Page 40 of Never Again
Carlos’s shoulders slumped. He didn’t want to leave, either, and the burden of keeping the secret from her ate at him even more. He should tell her now, but the timing didn’t feel right, and his heavy heart needed a pick-me-up. He needed her and her love for a little bit longer, because everything would change once he opened up.
He turned and pulled her into his embrace. “I don’t want to go, either.” Weeks, possibly months, would pass before they saw each other again.
Carmen sighed. “I wish…”
“You wish what?”
She shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Tell me,” Carlos said.
She swallowed. “I’m not trying to make you feel guilty or influence you in any way, but…I wish we could live in the same city. Have you ever considered moving back to Toronto?” She asked the question tentatively.
“I’ve thought about it a lot since you and I reconnected.”
“So it’s a possibility? I know you’ve established yourself in Atlanta, but…being away from you is so hard.”
“Being away from you is harder.” He folded her in his arms and sighed. “Let me think about it and see what I can do, okay?”
“Okay.” Carmen shifted her hands underneath his shirt and caressed his sides and back. Nothing felt as good as her soft hands on his skin.
He kissed her deeply and thoroughly as he pushed the panties down her hips and then lifted her onto the bed. Her nipples tightened against his chest as she wrapped her arms around his torso and welcomed him on top of her and then finally inside of her soft, wet body.
Something was wrong.
As Carmen slowly woke up, she realized what was wrong. Carlos was not in bed with her. She flicked on the bedside lamp and squinted as her eyes adjusted to the light. Her ears picked up what sounded like talking. She raised up on her elbows and tilted her head to hear better but couldn’t discern any words—only the low murmur of Carlos’s voice.
She slid off the mattress, slipped on the nightshirt that had been discarded when they made love earlier, and tiptoed to the door. She heard him better now, and he sounded agitated, frustrated.
Easing open the door, she winced, hoping the hinges didn’t make a sound. Luckily, they didn’t. She peered out and saw Carlos at the far end of the living room, his muscular body mostly a shadow against the curtained windows.
“No, I don’t have all of the money right now. I—” He paused. Even in the darkness, she saw the taut way he held his body as he listened to the person on the other end of the line.
A thread of unease filtered into her sleep-addled brain and made her more alert. Who was he talking to?
“Tell me how much interest you want.” Pause. “You’re being unreasonable. Just give me a... Why are you doing this?”
The rest of the words were cut off as he dropped his voice into an even fiercer whisper, shoulders rounded as he hunched over the phone. Steeped in worry, Carmen took a step into the room, ears straining to hear. She thought she’d been quiet but wasn’t as quiet as she should have been because Carlos swung in her direction.
She stared at him in the darkness. She couldn’t see his features, but considering the circumstances, she sensed he was not pleased to see her standing there.
“I have to go,” he said in a clipped voice. He ended the call. “What are you doing up?” He walked slowly toward her.
“I heard talking.”
“What did you hear?” He stood in front of her now, and she clearly saw the remnants of anger from the conversation, but concern, too. The concern had to be because she’d learned something about him that he didn’t want her to know.
“Sounds like you owe someone money,” Carmen said quietly.
“It’s my problem,” he muttered and swept past her back to the bedroom.
She followed close on his heels. “So you’re keeping things from me?”
“Not exactly. This is something I need to handle on my own.” Carlos set the phone on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed. He ran his fingers through his hair.
Carmen walked over and stroked her fingers over his furrowed brow. The creases cleared, but his eyes remained troubled.
“I don’t like this. Who were you talking to? That conversation sounded really intense, and whatever you’re going through, I want to help.”
