Page 136 of Finally Mine
So, he’d suited up and headed out for a head-clearing, frosty morning run. The ring tucked carefully in the inner pocket of his windbreaker. He felt stupid for it, but he believed Gloria would come around. She’d tell him what was wrong, they’d fix it together, and get back to their joint happily ever after. He felt it in his gut.
But these days without her were starting to chip away at that hope, that faith.
“Moretta!”
Linc jogged up to Aldo from a side street and fell into step with him. “What the hell happened to your face?” Aldo asked.
“You didn’t hear? Me and your BFF Garrison got into it in the beverage cooler at the grocery store.”
“You fucking with me?” Aldo asked, his breath puffing out in a silvery cloud.
Linc snorted. “Nope. I was in there keeping Harper warm—”
“I bet you were.”
“Ha. Poor girl is pretty broke up about him. I was hiding Harper from Garrison. Then doesn’t the sonofabitch poke his head in the door?” Linc shook his head ruefully.
“He look as bad as you?” Aldo asked.
Linc grinned. “’Bout the same. But if he’s out getting into bar fights in the grocery store, you might want to have a talk with him.”
He’d been neglecting his friend duties, sinking into his own depression.
“Harper break up the fight?”
“Nope. Bunch of people called Deputy Do Right. He got to pop Luke one right in the jaw,” Linc mimed a punch.
“Fuck,” Aldo sighed.
“Just thought you should know.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
* * *
Aldo wentin to work an hour early, burying himself in schematics and ordinances and five hundred emails until noon. He worked with the fervor and focus of a man who didn’t want to think about anything else in his life.
The interns and the associates, probably under Jamilah’s orders, kept to themselves. The entire office buzzing away in silence.
Finally, he switched off his monitor and stretched his arms over his head. “J, I’m taking a long lunch.”
She raised a thumb over her head without taking her eyes off her screen.
He made the drive to Luke’s house, noting how most of the leaves were off the trees. Christmas was coming up fast. And he had no desire or drive to put even the minimum effort forth. He had a guest bedroom closet stashed with gifts he’d already bought for Gloria, a few for her mother, one or two for his own. But his holiday spirit had died when Gloria walked out.
However, that was no excuse for abandoning his friend—dumbass or not—in his time of need. He spotted Luke’s truck in the driveway and pulled in behind it. Knocking once, Aldo let himself in. “Hey, you home?” he called.
His gaze flicked to the dining room where a dozen boxes were stacked neatly and labeled “Harper.”
“In here,” Luke answered from the living room. The dogs vaulted off him to dance around Aldo. He stooped and doled out pats and scratches.
“What are you doing home in the middle of the day?” Aldo asked.
Luke peeled himself off the couch. He looked like shit. Unshaven, bruised, exhausted.
“What are you doing in my house in the middle of the day? And do you want a beer?”
Aldo shrugged. “Sure. Why not?” He followed Luke into the kitchen.
