Page 95 of Nailing Heat
“Yeah, I look great after a night of being thoroughly fucked, bed head and PJ’s. That was definitely the first impression that I wanted to make. I’m so stupid,” I repeat for what must be the hundredth time. “I mean, should I have asked to see his divorce papers or something?”
“No, no you shouldn’t have, Cassie replies. “But it was an honest mistake. He forgot to complete a signature, and his lawyers missed it too. That wasn’t his fault. So, it’s not like he was sleeping with you, knowing that he was married.”
“True. I’ll give you that. But what about the reason that they separated? I mean if he can cheat repeatedly on someone who looks likeher,what the hell’s chance do I have of keeping him? Of making him happy? No one would bet on us making it.”
“Oh, honey,” Cassie says, taking my tea from my hands and pulling her into me. “Maybe he was turning over a new leaf with you.”
“Yeah, like dating a charity case. Maybe it’s part of a new program he’s starting - bang the less fortunate-looking girl.” I sniffle.
Mac shakes her head. “No, fuck that, Amelia. You are not a less fortunate-looking girl. No fucking way. You are beautiful, curvy, funny and smart. There is no way that you are some charity case. He loves you, I know he does. I saw the two of you together. We all did.”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter anymore, Mac. None of it matters anymore. He was married to the most perfect-looking woman on the planet, and he still fucked around. How can I trust that he wouldn’t do something like that with me?”
“You can’t,” Hendrix says. “You can only take his actions at face value. Did you ever think that he was looking at other woman or cheating on you?”
I shake my head. “No, but this is a huge red flag. How could Idate the man or do whatever it was that we were doing, knowing that that is how he operates?”
Hendrix nods. “I don’t disagree with you.”
“Oh, you’re bitter about August,” Mac gently tells her. “You think every man is a cheater or is going to do something awful. I’m not sure that Dex is like that.”
“His ex-wife came here to Tampa and told Amelia all about it, Mac. Come on, when people show you who they are, you have to believe the first time. Keeps you from getting hurt over and over again,” Hendrix says with so much conviction that she has me nodding my head. “I mean, come on, the man’s wife came here and told her that he’s a serial cheater. How can she not take that as a sign to cut ties?”
I nod in agreement with her. She’s exactly right. I can see by the way Mac is chewing on her lip that she doesn’t agree with her one bit.
“I saw the two of you together, and I refuse to believe that he would have cheated on you too,” Mac says turning to me. “That’s all I’m saying.”
“Well, he managed to get married and then cheat on her. So maybe it’s not something that he dives into right away, but he eventually would have. We have to accept that and move on.” There’s finality in my tone that I hope everyone hears.
“You should eat something,” Cassie says, catching me off guard. “You didn’t get breakfast, and you need to put something in your stomach. Especially if you are going to get your next dose of medication.”
“Can we get pizza?” I ask them.
“Of course we can. We can get whatever you want,” Hendrix replies. “I’m going to order some food. Mac and I will go over and clean up your apartment kitchen. You said he was making you breakfast, right? I’m sure he didn’t clean it up before he tore out of the parking lot.”
We all saw that Tesla leave the parking lot in a hurry. She’sright, he wouldn’t have had time to clean up the French toast that he was making me. I didn’t give him enough time because I couldn’t handle him being in my apartment and then I couldn’t handle being in it either. So that’s why I’m sitting at Hendrix’s. There’s too many memories over there. Even though he was only there for a few weeks, I feel like I can still smell him in there and feel him on my skin. Eventually, I’ll shower, but right now I want to sit with my best friends and wallow.
I hear Mac and Cassie talking quietly. Something is going on.
“What are you two talking about?” They both look in my direction. “I can tell that you are talking about something that involves me. What is it? Did Dex go running to Jase or Danny?”
Cassie shakes her head, “No, he didn’t. I heard from Jase that August left the training center to get his things out of your house. Did you want to be there while he clears it?”
I nod. “Yeah, I would like that.”
“Are you sure?” Mac asks.
“Positive.”
I want to be there because I have some questions that I need to ask August. What better time than when he’s clearing out Dex’s shit.
We make our way over to my apartment. Hendrix and Mac make themselves busy cleaning up the kitchen for me. I appreciate that so much. I could have probably managed with my bum knee. But it’s nice not to have to worry about cleaning up a mess that would have only reminded that he was going to do something really nice for me.
August walks in and his eyes immediately find mine. “Hey, Amelia, I’m here to clear out his stuff.”
I nod. “I heard that you were coming to do this.”
“Is that why you’re here? Worried that I was going to be taking things that weren’t his? I promise not to touch anything that isn’t his,” August shoots me a playful smile.
