Read Online The Wife by S.P. Cervantes - Free Book Online Page B

conversation. Jamie would pause the conversation only to ask questions when he learned of my boys. It seemed to make him happy that I had gotten the family he knew I always wanted, or at least it seemed as if that’s how he wanted me to feel.
    Lee did like she promised and always cut off our conversations when they got too personal. I didn’t want to get into my past with Jamie tonight, especially with the two of them sitting here. Just when I thought she was being the best wing-girl of all time and we had just finished our meal, she and Frank decide to excuse themselves and go outside for a cigarette.
    What. The. Hell.
    Lee doesn’t even smoke.
    “I’ll get the bill,” I call after them, wanting to make sure she knows I’m going home as soon as I can. Today has been the worst day of my life and all I want to do is get home and be with my boys. Certainly one of the weirdest. It feels as if I’m on The Twilight Zone and I just need this all to end.
    I look around the room for the waiter. I’m really looking anywhere but at Jamie at this point, not wanting to leave any opening for things to get personal between us while they’re gone.
    Why is it that every time you need a waiter, they’re never around?
    After a few minutes of fruitless searching, I glance at Jamie out of the corner of my eye as I reach for my drink, trying anything to avoid an actual conversation from beginning. He’s grinning at me over his glass.
    He swirls the whiskey in his highball glass and squints at me playfully over the rim. “It really is good to see you, Lex.” He takes a sip of his amber drink and places it back down on the table. As he leans in toward me on his elbow, the end of the words he has tattooed below his wrist peek out. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you since I saw you at the party a few weeks ago.”
    I’m not sure what he expects me to say to that. Does he actually think that I’ve been wanting to talk to him? I spent years wishing he’d talk to me, and even longer grateful I never had the chance. “I can’t say the same.”
    He puts his glass down and sits back in his seat, as if he’s not only expected my answer, but is amused by it. “I deserve that. I know I do.” He exhales deeply, reaches out for his glass again and takes a sip before he continues. “I hope one day you’ll let me explain myself. I know I behaved badly, and I’ve regretted it every day. I don’t expect you to ever forgive me, but I want you to know why I did what I did, and that I know I was wrong…”
    I have to stop him before he says anything more. I know he’s intending to be nice, but with each word he says, the anger and frustration intensifies inside me. “I don’t think it’s really necessary…C.J., is it?” I say sarcastically, making him narrow his eyes at me, trying to hide the hurt behind them.
    “It’s a nickname from home. My initials.” His accent is stronger than ever, as he still tries to hide that I’ve upset him.
    I try to push away the memories of how we used to be when we would be stubborn toward each other. It used to be a game for us to see who would fold first.
    Life is different now. This isn’t a game.
    Just the look of frustration on his face makes me realize that I am doing exactly what I was trying to avoid. I’m far past being the brokenhearted girl I was when he left. I don’t want to have a tense relationship with him while I work on his restaurants. I’m not a spiteful person, and I shouldn’t act this way toward him. I don’t need his explanations or apologies anymore. I had forgiven Jamie years ago and need to show him I’ve completely moved on. Mike needs me to do this job, and working on this together is another way to bring Mike and I back together. Jamie needs to be an afterthought.
    I try to backtrack and smooth things over between us. “I think it would just be best if we started over. We don’t need to talk about the past. All is forgiven and forgotten. I promise.” I hold