When the Heart Lies - By Christina North Page 0,109
if Max hadn’t come along, she and Nick would’ve been finished a long time ago. She picked up her cell phone, put it down, and picked it up again. Taking a deep breath, she dialed. She was finally going to do this. Her fingers drummed on the countertop as she fought the urge to disconnect. Finally, an answer. She spoke up right away. “Hi. No, nothing’s wrong. I just need to talk to you. Max has a field trip tomorrow, so it’d be a good day. Any time after Nick leaves for work would be good. Okay, great, I’ll talk to you then.”
She went upstairs and was in bed reading when Nick got out of the shower. He came and sat next to her. “I thought we were going to have a drink? What are you doing in bed already? It’s still early.”
She should be angry or hurt, but she was immune to what seemed like an eternity of being told she was loved when she wasn’t. Though she wanted to, she couldn’t blame him. He knew nothing of love. How could he give it? Before Jackson, she thought she was lucky to have Nick. Lucky to have any love he was able to show her, but after being together a while, even the little love he showed was hard to believe real.
“I’m not up for a drink. I had a busy day. I’m tired. You must be tired, too. It appears you’ve had an active day.” She returned her focus to her book, scanning the page and turning without reading.
He scooted closer to her and brushed her hair back, kissing her neck. She was numb to it.
“What tired you out so much you don’t want to spend a little down time with me?” he said.
She beheld him in a sad way and felt moved to lay her hand against the side of his cheek, realizing their life together had been over long before she went to Wayde. The only sentiment she had left for him was pity. She took her hand from his face. She was no longer sad, but relieved to face the truth. They were over, and everyone would know everything soon. Clean slate. “I had a lot of writing to get done.”
He stared at her. Apparently, waiting to hear what had tired her out.
“I had a doctor’s appointment, errands, laundry, groceries, and Max. Would you like me to continue?” She was snippy.
He raised his hands in retreat. “Okay, Okay. I’m sorry. I know you do a lot. Was something wrong? You said you went to the doctor’s.”
“Just a yearly exam.”
“Did he tell you how beautiful you are?”
She flicked her eyes with a moderate amount of annoyance. “Yes, Nick. I spread my legs, and he tells me how beautiful I am.”
“Why wouldn’t he? That’s what I tell you.” He flashed his most charming seductive smile, pulled the covers over her head, then back down again around her chin, and gave her a kiss. “I’ll be up later.”
She used to think stupid shit like that meant something. And it would if the right person were doing it.
~ ~ ~
When Kinsley heard Xavier come in, she was in her bedroom and just getting out of the shower. She hurried and dried off as she called to him. Synapses throughout her body fired, screaming for her to run and forget all about the truth.
“C’mon in, I’m up here.” She threw on her robe and was toweling her hair when he knocked and came in. “I’m sorry. I’m running late. I had to take Max in for his field trip, and Nick didn’t leave until twenty minutes ago. I hope I’m not holding you up. I shouldn’t have bothered you. You have to get to work.” Frazzled, she wasn’t breathing between sentences. Her visibly shaken demeanor was unmistakable.
His head shook, but just barely. That, together with a slight lift of his empty hands made his concern obvious. “I took the day off. I’m all yours. What do you need?”
She stopped, looked over to him, and sat on the side of the bed, dropping her head into her hands.
He waited. When he didn’t get an answer, he asked, “Did something happen with Nick?”
“Something always happens with Nick. I’m not going to stay with him, but that’s not why I asked you to come.” Her face went white wash and her eyes glazed.
“I take it I should sit down?”
She nodded.
He sat in the bedside chair, leaned his elbows onto his knees, and clasped