familiar, asshole? Now you can sit and think about how your intentions were nothing but good and you were doing the right thing and are now being punished for it! Maybe I should fucking make you call me madam!” I chuckled as I poured more wine. What a fucking week. I downed the first glass and poured another.
He sent a text.
I was pissed. He shouldn’t have.
R: Please talk to me.
V: Oh, this situation is so familiar. Shall I ignore you for weeks and only demand sex when I see you?
R: That’s not very fair.
V: No, it’s not. My husband was half dead when I found him on the floor after our night together. You never really let me tell you that. I rushed him to the hospital to make sure he stayed alive—although between you and me, I could be a millionaire now if he hadn’t survived—but hey, them’s the breaks and that’s the wine talking.
R: No, I never let you tell me.
V: That’s right, you didn’t. So against my better judgment, I nursed his stupid ass back to health so I could ask him for a divorce. I planned on getting him out sooner. I didn’t want to lose you, so I lied. I wanted you too.
This is where I started glass number three.
R: I swear even though we are texting I can hear you saying this to me, telling me off.
V: Does my pain amuse you?
R: I’m grabbing Bryce and I’m coming over to your mother’s. I can’t take this. I need to see you.
V: I’m at home.
R: What?
V: I’M HOME.
The phone rang in my hand and I screamed out a little. Okay, maybe I was a little freaked out.
Rhys didn’t give me a chance to greet him. “Are you insane? What the hell are you doing there alone!”
“Did you call my mother before you called me? Damn, she said the exact same thing.” I waved him off, although he wasn’t anywhere near me, nor could he see my gesture.
“Maybe we said the same damn thing because we both know it’s dangerous!”
“Being in this house alone is the story of my life, Rhys. Nothing new here, and quit screaming, you’ll wake your beautiful baby up! Besides, they caught the assholes who did it to me. I’m fine.”
“Not physically dangerous, Violet. What happened to you was horrible. You can’t be there alone, not yet.” His voice was ruining me by the second.
“My mother is on her way.” I hiccupped and he heard it. He stayed silent. I was buzzing and a little bit horny, but even more pissed off.
“I’m sorry, Violet.”
Sighing with sarcasm, I let my anger through. “I am too. I’m out of wine, and I was really looking forward to a bath in that clawfoot tub and your cock. But seeing as how you are up to your ears in dirty diapers—” I hung up before I could do any more damage. I was angry and full of wine. Calmer and clearer a few minutes later, I decided to text him.
V: Anything I say for the rest of the evening isn’t going to be nice. I’m pretty sure I am in love with you and the Hyde to your Jekyll. And also, that baby that was squirming on your hip tonight, I’m pretty sure that was love at first sight with him. But I can’t right now. So don’t make me.
I turned off my phone and waited for my mother.
I stood staring at the stain of blood on my hardwoods. It was time to face what had happened to me. I didn’t need to keep hiding behind my parents. It was time to really think about what I was doing. I needed to process and move on. Get divorced, get on making that bucket list. I had no idea what would happen with Rhys, but I needed to start today. What I was sure of was there couldn’t be anything more surprising than the last two stunners I’d just had thrown at me. I was robbed and left for dead. And my beautiful demanding Dom was a loving and doting father. Nothing could be more bizarre than this.
But you know what they say, everything happens in threes.
To all the bloggers and readers who have reached out to me, thank you. Every single word of encouragement strengthens me to keep going.
Anna Gabe, Sharon, Jess and S.
Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Martin A. Lee, Bruce Shlain