Page 37 of Smoke and Mirrors
“Connor, I drove all the way up from Florida to be here,” she argued, coming closer still. “Believe it or not, I was worried about you. I at least deserve an explanation.”
My teeth grated against each other in my jaws. I forgot how annoying it was when she ignored my requests to be alone. At first, when we were still together, I thought it was just my PTSD. In hindsight, it was just a glaring sign of our incompatibility.
Not like with Mel. My babe could get through to me even when I pushed her away at first. She understood me even when we butted heads. I wanted her here, not this woman who now felt like a stranger to me.
“I got nothing for you, Vicky,” I answered, throwing my hands up. “I’m not some decorated war hero like you wanted me to be. I’m the same curmudgeonly old bastard, probably days away from being homeless again. I don’t know what you expected when you came up here, but sorry to say I’m just as disappointing now as when you left me.”
“I’ve been texting you,” she said as if everything I just told her went right over her head. “Why did you stop answering?”
“Because I’m busy. And,” I paused and leaned forward, unable to help myself from rubbing it in her face, “I’m seeing someone.”
Her crimson painted mouth made a little ’o’ of surprise. “You are?”
“Yeah, and apparently so are you.” The rock on her left ring finger nearly blinded me.
She grabbed the engagement ring with her other hand and twisted it around her finger. “It’s complicated,” she muttered. “I’m actually having second thoughts.”
“Well good luck with your life and whatever,” I sighed, my patience growing thinner by the minute. “But it’s got nothing to do with me now. And I don’t care to pretend to be buddies or whatever the fuck so you can delete my number.”
“Connor…,” her eyes watered and her bottom lip wobbled. Oh, great. “We were together for four years. How can you act like I don’t mean anything to you?”
“You. Left. Me,” I repeated slowly, trying not to raise my voice despite my blood pressure shooting through the roof. “I got over you because I had to, Vick. I moved on for my own survival.”
“What if it was a mistake?” she whispered, blinking rapidly and sniffling. “What if I realized… I was wrong? That I threw away the best relationship I ever had?”
I lifted both shoulders in a shrug. “Not my problem, doll face.” Damn it. I bit my tongue too late. My old nickname for her slipped out like a bad habit.
Her eyes widened upon hearing the name and her ruby lips parted to respond, but the door pushed open to make both of our heads turn. At the sight of Mel’s raven black hair and big doe eyes, I felt simultaneous relief and dread in the pit of my stomach.
“Mel,” I breathed, sitting back against my pillows again. “Hey.”
Her eyes darted from me to Vicky, wide and full of questions. The temperature in the room seemed to drop a full ten degrees.
“Who are you?” she asked Vicky, the accusation already in her tone.
Oh shit. This would not end well.
I cleared my throat. “Mel, this is Vicky. She was my, ah…”
“Fiancee,” Vicky so kindly finished my sentence for me.
“Ex-fiancee,” I quickly corrected. “She was mistakenly called here because of an outdated emergency contact form from when I was in the Marines.” I stared hard at her, hoping I was finally making myself clear. “She was just leaving.”
“No, Connor. I amnotdone talking to you,” she reprimanded me like a stern mother. “Your little trailer park girl can wait.”
I looked at her incredulously and in that moment, my annoyance turned to pure loathing. “Oh no, you stupid bitch. How dare you?”
But it was too late. Mel was already backing out the door with tears in her eyes and taking jagged pieces of my heart with her.
“Mel, wait!” I yelled. “Babe, stop!”
She either didn’t hear me or ignored me, walking as fast as she could back down the hall.
Vicky must have worn a smug look on her face but I didn’t spare her a glance as I jabbed the call button, not lifting my finger from it until a nurse came running and burst into my room.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“This woman needs to leave,” I said pointing at Vicky. “Call the police if you have to. I don’t want her near me.”
