Wrecking Ball (16 page)

So two hours later after we dri
ve up a mountain where residential plumbing drains into the river we follow, we stand on a platform just above the brown, murky water. The current is forceful, and if we fall in, it would easily drag us down.

“What ar
e you thinking, Phi?” Tia smirks as she eyes me.

“I’m thinking I’m more worried about falling in the river because the bacteria and fecal matter may melt my flesh off than I am about the current
that could drag me under.”

“We’re not going to fall in. Are w
e, Pedro?” She turns and asks the man that has helped us fasten our harness and is hooking Tia to the zip line.

“Si,”
he answers plainly.

“Told you.” She shrugs and turns back to me.

I give her a pointed look. “He has no idea what you just said, Tia.”

She gives Pedro a speculative glance.
“Probably not.” She nods in agreement as she tests her weight in her harness now that she’s hooked to the line. “You worry too much, Phi. Just relax. You’re going to love this.”

Pedro gives her a nod letting her know she can go when she’s ready.

“See you down there.” She beams a magnificent smile at me and squeals as she descends down the line. I watch her go, laughing and shaking my head.

A few minutes later, I’m zipping down the river myself, catching glimpses of the locals fishing and some children swimming.
I desperately want to yank them out of the river and douse them in Purell. When I reach the other side, Tia is waiting, removing her helmet, grinning like a goon.

“So what’d ya think?”
She knows I loved it and can’t wait to say,
I told ya so.

“Okay, it was fun.” I roll my eyes as a man help
s me unfasten my harness.

“Let’s grab a few drinks before
we head back.”

We stop at a
little riverside restaurant at the bottom of the mountain and order Coronas. They also serve fresh seafood caught right from the river, but we pass on food. “I’m glad you came, Phi. Are you having a good time?”

“Yeah. I am.
” It’s the truth, too. “It’s just I know when I get back I have some tough decisions to make.” I sip my beer and stare out over the water.

Tia leans back nodding, knowing exactly what I mean.
“What do you think you’ll do?”

I snort. “I honestly have no idea. I don’t want to break up my family, but I’m so angry with him I don’t
know what to do.” My family is my world and I know keeping it together is a must, but how? How do I move on from this hurt and anger? How do I let Brandon touch me again without the image of him kissing another woman clouding my mind?

“Have you told him that?” Tia sips her beer.

“I’m sure it was fairly obvious when I walked in on him kissing another woman.”

She stares out at the water a moment before asking,
“Do you think he’s cheated before?” Her gaze remains on the water and I know she is hiding her own concerns.

I shake my head and sigh.
Truthfully, no, I don’t think so, but how can I be sure? I never worried about Brandon cheating on me. I thought we were solid, but I was really wrong about that. “He says that nothing has ever happened before that.”

“So tell me what led up to this
, Phi. Were you guys okay before this?”

“I don’t kno
w, Tia. I thought we were happy. I mean, things were comfortable, I’ve told you that, but I had no idea we were in that kind of territory. I keep trying to pinpoint
where things changed between us.”

“What do you mean?”

“Where we stopped being insane about each other and turned into…whatever we are.”

“Do
you still love him?” Tia asks and her gaze meets mine again.

Even after everything, I do love Brandon. “Yeah, I do.” I nod.
“I know no matter what happens, no matter how hurt and angry I am with him, I’ll always be in love with him. He’s the one.” I shrug and sip my beer again.

“Do you think he wants to stay married?”

“He said he did before he left with the girls, but when I talk to him on the phone I keep thinking he’ll try to engage with me or fight for me, but he’s short. I don’t know if it’s what he wants anymore.” A tear slips down my cheek, and I quickly wipe it away. “I feel like a fool. How could I have been so blind?”

“Phi. Look at me.
” Tia puts her hand on mine and leans towards me. Her big brown eyes stare at me. “Do you think you did your best in your marriage?” Her gaze is so intense I have to look away.

“Could I have done things better, probably, but I really thought I was doing what he wanted me to do. He was so bus
y, I thought he just wanted to come to me when he wanted to come to me. I took care of everything and waited for him.” I was always there for him. I never made him do anything and in my mind, I thought that was being a good wife.

“Well, right now, while you’re here with me, you’re Sophia. Not Brandon’s wife. Today we live for us.” She pats my hand and holds up her beer with the other hand. “To my sister, the most beautiful incredible woman I know.” I raise my beer and clink my bottle to hers before we drink.

***

It’s been three
weeks since we arrived in Mexico and Tia was right. Getting away has been wonderful. I miss my girls and even Brandon, but the time away has really allowed me to clear my head. I’ve done things with Tia in the past weeks I haven’t done in years; like staying up all night drinking and laughing. Antonio has taken us dancing and we’ve gone scuba diving. After a few too many beers one afternoon, Tia convinced me to get a tattoo. It’s a little heart on the lower part of my back near my hip bone. Not very exciting overall, but I played it safe: small, simple, and hidden.

“What does it say?” I a
sk Tia after the tattoo artist finishes hers. Antonio runs his finger across the words in Spanish, reading them out loud.

“It says,
I’m a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar,”
he answers me while staring into her eyes.

Tia smiles devilishly at h
im. “The freest spirit I ever laid eyes on.” He kisses her softly and I swoon. “The most beautiful, too,” he adds. This man is head over heels in love with my sister. It’s not hard to see she feels the same way about him, too.

I’ve watched them closely these three weeks. Antonio moves with Tia as if she may disappear. Knowing Tia, she may very well disappear. She’s a drifter, a non-committer. It
wouldn’t be surprising if she picked up and left Mexico without a word to Antonio. It’s what she does. Though, I hope maybe this time she’ll stay and throw herself into this because he’s a man she deserves. He treats her like gold.

***

I left this morning to do a little shopping while Tia and Antonio slept in. Most mornings they’re up before me, but there are days when I don’t see them until well into the afternoon. When I woke today and found the kitchen empty, I decided to explore on my own.

I’ve collected quite a few gifts for the girls and with this last batch of purchases I decide it’s time to ship them.
Every night I talk to the girls they ask me what I’ve gotten them. I told them I’d ship their gifts home and they’d have to wait until they returned from their grandparents to get them.

When I get back to the house around two in the afternoon, Tia and Antonio are on the patio in lounge chairs, baking in the sun. The day is warm, slightly humid, and I can’t help wishing I had a frozen margarita in my hand.

“Hey
, guys. Glad to see you finally woke up,” I laugh as plop down on the end of Tia’s chair. The movement I cause makes her grimace. “What’s up with you? Hit it too hard last night?”

“Yeah. I’m
not feeling well.” She shifts on her side towards me and gives me a half smile. “What did you buy?”

“Some more st
uff for the girls. I think I over did it. Where’d you put the other stuff we bought? I’m going to ship it home.”

“I packed it up and had Antonio send it all last week to your house. I thought you’d want it sent there.
I didn’t know you were going to buy more.”

“Oh.” I shrug surprised. “Thank
s, Antonio.” I guess I can pack the gifts I bought today in my luggage.

“My pleasure. I also threw in your copies from your shoot.” He grabs the
Corona next to his chair and sips it.

“Really? I haven’t even seen them yet.”

“I didn’t want to give you the chance to say they were bad so I picked the best ones and sent them with your package. You can toss them when you get home, but I think you’ll like them.”

“We’ll see.” I smile. Patting Tia’s leg
, I stand up and stare at her. She looks exhausted. “You two stay up too late playing last night?” I arch a questioning brow at Antonio who gazes at Tia. An odd expression comes over his face and he hops off his chair and runs a hand through his hair.

“Yeah, I guess we did.” His tone holds no humor and he seems agitated. “You want a beer? I need another.”
He doesn’t wait for a response, just turns and moseys into the house.

“What’s with him?”

“Oh nothing. We just played hard last night so he’s tired.” Tia waggles her eyebrows. Something seems off about her, but I can’t put my finger on it.

“Did you guys have a fight?” I ask concerned.

Tia smirks at me. “We only fight so we can make up.”

I place a hand on her forehead and she feels warm. “You have a fever.”

“I’m laying out in the sun. It’s hot.” She takes my hand and tosses it away.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You look…”

“Amazing. Yes, well I feel it so thank you.” She interrupts me. “Damn, Phi, can’t I just be tired? Stop mothering over me,” she whines.

“Alright.” I throw my hands up in defeat. “I’m going to go take a nap.” I leave her spread out on her lounge chair and head into the kitchen where Antonio is leaned on the counter, his head down like he’
s lost in thought.

“You two need to stop staying up so lat
e,” I chuckle and he raises his head, his eyes distant.

“Yeah
, I guess so.” He sips his beer and turns to open the fridge.

“Wel
l, I’m going to go take a nap,” I sigh and scurry up to my bedroom. For being so young these two look worn out. When I climb into bed I take my cell off the nightstand and dial Brandon’s number. I want to speak to the girls. Although I’m enjoying my time in Mexico, I miss them terribly.

“Hello.” Brandon answers, but I can barely hear him over all of the background noise from his end of the line.

“Hey, how are you?” I ask quickly.

“I’m fine. You?” His words are clipped.
What’s with the attitude?

“I’m good. I was hoping to speak with the girls. Are they with you?”

“No. I’ll have to call you later. Oh, could you text me the address where you’re staying, the girls made you cards they want to mail to you.”

“Ahh, that’s sweet. Yeah
, I’ll text it to you now.” I smile at the thought of my sweet girls. I do miss them tremendously.

“Okay, I’m sorry
, Soph, but I gotta run.”

“Okay. Talk to you soon. Tell the girls I love them.”

“Will do. Bye.” And the line goes dead. I quickly text Brandon Antonio’s address before tossing my cell back on the nightstand and curl up with my pillow. I wanted time away from Brandon to think about what we were going to do, but it seems Brandon is pulling away from me. Maybe he’s moved on.

Brandon

When the box arrived this morning, Chloe and Ferrah were squealing and hanging on my arms, begging me to open it.
I could see the box had been sent to our home in Alabama and realized Arlene must’ve forwarded it to me in New York. I’m sure Sophia didn’t mean for her to do that, but probably forgot to tell her.

“Daddy!”
the girls beg in unison.

“Fine
, girls,” I huff. “But go sit at the table and I’ll open it.” They obey and sit in their chairs, fidgeting as they wait.

I open the package and begin handing out the gifts Sophia bought them,
surprised there was no letter inside on top. Chloe and Ferrah
ooh
and
ahh
over everything and when I pull out the last gifts, two dresses, I find a large manila envelope in the bottom.

When I pull the envelope out I see there’s writing on it.

Sophia,

For a beautiful and sexy woman. May these pictures always remind you of that.

Antonio

My stomach flips
, and I have to steady my temper before I speak to the girls. “Girls, take your presents to your room and play with them, okay.”

“Yes
, sir,” they chime in unison as they collect everything and carry it with them. My hands tremble as I open the envelope and pull out the stack of photographs. The first one is of Sophia sitting on a bed in a bikini, sipping a glass of champagne, the ocean and beach a perfect backdrop. Her hair falls freely over her shoulders, her cheeks are red, almost as if she’s blushing and she stares at the camera teasingly. My mouth goes dry at the sight of it. This is my wife and
fuck,
she’s beautiful. The second photo is in black and white, Sophia sits naked facing the ocean, peeking over her shoulder at the camera. Closing my eyes I remind myself to breathe. What is this? Are these photos her lover took? I realize I’m biting my cheek as anger surges through me, but I have to keep looking. My hands tremble as I move to the next photo; Sophia facing the ocean, slightly turned back towards the camera, biting her lip seductively, her hands holding her hair in a messy bunch on top of her head. One breast barely peaks out from her side revealing her perfect nipple. My throat feels like it’s closing up.

You’re an idiot. She’s going to leave you. She’s fucking another man and she’s going to leave you. Way to fuck up the best thing that has ever happened to you.

The voice inside of my head wastes no time reiterating my worst fear. The next photo, Sophia lays on her side, the sheet covering her sparingly, exposing the perfect curve of her ass. In this photo she doesn’t look at the camera, she’s just stari
ng at some unknown thing, a sexy satisfied smile on her lips, and her beautiful hair spread out like a soft blanket around her head.

Stop being such a pussy and go get her back. You’ll never find another woman like her
. I have to get her back. I don’t care who she’s fucked. She’s mine, and I will get her back. Shoving the photographs back in the envelope, cursing Antonio’s name, I head to my laptop in the kitchen. Fifteen minutes later, my flight to Puerto Vallarta is booked, and I’m packing my suitcase.

“Where are you going?” My father’s burley voice startles me.

“I’m going to get my wife back,” I reply grabbing my cell phone charger off my nightstand.

“It’s about damn time
,” My father grumbles. I told my father everything that happened, and while he has been supportive, he didn’t hesitate to tell me what a ‘dumb twat’ I am. Yes, he actually called me a ‘dumb twat.’

“Can you and Mom handle the girls?”

“Of course.” He nods, shoving his hands in his pockets. “And Brandon.” He says my name sternly so I stop and look at him. “You won’t find another one like her. A good woman is worth begging for. Don’t let your pride get in the way.” With that he nods and exits the room, calling, “Have a safe trip.” Momentarily I wonder if he knows this from experience, but I quickly shake that thought off. I have no time to think about my father’s possible indiscretions. I have my soul mate to get back.

I toss the envelope of Sophia’s photos on top of my clothes and zip my suitc
ase. It’ll be almost twelve hours before I get to Puerto Vallarta. Maybe that’s enough time for me to figure out what the hell I’m going to say. Darker thoughts swarm my head, like Sophia making love to Antonio on the beach, or Antonio going down on her. I don’t even know what Antonio looks like, but in my imagination, he’s a Mexican version of Fabio. How can I compete with that?
Hey, Soph, please leave your God-like lover and come back to your shitty husband that took you for granted.
I’ve got a real strong sales pitch.

I’m terrified of what will happen, but win or lose, she’s worth it. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me, my rock, my soft place to land. Sophia makes me a better man and somehow I forgot that. I’ve always loved her, appreciated her, but I forgot to tell her, show her. I just hope I’m not too late now.