Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 73192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Rome’s head hung. “I didn’t.”
And that was exactly what I’d expected him to say.
“What happened?” I pushed, hoping he’d tell me.
Rome looked up at the windows behind my head, his face impassive.
“What happened was that I was stupid and did some really stupid things when I was drunk. I shouldn’t have even been drinking in the first place. I lost control. They are things that I’ll never be able to forgive myself for…even though, at the time, I didn’t know that he and Tara were a thing. I just knew that there was a hot, willing woman ready to…you know.” He sounded disgusted with himself.
“You had no idea that Tyler was seeing Tara?” I asked. “How does that work when y’all are best friends?”
I mean, obviously it had to have worked somehow for all of this to have happened to them.
Rome looked at me and I was struck deeply by the pain in his eyes. This man was hurting. Badly.
“Tyler and I hadn’t seen each other in months. Football season was really busy for me and I was lucky to find time to sleep, let alone see him. Which turned around and bit me on the ass, because while we had a home game one weekend, this woman approaches me at a post-game celebration I had at my place, and since I was high on adrenaline and coming off a huge win, I decided to blow off some steam with her…only thing was, she was Tyler’s and I had no fuckin’ idea until Tyler showed up at my place the next day to catch up and the two of them pass in the fuckin’ doorway while he was coming in and she was going out.” He groaned. “To make matters worse, he wouldn’t listen to my side of the story and fuckin’ Tara told him that I knew who she was when I fuckin’ didn’t…”
I winced. “And Tyler didn’t stick around long enough for you to tell him anything else…and you have a kid with her.”
That part he hadn’t shared, but he didn’t look surprised to find out that I knew.
“How did you know?” he asked.
I smiled sadly. “I have a friend who’s good with computers. She helped me.”
Rome grunted. “Friends are good to have.”
This man sounded like he had none.
I immediately felt awful.
This wasn’t a man who had done what he’d done on purpose. He would’ve never hurt his friend.
That much I knew and I had a feeling that, deep down, Tyler knew it, too.
“Your son has cancer?” I asked quietly.
Rome’s hand that was resting on top of the counter tightened into a fist. “Leukemia.”
I hummed in sadness. “How’s he doing?”
Rome swallowed. “Him…okay. Me? Not so good. Each time I have to see him go through another round of chemo, I feel my heart stall in my chest. And Tara doesn’t make it fuckin’ easy to do anything. It’s a nightmare and the only reason she’s still around is because she likes my money.”
And that’s how the next hour went as I spoke with Rome. He talked about his son. He talked about what happened with Tyler. He talked about his motorcycle club and how he and Tyler were supposed to join it together.
He talked and talked and talked.
He didn’t stop talking until the pretty little front counter lady came back for the trash and to tell us it was almost closing time.
“Hey, y’all,” the woman replied softly. “It’s time for me to head out…I’m sorry to kick you out, but I gotta go.”
Rome looked at the woman and nodded. “Sorry, babe. We’ll get out now. Thanks for letting us stay a little longer.”
It was then I realized that the little hole-in-the-wall place that had the best street tacos that I’d ever tasted only stayed open until two and it was well past three.
Shit.
“I’m so sorry,” I apologized. “Your tacos were really, really good. Like, if you ever want to send the recipe to me, I’d love you forever. I don’t get over here that often, but swear to God, I think my man will love them.”
“It’s my grandma’s recipe and she swore me to secrecy. Grandma would absolutely kill me if she found out that I handed it to some random stranger…but you come in here more often and come at a time when Abuela is here, she might very well let you have it if you ask her,” the owner replied.
I grinned. “I’ll bring Tyler. He’ll enjoy it, too.”
As I said this, I stood and kept my eyes on the woman and not Rome.
Which was too bad seeing as Rome’s eyes lit up like the Fourth of July when I mentioned bringing Tyler back.
Moments later, Rome was walking out the door and I was following him.
The entire time, I watched the woman watch Rome.
“She likes you,” I murmured as we made our way outside.