BOOK 2LUCIA“There you go,honey,”Helen says as she places the glass in front of me. “Get that down you.”I frown at my friend as she takes a seat across from me.“This isn’t what I ordered, Helen. You know I don’t drink.”“Oh, stop it,” Helen says and rolls her eyes. “Just try something new. Anyway, it’s non-alcoholic.”“Really?” I peer at the cream-colored drink with a dark chocolate-like substance at the bottom. “What is it?”“Pina colada.”“That is alcoholic, Helen.”Helen giggles as she picks up her glass, slurping through the straw.“Don’t freak out. It’s called a virgin pina colada. Mock rum syrup, pineapple juice, and coconut milk. No alcohol in sight.”I don’t know about that. I’m not comfortable drinking something I didn’t ask for. But I’m not in the mood to fight too much. I just want to do something that makes me forget the bastard I had told to get the hell out of my apartment. If I’m lucky, he’ll be gone when I get back from the bar. If he isn’t…I haven’t thought that f
I certainly need her help now. Nathan is enough for anyone to go mad with his persistence. I found it endearing when we were together, but now it’s not something I want to deal with.“I’ll think about it.” I manage to smile at my friend. “I just want him to get out first. He doesn’t deserve to be in my apartment after what his side piece told me.”“If he hasn’t gone, do you want me to call a few friends to get him out?”“That might need to happen. Nathan’s very stubborn, and I’m not about to move him on my own.” I shake my head, slumping further down in my chair. “I can’t believe I never saw any of this. How stupid am I not to realize he was cheating on me?”“It’s not about being stupid or not. He’s just very cunning.”“Doesn’t that amount to me being stupid?”“Honey, you’re not stupid. That bastard is stupid for doing something so disgusting to you.”Helen’s voice had a tone of finality about it. “He threw three years away because of one little slut. That’s it.”I don’t respond to tha
“And you still forget things. Is that a kid thing or a teenage thing?”“I’ve double-checked my stuff. It’s all there.”I’m going to have to believe her. It will take too long to review her list and check her luggage. We’ll have to find out when we get to the resort, and by then, it’ll be too late, and I’ll have to buy her new stuff. While I can afford it, I don’t want Regina to think I can get everything at the drop of a hat. She needs to be responsible with her things. To her credit, she usually is.She just can’t pack properly right now.“So?” Regina prompts again. “When are we leaving?”“In about ten minutes,” I say and gesture at my computer. “I’m just going to check my emails and make sure everything’s set, and then I’ll pack the car.”“Dad, you know what you’re like when you check emails. Don’t take forever, or it’ll be too dark before we leave.”“Regina…”Regina shrugs.“I’m not wrong, am I? You promised not to do any work while we’re there, right?”I had promised that, and I h
I groan.“Mom, we’ve been through this. I’m not going to look for a girlfriend.”“I’m just suggesting…”“I know you are, but please stop. I promised Regina that I would give her my full attention this weekend, and I intend to do that. I’m not on the prowl for another woman.”Mom sighs.“I wish you wouldn’t call it that. You make it sound so sordid.”I’m about to respond when Regina comes by. She grins at me as she picks up her suitcase, her auburn curls bouncing around her face.“Ready to go, Dad? I can’t wait to get there!”“It’s going to be a two-hour drive, Regina,” I remind her. “Do you have enough to keep you occupied?”“Of course. That’s all sorted.” Regina heads towards the front door. “Come on, Dad!”Mom laughs.“She’s really excited, isn’t she?”“Given this is all she’s talked about since Christmas, I’m surprised that she hasn’t worn herself out.” I pick up my suitcase. “See you Sunday evening, Mom. Have fun with the animals.”“I’m sure we can entertain ourselves,” Mom says a
“We had the right of way, Regina. She should have slowed down.”“You think I didn’t?” I sit up slowly and gingerly move my limbs. Nothing seems broken, but I feel like I’ve been slammed into a wall. “You should have watched where you were going. Do you think you own the slopes or something?”The girl looks uncomfortable, and I momentarily feel bad for shouting at her. She seems genuinely remorseful. But her father snorts rudely.“Maybe you shouldn’t careen down the hill,” he growls.“We’re on the red slope. You think you should be fooling around at the bottom of the advanced slope?”“If it’s advanced, you should be able to stop in time.”I’m not going to get him to back down. I reach down and fumble to take my skis off, my fingers struggling through the gloves.“Let me.” The girl takes off her gloves and unsnaps my boots from the skis. “Can you stand?”“I think so.” I give her a small smile as I take off my goggles. “You okay?”“I’m fine. You didn’t hit me. But you did scare me.” She
“I’ll speak to the principal when we get back,” I tell her as I sit on the bed and put on my shoes.“No,” Regina’s eyes widen. “You can’t!”“Why not? They’re not going to stop until they’re told to.”“They’ve talked to them before, and they haven’t stopped. It’s just getting worse.” Regina says and bites her lip. “I’m trying to ignore them, but it’s not easy.”I hate feeling helpless, and knowing my daughter isn’t happy at school hurts me. I could pull her out and take her elsewhere, but that feels extreme. Right now, I can only report it and hope that works.I will never understand the mean kids at school and why they are cruel to others.“Okay, fine. I’ll leave it alone. For now.” I stand up. “Are you ready to go?”“Yes. I’m starving.” Regina winces and presses a hand to her stomach. “But then I think about what those girls said…”“Ignore them. They are not worth your time and energy. If you’re hungry, don’t you dare starve yourself. You’ll do yourself more damage in the future.”Re
Turning away quickly, I hurry after Caleb and Regina. I can’t be caught staring at her like that. It will make me look like an idiot.But even as I sit with my daughter and pick up the menu, I can’t help but look over at her table. She’s not looking at me, but I can see her clearly. She seems more relaxed now as if she’s forgotten about me.Somehow, I don’t want her to forget me.Lucia“Cheers!”Aliyah declares as we clink glasses. “Happy birthday to me!”I mumble in response and sip my drink. It’s already my third lemonade and lime, and I feel it going to my bladder. I’m going to need to take a bathroom break soon. At least that will soothe my ears with the pulsating beat pumping in my head. I have no idea why the bar has to have the music up this loud.“How are you feeling, Lucia?” Aliyah asks as she leans towards me, her voice loud over the noise. “Are you still sore from earlier?”“A little bit. I’m probably going to be worse tomorrow.” I shrug. “Nothing I can’t handle. I’ve had wo
Making up my mind mostly for my throbbing head, I pick up my purse and leave the bathroom, only to almost run into a solid wall. Hands grasp my arms as I wobble, and my leg nearly gives way.“I’m sorry, I….” Then I see who is holding me, and my heart sinks. “Nathan?”“Hey, Lucia.” Nathan gives me the crooked smile he usually gives me when trying to turn the charm on. “I thought you were going to take forever in there.”What the hell is he doing here? I thought his invitation had been revoked after what he did. Aliyah said that she had done that. I push his hands off me.“What are you doing here?” I demand. “I thought you were told not to come anymore.”“Aliyah said that’s what you wanted, but she wanted me to come, so I was never uninvited.”“What?”“She said this would be a good time for you and me to talk now that you’ve calmed down.” Nathan shrugs. “And I see her logic.”I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Is he saying that Aliyah isn’t on my side? Did she arrange this? Part of me wa