Page 84 of Sexting His Son's Ex
I feel wrung out like someone squeezed every ounce of give a damn I had left in me. Now, I’m drained.
My phone buzzes and I’m tempted to ignore it. I don’t have the mental capacity to deal with anything else today.
But then I remember Jovie could be calling and she’s the only one I want to hear from.
Taking out my phone, I’m already experiencing relief and happiness when I see her name across the screen.
“Hey, Sweet Girl,” I answer.
“What’s wrong? And don’t lie to me. I hear it in your voice, baby. What happened? Is it Bianchi?”
She’s walking outside. I can hear the static of the wind against the microphone.
“What are you doing? Are you walking around without me? Unprotected?”
“Marlowe is with me.”
I relent a little because Marlowe can be intimidating at first glance. “I’ll allow it.”
She snickers. “As if you could stop me. We are going to lunch down the street and then I have massive orders I have to make. Marlowe is going to help me since she’s closed the café today. One of the cats got sick and it spread to the other cats. It’s a mess.”
“Messes seem to be very popular today,” I grumble, wishing I had something other than coffee to drink.
“What happened, Santino? Talk to me.”
“I told Luca about us. About the baby.” I leave out the part where I also said I was going to marry her. I want that to be a surprise. “Well, he overheard me telling Omar, who was very supportive, but Luca wasn’t. He rightfully punched me in the face.”
“You aren’t telling me everything. A punch in the face wouldn’t make you sound so sad. You love violence.”
I chuckle, tossing the bloody paper towel in the trash. “You don’t want to hear it.”
“I do. Talk to me.” More rustling sounds. “A table for two please,” Marlowe’s voice chimes in. They must be at the restaurant. “I’ll meet you back there, Marlowe. Give me a few minutes,” Jovie says to her best friend.
“Sure. I’ll order your favorite drink,” Marlowe replies.
“Okay, I’m outside. Alone. What’s going on?”
I sigh and lean my elbows on the counter. “Luca told me Andrea had an affair with Bianchi. Luca isn’t mine. That’s why Bianchi has always been on my back and trying to claim my territory. Luca is the first born. Luca was the one who started turning my runners against me. For Bianchi.”
“Oh my God, Santino. I’m so sorry.”
I know she means it. The shock, sadness, and honesty can’t be hidden with Jovie. She’s so genuine.
“Do you believe him?”
I nod, forgetting she can’t see me. “I do. I remember when it could have happened. She wasn’t the same for a few days. Like she had something to hide, but I ignored it thinking it was all in my head.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“It’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to be angry at her. You loved her very much and this is something you can’t talk about with her now. Santino, it’s okay to be pissed off about this.”
“I don’t know if I’m angry. It’s been too long since she has died for there to be anger but I am hurt. I can’t imagine how you’re feeling about this. Talking to me about my deceased wife can’t be easy.”
“It isn’t hard. It doesn’t bother me at all, Santino. She was a part of your life. The mother of your children. You didn’t divorce her. She died. She died when you loved her more than anything else. I can’t imagine how hard this is for you. What are you going to do about Luca?”
I scoff. “I don’t know, but I did wage war on Bianchi today. This ends now. I’m done with him.”
