My Addiction (Second Chances Series)(17)

She scoffed. “Yeah, and what you just now figured that out? How long did you two date?”

“Off and on for about five years.”

She paused and studied me. I knew she understood the timetable and figured I got with Nora right after I left Dallas. She cleared her throat and asked me, “So what did she do to make you start to second guess your union  ?”

“I can’t say she has done anything, Ana. It’s not that simple. In the beginning, she was there for me while I went through residency. She supported me in my studies and all that. But that’s about it. You know me… I want more out of a relationship. I want the kind of woman that I can do anything with, travel and see the world or just sit around the house, watch movies and chill. I want that option to be alone with the woman I love more than be surrounded by people I can’t stand and it not be a problem. I don’t kiss ass well, and I hate pretending. I have to do both when it comes to being with her and her friends.”

Ayana looked at me skeptically, calling my bullshit. I sighed deeply and added, “Look, I don’t want to bore you with the complete details. Let’s just say things started to change after the ring went on her finger. What started to rub me the wrong way was the constant hand holding, taking over my life, talking for me, and making decisions for me like I’m a goddamn kid. I don’t need anyone to take care of me like that.”

“Okay, so why don’t you share that information with… what’s her name?”

“Nora…”

“Okay, so why don’t you talk to Nora? I know you haven’t done this, and I know you probably just went through the motions all the while being miserable.”

I smirked and sipped on my Scotch. “You don’t know me as well as you think you do. I actually told her many times my issues with our relationship. Yes, I have evolved. Go figure. The problem is I don’t have the stomach for her pouting all the time, or to listen to her complain. You know I’m a peaceful kind of guy, so I go…”

She laughed. “Oh my God! You? Peaceful? Ha! Are you kidding me?”

“What?” I frowned holding my glass to my lips.

She shook her head and sipped on her Margarita.

“Remember the time my bike got stolen? We were in the eighth grade, and you and I were only friends for… What? About three months at the time?”

“Yeah, I remember. What about it?”

“Do you remember who stole the bike?” she added.

“Not particularly no, but it seems that you do.”

She nodded her head. “Yes, I do, actually. He still comes in Ice’s and always asks about you.”

“Okay, what’s your point?”

“Here’s my point, smart ass; when Roger stole my bike, I told you I would go and talk to him the next day. I said not to worry about it, that I would handle it. Remember I said that to you?”

I nodded. “Yes, but I also remember that I actually found your bike in the front of his gate and brought it back to you. No harm, no foul. You didn’t need to waste your time.”

She nodded again. “Yes, you did.”

I added for good measure, “I remember your mom was very pleased with me. I got a whole apple pie for my efforts.”

She laughed. “Yes, you did.”

“Okay, so what’s the problem? I don’t see how that proves I’m not a peaceful man.”

She laughed again and shook her head. “Are you kidding me? You’re gonna sit here and pretend you don’t remember what happened?”

I slouched down further in the chair and ran my hand through my hair. I knew exactly what she was getting at, but I didn’t want to say more, just in case she was bluffing. She couldn’t have found out what happened… Could she?

“Okay, if you want to play it this way, fine. So as you said you got my bike for me and I was very happy,” she added. “But the next day I still went to see Roger. You see, he and I had an understanding. When he stole my bike, all I had to do was take him a chocolate cake, and he instantly gave me my bike back. That was the arrangement between us. So since I made the cake for him, I figured I’d give it to him just because.”

“Uh-huh,” I responded but just as she said she went to see him, I knew she knew what I did.

“Uh-huh… and, much to my surprise, when Roger came to the door, he had bruises on his face. I asked him, concerned, ‘What happened?’ and you know what he said to me? He said to me, ‘Your boyfriend happened.’ Now I know I didn’t have a boyfriend at the time, so the only other person he would be referring to is you. He then tells me you went over there telling him to give up the bike. Of course Roger refused, and you just punched him in the face.”