Chapter 12
VICTOR
My mother and sister hated me, and my wife? I didn’t have a fucking clue because she wouldn’t speak to me.
Well, today, she wouldn’t have a choice. I was going to see her at work; fuck it.
It was a Sunday, so I wasn’t at the building site today, thank fuck.
The sky was grey, but so far there wasn’t any rain.
I drove my truck to the store she worked at, parking at the back in one of the few spaces left.
I sat in the cab with the engine turned off, watching the people around me going about their regular days. And for some reason, it fucking hurt.
Families everywhere, kids running ahead of parents who warned them of the dangers of cars, while couples kissed over takeout coffees.
I’d never noticed it before, because I’d always been part of it. The couple. The happy, kissing couple.
Until I wasn’t.
I scrunched my eyes shut and took a deep breath, bracing myself for seeing my beautiful wife for the first time since I’d broken her heart.
I headed into the store, my eyes searching for her among the staff. They all wore red aprons with large name tags on, so they didn’t blend into the crowd easily.
I couldn’t see her at first, and I began to panic, scanning the aisles one after another until I found her.
Relief owned me as I exhaled, the sight of her silky black hair tied high in a ponytail, swishing as she walked, making me calm where I’d been crazy for days.
She’d always been able to do that—calm me when nothing or no one else could. I headed after her, stopping in my tracks when a man called her name.
“Lila?”
My wife turned, and even though I could only see her profile, I saw the delight on her face. Her full lips spread into a wide smile, her eyes widening.
“Carl? Is that really you?”
A beefcake of a guy walked toward her, shaking his head. He had a buzzcut and was covered in tattoos, and I was relieved to see a petite blonde clinging to his arm.
“Yeah! Wow, how are you doing? It’s been, what, twenty odd years?”
Oh great. A blast from the past, just when I wanted a private moment with my wife. I ducked behind the paint aisle, where I could still hear her talking. Her voice soothed the fuck out of me.
“It has! I’m good, thank you, and you? Who’s this beautiful lady?”
“This is my wife, Darlene. Isn’t she the prettiest thing you ever saw?”
There was a beat before Lila responded, and it made me hate myself even more. Here was a guy out with his wife on a Sunday, buying shit for their home, praising the high heavens out of her.
Fuck.
“She sure is,” Lila eventually agreed, but I heard the pain in her voice. The pain I put there.
“How’s the old man doing? I’ve not seen him in so long.”
Oh god. What would she say? Would she pretend everything was okay?
“He’s a cheating asshole, unfortunately,” Lila replied, making me choke on air. “We’re getting divorced.”
“Oh shit!” Beefcake blurted out, clearly feeling awkward. “Damn, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me too! What an asshole! Who would cheat on you? You’re gorgeous!” his wife chirped from beside her.
Kill me. Kill me now.
“Anyway,” Lila said. “I’ve got to get back to work, but it was so good to see you!”
I tuned out the goodbyes and forced myself to walk in the direction of Lila’s voice.
There she was.
“Lila,” I called out, my voice raspy. “Baby.”
Lila froze. Her shoulders tensed, and she slowly turned to face me with a blank stare.
I’d missed her so much. A lump rose in my throat at the sight of her, her normally pressed t-shirt now creased and hanging from her body.
She’d lost weight. She had a headset on her head, the mouthpiece hovering near her lips.
Her eyes were cold as she folded her arms across her chest, glaring at me.
“Please, I just want to talk to you,” I begged, my hands in the air like I was waving a white flag. Shit, if I had one, I’d wave it. I’d wear it if she asked me to.
Anything to stop the way she was looking at me now.
“Leave.” One word left her beautiful lips, and my soul was crushed beneath the weight of it.
“Lila, come on.” I walked toward her, and she stepped back, maintaining the distance between us. “Baby, we have to talk.”
Lila reached up to her headpiece and tapped it once. “Security, aisle four.”
I gaped at her. What the fuck was she doing?
“Lila!” I strode toward her, my fingers circling her arms as I pulled her close. My eyes searched hers, but there was nothing there.
Empty.
Where was my wife?
“Baby, I know I fucked up, I’m sorry. But can we—”
Two arms grabbed me on either side, yanking me away from her. She stepped back, rubbing her arms where I’d held her, her eyes filling with tears.
“You okay, Lila?” A gruff voice asked, and I glanced either side of me, taking in the sight of two burly security guys glaring at me.
“Whoa, I’m her husband,” I said quickly, lifting my hands.
“So, you’re the piece of shit, huh?” the mountain to my right said, gripping me harder.
What?
“Hey—”
“Want us to call the cops?” the mountain asked my wife.
“No. Just escort him out, please.” Lila turned away from me, hurrying down the aisle and out of sight.
I stared after her. What the fuck just happened?
“This way, sir.” I was guided roughly to the exit, but I was so fucking stunned, I barely put up a fight. They pushed me through the doors and renewed their glare.
“If I see you here again, I’ll beat your ass,” one growled, smacking his fist into an open palm. “Piece of shit.”
“Get lost,” the other said, jerking his head.
People were starting to pay attention. All around me were looks of intrigue and suspicion, men holding their wives and girlfriends closer, parents gripping children’s hands tighter.
“Whoa, okay,” I said, palms still up. “I just wanted to talk to my wife.”
“You should’ve thought about that before you put your hands on her just now,” one security guard said, stepping closer.
Blood rushed in my ears as my jaw fell open.
“What? I never touched her!” I backed away as I said it, now fully aware of why they wanted to beat me to death outside the store. They thought I’d abused my wife. I’d grabbed her arms to make her listen to me…
“You’re lucky she hasn’t called the cops. Now beat it.”
“Asshole!” A man to my right said, barging into my shoulder.
“Hey!” I called out, shaking my head. “I never touched my wife! I’d never—”
But no one was listening. Not anymore.
I bowed my head and sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm the ringing in my ears and the pounding of my heart.
Lila told security to have me escorted off the premises because she knew I’d show up.
Who the fuck was this woman?