Some Came Desperate: A Love Saga (40 page)

       Simone nodded.  “I know.  That’s why she started sleeping with Jeremy.”

       Nick was surprised.  “With Jules old man?”

       “Yep.  We caught her and Jeremy together.  Jules had found Shay’s gun and was going to blow both of them where they undoubtedly belonged.  But God had mercy and I was able to stop her.”

       “Thank God.”

       “Yes.  That’s why we left right then and there.  Jules couldn’t stay in Miami a  moment longer, and I needed to breathe too.  So she came to Atlanta with me.”

       “Looks like she’s doing well.”

       “Oh, she is.  Got her real estate license and started doing the kind of work she always wanted to do.  She’s real successful with it, too.  Bought her a beautiful home and everything.”

       “And whatever became of Serita?  Or Shay as you call her.”

       “She and Jeremy called themselves hooking up after Jules left, but that lasted about a good month.  Now Shay’s in jail for beating up some man’s wife.”

       Nick shook his head.  “That sounds like her.”

       “She had the nerve to beg me and Jules to get her out of jail.  I couldn’t believe it. She actually thought all of that dirt she pulled on us was justified because we left her behind when we were kids.  I used to fall for that nonsense, Nick. I used to really carry that guilt everywhere I went.  But enough is enough.  And fooling with Shay has put me way on the outside of enough.”

       Simone had changed. Nick liked what he saw.  So much so that he became suddenly desperate to have her back in his life.  “Listen, Simone,” he said leaning forward, unable to shield his desperation, but she cut him off.

       “No, Nick,” she said.

       “Simone, please.”

       “No.  We can’t.”

       “But I’m not married anymore.”

       “That’s not all there is to this, Nick, and you know it.  We’re not good together.  It never works out for us.”

       “But maybe it will this time.”

       “No,” Simone said firmly.   “Now if that was the reason you came here, then I strongly suggest you go on back where you came from because the answer is now and will always be no.”

       Nick’s heart dropped.  It was definite.  Although he kept trying, using all kinds of pleas, he finally realized that he was wasting his time.  Simone was through.

       He said his goodbyes, making clear that if she changed her mind she could find him at the Amberdale hotel.  Then he even attempted to lighten the mood.  “Thank goodness I purchased a round trip ticket,” he said as he stood.  Simone tried to smile at his attempt at levity, but she nor he could pull it off.  He left.

***

Later that night, when Simone was back at home attempting to forget Nick, all she could think about was Nick.  He looked so heartbroken when she had told him no.  He looked so unglued.  Then she realized this was not about his well-being, but her own, and she tried to forget about Nick again.  Only she failed again, as she lay on her livingroom sofa, the quiet loneliness of her condo now bothering her, and thought endlessly about Nick.  And how much she still loved him.  And how much she would have loved to have him back in her life.

       Then as the minutes ticked away and her heart continued to break, something happened.  She realized as if she had never realized it before that she can have him back in her life.  Why couldn’t she?  His wife was gone.  He had properly grieved for her as he should have.  She had no one.  Why couldn’t they be together?

       Simone grabbed her purse and her car keys and ran out of the door.  Why indeed, she thought as she ran.

       Only she was too late.  The desk clerk at the Amberdale hotel stated that Nick Perry checked out nearly two hours ago and took a cab to the airport.  Simone, feeling defeated but still determined, took off for the airport too.

       Only she was too late.  The flight to Miami left nearly thirty minutes ago.  She was too late. 

       Tears began to stain her eyes as she drove herself back home.  She and Nick were never meant to be.  It was as obvious as the writing on the wall.  And her last ditch effort to exchange fate, to somehow correct what was probably not an error to begin with, only made her feel worse.  Why couldn’t she just forget about that man and go on with her life?  She had managed all this time.  How could she allow his mere presence to throw her so off her game? 

       She parked her car in her condo’s garage and took the elevator to her seventh floor.  When she stepped off of the elevator and rounded the corner to her condo, she almost wanted to break down in tears.  Not because of what she just knew was her loss, but because Nick suddenly appeared.  Nick was standing at her front door.  Her heart soared.

       She walked slowly, deliberately, to that door. 

       “Hello, Simone,” he said. 

       “How long have you been here?” she asked him.

       “Over an hour,” he said.  “I would have waited here all night if I had to.  And I know already.  I know your answer is no.   But Simone, mine isn’t.  This idea that we’re not meant to be together is nonsense.  Or I wouldn’t be here.  Or I wouldn’t still love you as if you were the only reason I get out of bed every day.  I’m not going anywhere, Simone.  Not until there’s no doubt in my heart.  Not until you tell me that you don’t love me anymore.”

       Simone stared at Nick.  And she knew it was true too.  They had to be meant for each other.  Or her love would have weakened too.  But it hadn’t.  It was stronger.

            She walked up to her front door, unlocked it, and then stepped aside.  She invited him into her condo, and, while she was at it, into her life.