Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“Johnny.” There’s a hitch in her voice. Her back is still turned to me, and after getting an up close and personal view of the two of them, I get it. I sat and watched as she ran with a boy whom I’ve never met before to the restroom, hearing them giggle and laugh together. Never in my life did I think I’d be an outsider in Winnie’s life, except I am.
My wife is a mom now. The only question I’m unsure of is who’s the father.
“Alright, I’ll re-word this differently. Did you leave me because of him?”
“Yes.” Her voice comes out torn and broken. I close my eyes, clench my fists on the back of the bench so hard, I wouldn’t be surprised if the wood splintered. I left out the business plan to Night Moves; I wanted to take the club to the next level. Now it seems like it could have been part of the reason Winnie left all along. My thirst for more pushed her away and right into her sister’s hands.
“Fuck me, you’re not giving me a whole lot of answers, cariño.” I see her shoulders tremble.
“You won’t like any of them, and I’m not ashamed to beg for the divorce. Please, if you can’t do it for me, do it for him.” I move until I’m in front of her, going to my haunches, and look at her. I’m careful not to block her view of who I’m coming to realize is a boy who looks exactly like my wife—the blond hair, the blue eyes, the same porcelain skin, and, goddamn, his smile. It’s exactly like hers, enough to light you up from the inside out.
“Can’t and won’t do that until I know. Is he mine?” I watch as she closes her eyes, tears sliding down her cheeks, and as much as I want to touch her, I won’t. Not yet. Not while this hangs around my neck like a rope ready to tighten at any given minute.
“I wish he were. God, how I wish he were yours.” She opens her eyes as her gut-wrenching words hit me. Ones I’ve been afraid of since I laid my eyes on the two of them.
“Soy un idiota.” I’m an idiot. I hang my head, rest my elbows on the tops of my thighs, and look at the ground. It’s like a perfect fucking storm. I pushed her away, and she ran as fast as she could to another man.
“No, you’re not. I am, and now I’m asking you to please sign the papers, so I don’t lose him. I’m the only person he’s got, Johnny.” She left me for her sister, found someone else, and is asking for a divorce for her son. How the hell can I fault her for that?
“There’s no other way around this?” My head is spinning. I’m trying to do the math in my head. Her boy is a toddler, but given I’ve not seen him except from a distance, it’s hard to judge his age.
“No, I’ve tried. Believe me, I hate asking you to do this. In a perfect world, I’d be back here to try and fix us, but I’m running out of time, and I’ve got the wolves knocking on my door.” Redness tinges her usually crystal-blue eyes.
“Fuck me.” She looks over my shoulder. I sit down, ass to the wood chips, arms resting on my knees, and wait her out. It’s been years. A few more minutes won’t kill me.
“Oh no.” Winnie stands up abruptly and runs toward the little boy, whose name I don’t know. I move to do the same, but she is faster than me, running as fast as she can, hoofing it to her son. “Sebastian, I’m coming, baby.” I take off right behind her, on her heels, and that’s when I notice he’s lying flat on his back.
“Son of a bitch.” I pull my phone out of my pocket, unlock it, and pull up Luke’s number.
“It hurst. Big owie,” Sebastian says when Winnie drops to the ground beside him
“Stay still, don’t move. Where does it hurt?” she asks, soothing him, running her hand along his forehead. I’m cussing myself up and down, black and blue. I should have called her, set up a time to talk, and then maybe Sebastian wouldn’t be lying flat on the ground, the wind knocked out of him and complaining about being hurt.
“My back,” he says.
“I’m calling Luke. Keep him still for a minute, sí?” I press Luke’s contact, put my phone up to my ear, and wait for him to answer.
“Is that Johnny, Auntie Winnie?” I hear the phone ringing on the other end of the line, but my attention is everywhere but on the call.
“What’s up, Johnny? You okay?” I open and close my mouth. I’m a fish out of water. Everything I thought I knew has once again been turned on its axis.