Page 48 of Never Again
Carlos nodded and ran fingers through his rumpled curls. “In a nutshell. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve felt as if my life is at a standstill. I’m still going through the motions—painting, eating, drinking, sleeping when I’m able. But that’s all they are—motions. I don’tfeelanything. Nothing gives me joy.”
If he could, he’d stay in bed all day every day, but he had obligations. He had a commissioned piece to complete, but he’d already asked for an extension and pushed back the date of delivery.
“Since she blocked my number, I tried calling her at work, but I can’t get through there, either. She’s completely cut me off.”
He thought about enlisting his mother to get a message to Carmen but changed his mind. He didn’t want to get her involved, and further, he didn’t want her to feel guilty. He never told her where he got the money to help her open the store, send money back home to family, and get himself out of Toronto. He hinted that it had come from a wealthy benefactor, and that alone made her feel bad that maybe she’d taken money from him that he’d earned.
But he hadn’t earned a dime of it. The funds were tarnished, which was why he hadn’t had the heart to keep but a small portion. At the time, it had seemed like so much money. Life-changing—and it had been. In more ways than one.
Rashad sat forward and folded his hands together on the desktop. “Listen, I don’t know Carmen, but it sounds like you really love this woman. My question to you is, what are you willing to do to get her back? From what you’ve told me, calling and texting ain’t working.”
“I’m willing to do anything. I’m willing to lose everything. More than everything, to have her back in my life.”
Rashad sat back with a smile befitting an ancient wise man. “Then maybe that’s your answer.”
20
Carmen straightened the shawl around her shoulders against the chilly air. She’d hoped the night out would lift her spirits, but the opposite had happened. The show and dinner only reminded her of how much she missed Carlos because she wished she’d attended both of them with him.
She strolled toward the front of the building and stopped ten feet away, turning to face her date. Tyler stopped too. He looked questioningly into her face. He was handsome, with thick lips and almost flawless skin the color of cream-diluted coffee. Why couldn’t she feel anything more for him?
“This is it, isn’t it?” A wry smile lifted the corner of his mouth.
“I’m sorry. I just… My heart isn’t in it.”
He nodded. “I figured as much. You seemed distracted tonight, and after you explained the situation to me about your break-up with Carlos, I wondered if you were ready to start dating again. I see that you’re not.”
She hadn’t told him about Carlos taking the money, but she had told him that they had reunited and then broken up again.
“I’m not,” she admitted with regret.
“This is the part where you tell me it’s not me, it’s you. And that I’ll make some other woman a great boyfriend.”
She laughed, one of the first real laughs she’d had all night. “Do I really need to do that if you already know what needs to be said?”
“True. We’ll pretend you said all of that, and I will go on my way, gracefully.” He pulled her into a friendly hug and kissed her right cheek. “Just because we don’t work as a couple doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. Hopefully that guy Carlos will get his act together and treat you the way you deserve.”
“He and I are done for good.”
Tyler studied her for a couple of beats. “Nah, I don’t think so. Good night, Carmen.”
“Good night, Tyler.”
She watched him walk away and then waved her card at the electronic keypad, and the doors slid apart to allow her in. She had gone only a short distance into the interior when she heard a male voice behind her.
“Back with Tyler?”
Not believing her ears, Carmen did a one-eighty spin and gasped when she saw Carlos. He’d slipped in behind her.
Her heart constricted at the sight of him in a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, black pants, and shiny black shoes. His long hair was neatly pulled back away from his face, and his features—the large nose, warm brown eyes, and olive-toned skin were so achingly familiar she wanted nothing less than to throw herself into his arms and sob with relief that he was there.
But what good would that do? Nothing had changed. He was still a liar. He’d still taken money to break her heart. But she had her doubts. Had she been too hard on him? Two hundred thousand dollars had been life-changing for the Hortados.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you because you wouldn’t take my calls and blocked my number. Are you back with him?” Tension reeked from his pores.
“No. And for the record, I was never with him before.” Carmen straightened, firming her resolve with the firming of her spine. “You should go.”
