“You fucked me on the table? Ring any bells?”
Images of the pushing all the shit from the table and waking up to the mess the next day pops into my head.
“You’re lying. We didn’t have sex.”
Her laughing and popping open her blouse assault my conscience. No. No. No. Please God, no. I would never.
“Fin, I won’t tell Antonia, but I do need to inform you that…”
“What?”
“I’ve missed a period.” She’s clutching her waist, and there’s no smugness, only fear in her features. My legs give out beneath me, and I crumble to the floor. My heart is pounding so hard in my chest it’s making me dizzy.
“No way is this happening,” I breathe.
“It might not be yours, Fin.” I look over at her then back to the floor. “I’ve been sleeping with Brad, that’s how I know about the hostile takeover.”
“Wait, what?”
“That’s why I came to you that night, to warn you not to give him shares because that would give the partners more than half and that’s all they need.”
The room is spinning and I’m about to pass out. “Brad would never betray me like that,” I croak.
“Yes, he would, Fin.”
I crawl over to where she is and plant my hands firmly on her knees. “Please, if there is any part of you that cares about me, tell me you’re extending the truth about that night. I wouldn’t cheat on Antonia. She had just lost my fucking kid.” Tears prick my eyes when I see in hers the answer I didn’t want.
“We were drunk. I won’t tell her,” she tells me, but it doesn’t matter, because I will have to, and it will destroy the parts left of her.
“Fin, what about the company and Brad?”
I cover my face with my hands and let the ache take over.
“Let them have it.”
MY HANDS ARE SHAKING. I keep re-reading the card as I try to get hold of Finlay, with no luck. There’s no florist’s name on the card, it’s just blank. I open the door and call Aidan to come out into the corridor. He looks concerned as he approaches me and I usher him outside and close the door. “What company did the guy delivering have on his shirt or van?”
His eyes close before springing open. “Maggie’s.”
“That’s a little florist down the street. Are you sure?”
“Yeah, it was on his hat. Why? What’s going on?”
“It’s a long story and not mine to share, but I need you to stay here with Antonia until I get back in case Gabe has to go.”
“Okay, sure, but Gav, I’m going to need some answers.”
“Just please stay with her.”
“I will.”
I grab my car keys from our apartment and make it to Maggie’s within minutes of leaving Antonia’s.
It’s a tiny shop, family run, and it’s been here for all the years I can remember.
“Can I help you?” an older woman with a nametag reading Maggie asks.
I give her the Gavin charm, flashing her a toothy grin. “I get the lady herself. I feel honored.”
She waves her hand at me and whispers, “Don’t be a flirt.” Her cheeks grow warm pink, matching a bouquet she’s working on.
I pull the card from my pocket and show her. “I know you wouldn’t usually share this information, but with the message construed as almost threatening, I was hoping you can give me some information on the sender.”
She studies the card and taps it against the counter. “The buyer said it was about a dress he bought the girl and she would understand its meaning. He also paid double for the trouble.”
“Did he come into the store?”
She shakes her head. “No, it was a phone call.”
“So he paid with a bank card?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Is there any way you can tell me the name of the cardholder?”
She shakes her head vehemently. “No. It’s unethical.”
I pull my wallet from my pocket and thumb through some of the bills, removing a hundred and placing it on the bench. “How about now?”
“I’m not sure if I’d even have it.” She shrugs.
Thumbing another hundred and placing it on top of the first, I ask, “And now?”
Her weak hand swipes the money, and she smiles. “Let me check.”
I can’t go back inside straight away. James is her ex. This is a taunt. She’s been so much like her old self lately and this will plunge her backwards if she finds out this was James. It’s annoying not being able to get hold of Finlay because I don’t know how to handle the situation. Fuck it, there’s no way I’m going to tell her. Tapping out a quick text to Fin, I make my way back inside.
Some flowers came. If Antonia asks you before we speak, just say they’re from you. Call me.
As soon as I walk through the door, I’m bombarded with questions, but Antonia is nowhere to be seen.
“Where is she?”
“She went into the bathroom and hasn’t come out yet.”
“Everyone should give her some space. Go over to my apartment and I’ll make sure she’s okay.”
Mary grabs my wrist before she follows everyone out. “Who were they from?”
Patting her hand to offer some comfort and calm, I lie. “Fin. The florist fucked up the message.”
She studies me for a silent few seconds. “What was the message supposed to say?” She’s testing me.
I plaster a wicked grin on my face. “The roses were supposed to be pink and the message should have said, reminds me of the color of your skin when you blush with me inside you.”
She licks her lips and nods her head. “Okay. Hot.” And then she leaves me alone to try and pry Antonia from the bathroom.
“I’m okay, Gavin. Honest,” she calls through the door after I’ve knocked three times.
“A misunderstanding at the florist is all it was. Please come out.”
The latch on the door clicks and it slowly opens. “I feel stupid,” she murmurs through the space she’s created.
Grabbing her wrist, I tug her from the bathroom and clasp my arms around her. “Don’t. It was a really shitty fuck up.”
Her laugh is muffled against my chest. It’s a laugh or cry moment for her, and if I could get my hands on James, I’d throttle the bastard. She sniffles and pulls away, scrubbing her hands over her face.
“That ruined breakfast.” She shrugs. “There’s always lunch?”
She smiles and goes in her room to fetch her cell phone. “I’m going to make an appointment with Dr. Evans.”
“That’s a good idea. It helps to talk. I’ll give you some privacy.”
Before I can leave, she stops me. “Gav, thanks for being here for me.”
“Anytime and always.”
EVERYTHING INSIDE ME STOPPED and terror and rage fought for control inside my chest. My insides coiled and my lungs squeezed until air became non-existent. Gavin coaxed me from the bathroom and had spoken with Finlay. It was just a mistake, but everything I’d managed to push away came flooding back in like a tsunami, knocking me off my feet and washing me away into the sea of darkness once more. Just when I get any semblance of normalcy back in my life, there’s something that comes along to jerk me out of it.