholly and completely out of his league.
He set down the beer and picked up the phone. Before he could change his mind, he deleted her name and number from his contacts and set the phone back on the table.
His jaw tightened and he closed his eyes, tightening his fists at his sides. He’d loved Carmen, but they couldn’t work.
Not then, and definitely not now. Not after what he’d done.
Mind preoccupiedwith thoughts of Carlos, Carmen entered her best friend, Natalie’s, two-bedroom apartment. Cherry-wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and modern furniture adorned the interior, all located in a trendy urban community that included shopping, dining, and entertainment within walking distance. The back windows of Natalie’s apartment overlooked the highway and the Atlanta skyline. From here, she could hop in her car and arrive to just about anywhere in the city within minutes.
It was the perfect spot for Carmen to stay while visiting, and Natalie had welcomed her into the guest bedroom on the first floor, which had remained virtually unused since she moved in.
She found Natalie watching television in the living room, which overlooked streets currently low on pedestrian traffic.
“Hey,” Natalie said, not looking up from the court show that held her attention. She lifted a hand in greeting.
Natalie was a full-figured woman with long Senegalese twists adorned with gold cuffs pulled over one shoulder. As an event coordinator specializing in night-time events, she was usually home during the day and gone at night.
“I saw Carlos today.” Carmen dropped into the chair catty-corner to the sofa where Natalie sat.
Her friend swung her head in Carmen’s direction. “Excuse me? Are you talking abouttheCarlos Hortado, the love of your life, the man who left Canada and you haven’t heard from him since?”
Carmen nodded, gnawing the side of her bottom lip.
Natalie muted the television. Holding one leg under her, she turned her body in Carmen’s direction and gave her full attention. “When and where did you see him? I need details.”
“I saw him after I left the gym a little while ago. He lives in Atlanta and has a place in Inman Park.”
“Are you two going to meet up again?”
Carmen shrugged and tugged at the hem of her shorts. “I doubt it. I gave him my phone number, but I don’t think he’s going to call.” She felt foolish now. What had she been thinking?
“What makes you say that?”
“Just the vibe he gave off. He wasn’t… enthusiastic to see me.” It was embarrassing to admit, but she could share that information with Natalie, who knew her better than anyone else.
Natalie had visited the States after she graduated from university and liked Atlanta so much, she stayed. They remained best friends through the years, and Natalie knew all about Carmen’s break-up with Carlos.
Her friend sent a sympathetic gaze her way. “I’m sorry, girl.”
Deflated, Carmen sighed. “In the three years since we split, I didn’t imagine that when we met again, it would go this way. I guess I’m just foolish and romantic and thought that he would sweep me into his arms and tell me how much he regretted leaving me behind.” She let out a dry laugh and swallowed down the hurt. “But that didn’t happen, obviously. I don’t think he missed me at all,” she finished in a soft, pained voice.
“Don’t do that,” Natalie said fiercely. “Don’t do that thing where you torture yourself about how he feels. What you guys had was beautiful, but it was three years ago, and unless he tells you differently, I believe that he loved you.”
“Then why did he leave?”
“Because he needed a new start. Because he couldn’t deal with your father anymore. You want to lay the blame somewhere, look at your daddy.”
Carmen shifted uncomfortably in the chair. Natalie was partially correct, but Carlos had to bear some of the responsibility. He didn’t listen when she told him she would go with him, and he just…left her.
“I don’t want to talk about him because it’s going to make me upset. Tell me about this event that you’re putting on.”
Natalie’s face lit up. She lost her job a little over a year ago and now worked as a freelance event planner, organizing lavish parties and events for individuals or families, but lately she’d ventured into corporate planning and had agreed to put together an artistic event for a non-profit. She chose an inexpensive venue from a company that wanted to make better use of its buildings around the city, thus resulting in a convenient marriage between both entities.
The event would take place in an old warehouse and include music, art, and plenty of food. Right now, Natalie considered corporate event planning a side gig, but if it worked out, she intended to target more of her advertising toward businesses, particularly small firms, because she earned two and three times what she earned with individual customers. Which meant her father would no longer have to subsidize her living expenses.
“Tickets have been sold, food has been ordered, and guess what?” Natalie asked.
