His arms are now folded across his chest and I know my words are cutting him as deep as any knife ever could.
I mirror his pose from earlier and sit casually back on the park bench, not believing the sight that is headed toward me along the pathway. He’s wearing tan coloured cargo pants, a loose, light grey jumper and has a grey beanie on his head. He’s on a longboard, confidently zigzagging his way through the lunchtime park walkers. He looks nothing like Reed the rock star. He just looks like Conner, the man I love.
“In fact, here he comes now.”
I stand up and finally lift my glasses from eyes and push them to the top of my head. I can’t help but smile as I watch the joggers, walkers, office workers and even the mums pushing prams take a second look as his sexy self passes them on his board.
“Are you serious, Nina? He’s on a skateboard. A grown man, on a fucking skateboard. Obviously another loser who can’t even afford a car.”
Conner’s eyes meet mine and my heart honestly skips several beats when I watch them light up and that smile that I love, takes shape on those lips that make me squirm inside. He stops right in front of where I’m standing, flips his board up pressing his right foot on the end and tucks it under his left arm. His eyes don’t leave mine during the whole process and he totally ignores Marcus.
“Meebs, I missed you, baby,” he greets me almost word for word the same way that Marcus did. The difference in my reaction is visceral. It’s welcome and it warms me. He reaches out and strokes the back of his knuckles over my cheek.
“Marcus Newman… and you need to take your hands off my fucking wife,” I hear from beside me.
Conner takes my hand and moves me away from Marcus. He puts his board down on the path and pulls off his beanie. Standing up straight, he looks Marcus in the eye.
“Conner Reed… it’s been a while. What? Must be fifteen, sixteen years or so?”
Marcus’s mouth actually drops open.
Wide.
Open.
His eyes flick from Conner to me and I take absolute pleasure in his discomfort as realisation dawns on him.
“Back with the junkie-ex-con, Nina?” He shakes his head. “You’ll end up back in the gutter, but then that’s where all sluts belong.”
I grab Conner’s arm, knowing instinctively that Con will want to punch him.
“Go on, I dare you,” Marcus almost spits the words. “Just try it and I’ll sue you for…” He stops talking when he notices Conner shake his head and laughs.
“I wouldn’t waste my time on a little toad like you, Newman. You’re nobody! Another jumped up little lawyer on the corporate ladder, trying to make it big in this world. I really couldn’t be fucked to raise an eyebrow in your direction, let alone my fist. You know why? Coz, I’m Conner fucking Reed, that’s why. I’m already at the top of my world. I got the fame, the fortune, the house and the cars, but best of all… best of all, Marcus Newman… I got your wife.” He turns his gaze to me and smiles. “She’ll be your ex-wife very soon and then she’ll be my wife, but in between now and then, I’ll be keeping not only my hands but my mouth, lips, dick and tongue, all over your wife. I’ll be keeping them on her in my bed, in my bath, shower, over my office desk, anywhere I fucking like in fact, and no doubt, your wife will enjoy every last lick, fuck and suck I give her.” Her turns to me again. “Won’t you baby?”
I look up at him, giving him the best star-struck, dreamy-eyed look I can muster without falling on the floor laughing. I shrug my shoulders and look back at Marcus.
“What can I say, Conner Reed, rock star? Hell yeah.”
Marcus points his finger at me. “Expect a call from my lawyer.” He turns and starts walking away.
“Look forward to it Newman. We, look forward to it,” Conner calls after him.
He turns to me, eyebrows raised in concern.
“You all right?” he asks.
He wraps his arms around me, pulling me in close. It’s then that I realise, how badly I’m shaking.
“That was intense,” I tell him, noticing people looking our way as I speak.
“He was behind Pearce’s blackmailing that forced me into marrying him.”
“No shit, Sherlock? I’d already worked that one out. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was also behind my calls not getting through while you were in the hospital. He probably put Pearce up to it.”
I stare at him for a moment, mulling that one over. He’s probably right. I suddenly feel very tired. Overwhelmed by all of today’s revelations.
“I just can’t believe this. You couldn’t make this shit up,” I shake my head as I speak.
“It’s fucked, that’s what it is. The situation, your brother and him, all fucked.”
I notice two boys, aged about sixteen looking at Conner as we speak.
“You better get your beanie back on your head, Conner Reed rock star at the top of his game,” I tell him with a smile. “The public are starting to stare. Someone is gonna recognise you in a minute.”
He kisses my nose. “I love you, do you need to go back to work?”