LAKE
“You look like your cat just died.” Rusher just joined me in the bar and ordered club soda.
I couldn’t even go to the Bazz. Otherwise, her friends would suspect we were not on good terms.
Since that big revelation at the Osmium, she had been dodging my calls, ignoring my texts, and I felt like shit all the time without her, not seeing her, and sleeping alone in bed with her smell all over it.
I missed her so fucking much, but she was the one who left and didn’t want to be followed. I still had an ounce of pride left, and I never begged for women’s attention. If she missed me, she knew how to reach out and how to find me.
Apparently, she never did. She was living her life with her grandmother while I was starting to lose my shit.
As soon as her ex-boyfriend and the rest of his accomplices were locked up, I focused my time back on work. For a few days, it worked, diverting my attention from her.
I accomplished some things, finalized the program design, and submitted it to the Hover, but every time I went home, I felt so alone and lonely, and I avoided alcohol because I knew it couldn’t help me anymore. I was desperate, but my ego somehow ended me up here.
“Why is it always the cats?” My eyes narrowed at him with his usual cocky smirk.
“Would you rather prefer a wolf?”
I shook my head in annoyance. “Unfuckingbelievable.”
“You still haven’t taken your wife home? Your pride and your bloated ego will destroy your marriage.”
I didn’t tell him all the details. He only knew I fought with Maverick because I kept a secret from her.
“If she wants me, she should call me.”
“For a beautiful woman who meets different people every night, I doubt if she ever thinks of you while you are here, alone, getting drunk in misery.” He looked at the empty glass and thought I drank something stronger. “You’re a mess, mate.”
“You’re supposed to uplift me, not make me sorry for myself.” I grabbed his club soda and downed it empty.
“Your fault, mate, and I like your wife. She’s good for you. So, I’m Team Maverick all the way.”
“Fuck you.”
“Fuck you, too.” He faced me with a heavy sigh. “Why is it so hard for a man like you to swallow his pride and apologize? She’s just probably waiting for you to knock on her door.”
“Nah. She’s got used to being wooed.”
“You love her, mate. It’s normal for you to make her feel loved.”
I looked at the bartender and about to order when he said, “Don’t give him shit. If he gets alcohol intoxication, his entire family will sue your asses and manipulate his autopsy.”
“What the fuck, man?” I stared at him in surprise and pissed off at the same time. “I’d been sober, asshole.”
He studied me for a while, and his gaze dropped to my wedding ring, which I never took off. I got her engagement ring back, and I was hoping to give it back when she came home to me, but it looked like it would take a while.
“Why stay miserable? If you really despise your wife, find a dishy babe and get a hotel room. Since you’re so stubborn, why not get laid? Maybe your misery will end.”
“Are you fucking serious right now?”
“Why do you think many couples are in an open relationship?” It reminded me of our initial agreements, but even for a second, I never thought of sleeping with another woman. And I doubted if Maverick would even think of cheating on me.
I looked away, feeling the emptiness and raw pain burning in my chest. I loved her so much and did not tell her how I truly felt. I still felt his stare glued to my face.
I got up, pulled some bills, and left.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“That’s the brightest idea you did today.” He gripped my shoulder. “Take care, mate.”
“You, too, asshole.”
He laughed as I walked away.
I settled at the back of the car, pulled out my phone, and dialed Cooper. He’d been giving me updates since my wife wouldn’t do shit.
“What’s up?”
“Did you tell her?”
“You did not mention she has a brother. I’ve known her for-”
“Wait. Hold on. How did you know?”
“I just met the guy, and they threatened me like every five seconds. Is that man really related to Mave?”
Fuck. Terzo came to her, and she met her fucking brother while he didn’t seem to care if I was still alive. My chest heaved in pain.
“Terzo.”
“Yes. That’s him. Anyway, I told her and let her listen to your voicemail.”
“About what?”
“Your ultimatum.”
“Fuck. Why did you do that?” My nose flared in annoyance.
“Before you plan on punching me, she listened. You might as well thank me later. She was pissed off at first, but we went out for a coffee, and that’s how we met her brother.”
“Wait. They did not plan on meeting each other?”
“Nope.” He scoffed. “I swear that guy seems bad news, with no remorse or empathy in his eyes. He’s scary like a lion, but he seems to really care about Mave. He even threatened to pull out my eyes if something happened to Mave.”
“That’s Terzo.” Cooper was right. Terzo seemed to care about Maverick genuinely. I just hoped he would not convince her to visit Sicily.
“Did she say something about my voicemail?”
“No, but give her time. I know my friend. She’s just hurting. I’m sure she thinks of you every day.”
“I’m not worried, but my patience is running thin.”
“Okay, dude. I’ll tell her that.”
I ended the call and looked outside the window.
“What are you thinking, boss?”
“I don’t know, OB. I’m exhausted.” I sighed heavily. “What if she’s looking forward to the divorce papers?”
“What if she’s waiting for you to take her home?”
I met his gaze through the rearview and scratched my growing beard. “Not happening.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I’m so tired of watching you like this. You don’t even eat well. You barely sleep. All you did for the past few days was work and work and work. You don’t even shave. If you are this miserable, make the gesture. You won’t lose anything. In fact, you’re showing her how sorry you are for keeping the truth from her.” He shook his head from the driver’s seat.
When Homer chuckled, I glared at him. “Any advice, Huxley?”
“I’m with OB all the way. Pull your head out of your ass, boss. I’m sorry, but you look like shit.” Homer went on with a full, serious face as he turned to me from the passenger seat. “Hate me for saying this, but she just escaped death. She was traumatized, and you should have been there for her all that time. Yet, here you are, drinking with your Brit buddy as if nothing happened to your wife last week. If I were here, I’d already run away because you don’t deserve her.”
“Fuck you both. Take me to the Bates.”
Owen chuckled, fist bumping with Huxley. “Gladly.”
Thirty minutes later, I rang the bell at the Bates’s house, and Augustine opened the door. I ignored my dismay, but watching her reaction on her face would have been fun.
“Lake, it’s late.” It was only eleven in the evening, but I got that.
“Is my wife home?”
“She just left with Terzo.”
What the fuck! “Where to, if I may ask?”
“I have no idea, son. I did not ask. I’ve been forcing her to get out of the house for days. I was tired of watching her scrub the sink and my pots every day since that incident, and that was the first time she followed my advice.”
“Sorry for bothering you, Mrs. Bates. Good night.” I stepped back, defeated. Wherever they went, I was sure she was safe with Terzo. “And Mrs. Bates, please don’t tell her I dropped by.”
“May I give you some friendly advice?”
“Of course.” Nowadays, I receive a lot of unsolicited advice, so why not take it from a good old woman?
“Just give me a great-grandchild.”
“Oh.” I laughed. “Right. Good night, Mrs. Bates.”
I got to the penthouse, feeling so lost like my world had been shattered.
Money cannot really buy happiness because if it could, I would already have bought some of it. All this luxury I had meant nothing without her in my life.
I dropped myself onto the couch, grabbed the Knight porcelain vase decor, and smashed it on the floor.
“What did the vase do to you?”