Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 92368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
As any mother knows, a hangover and a four-year-old do not go well together at all.
It’s just nice to be out for a change and to also have a reason to get a little dressed up.
Not that I got overly dressed up. I’m wearing black skinny jeans, a sheer off-the-shoulder black top, and leopard-print ankle boots. My hair is down and straight, and I actually spent time doing my makeup. I went with red lips and smoky eyes. I look good, and for the first time since Zeus showed up, I feel good.
I get my cell out of my bag and check to make sure I haven’t missed any calls or texts from Zeus or Aunt Elle about Gigi. Nothing. I place my phone on the table in front of me just in case.
When I lift my eyes, Rich is walking over with our beers. I watch as he comes toward me. He looks really good tonight in khakis and a button-down. It’s not often that I get to see him in normal clothes. He’s usually in his uniform—or naked—when I see him.
And…I’m not going there.
But I have noticed a difference in the way that I look at him tonight. Normally, when I see Rich, I get a zing of attraction in my chest—and other places. But, tonight…I don’t feel it.
And it hasn’t escaped my attention that my attraction to Rich has dwindled since Zeus showed up.
Damn you, Zeus Kincaid.
Rich reaches our table and puts our drinks down.
“Thanks,” I say to him as he takes a seat across from me.
I pull my bottle toward me, take off the wedge of lime stuck to the lip of the bottle, and push it inside the neck with my finger.
“So, how’ve things been?” Rich asks me.
“You mean, with Zeus being back?”
Rich and I have texted a couple of times over the last few weeks but nothing in depth. I guess he was waiting until tonight to ask me.
“Hard. Stressful. Awkward. Strained.” I give him a weak smile. “But Gigi’s good. She’s happy, and that’s all that matters.”
“Your happiness matters, too, Cam.”
I lift my shoulder, not wanting to agree or disagree with him. Because Gigi will always come first. Even if that means my eternal misery.
Rich takes a drink of his beer before putting the bottle back down. “Do you want to talk about it? Zeus, I mean.”
Sighing, I bring my bottle to my lips. “I don’t really know what to say,” I utter around the lip of my bottle before taking a sip.
“No pressure. Just know, I’m here to listen. And whatever you tell me will stay between us.”
I smile gratefully at him. “It’s just a really messed up situation.” I start to pick at the label on my bottle. “I’ve known Zeus since I was fifteen. We were childhood sweethearts. I met him when I moved to Coney Island with Aunt Elle when she got a promotion there. We were together for four years. And then we weren’t.” I shrug. “Zeus was away a lot, training and doing fights. I was at Juilliard, studying ballet.”
“I didn’t know that. I knew you danced, but Juilliard? That’s amazing, Cam.”
“Yeah. I had a full scholarship. I was in my second year when Zeus and I broke up. He was in England at the time, training for a fight. He called me up one night. Told me that he’d slept with someone else.”
Rich’s face darkens at that. I don’t know much about Rich’s dating history. We’ve never talked about our pasts, but going by the look on his face, I’d say he’s been cheated on, too.
“A month later, I found out I was pregnant with Gigi.” And I go on to tell Rich the whole sordid story about Marcel and him lying to me and Zeus.
“Jesus,” Rich murmurs. “That’s…messed up.”
“Yep.”
“No wonder your head’s all over the place. And, even though I’m hating on Zeus for cheating on you, I gotta feel for the guy as well. Not knowing he had a daughter for all those years? I can’t imagine…” He trails off.
“Yeah, it’s just all so awful. I feel sick for him. But, honestly, I do feel like I’m partly to blame for him missing out on Gigi’s early years. Even though Marcel is a total bastard and lied to both of us, I feel like I should’ve done more to get in contact with Zeus.”
“Cam, knowing you like I do, I’m sure you did everything you could.”
I shrug, disagreeing, as I take another sip of my beer.
“Does Zeus blame you?”
“God, no.” I shake my head for emphasis.
“Good,” he growls. “Because he’d be an ass if he did.”
I find myself feeling defensive of Zeus all of a sudden. “He’s been great about it actually. He could have been a total ass, but he’s been…great. He thinks it’s on him for cutting me off in the first place. He blames himself for missing out on the first four years of Gigi’s life. I feel sick when I think about it. I hate that she missed out on her father because of Marcel asshole Duran. God, it all just feels like one big mess.” I tear off the remainder of the bottle label and litter it onto the table.