Page 24 of King
Sheila snorted.“About what?What’s to think about?You’re the other woman—"
Mia cut her off.“I’m thinking about why I spent the night with a man who wants to get back with his ex-wife.”
Sheila laughed scornfully.“I know you spent the night inourbed.King fucks any eager woman he can get his hands on.You made it easy for him.You’re not special.It’s a challenge to him.He can’t help himself.”
Mia listened to Sheila, feeling a mix of emotions.She hated the doubt that was trying to creep in, and the anger at the possibility that she’d been used by King.She was angry at him for deceiving her, but she was also deeply disappointed that something that had felt so real was a lie.She felt sick inside and fought back tears.How had she misread the situation so badly?
Well, thingshaddeveloped quickly between them.
Mia wondered why Sheila would want him back.She didn’t look like the kind of woman who would tolerate infidelity.“So, you’re here to warn me to stay away from King?”
“I’m here to tell you that King is mine, and he’s always been mine.So don’t get your hopes up about him wanting anything meaningful or long term with you.He strays.It’s something I’ve learned to live with.”Sheila shrugged.“But he always comes back to me.”
So why had they divorced in the first place?Mia wanted to ask, but it was none of her business.If Sheila was okay with King’s infidelity, who was she to try and make sense of it?The concept wasn’t as far-fetched as some people might think.Jerry had a wealthy friend who’d kept a mistress on the side.His wife had been willing to turn a blind eye because she lived an affluent lifestyle and wanted to keep it.
Mia suddenly felt guilty and ashamed for falling so easily into King’s bed.She felt beyond angry and hurt.“So what you’re saying is that King is a cheat and a liar?And you’re just willing to forgive him?
“I love him.”Powerful words that explained everything.“And he loves me.”There was a slight pause before she added in a hardened tone that conveyed her true feelings, “Even while he’s fucking someone else in our bed.”
It was a bold comment that sounded a little desperate to Mia, as if Sheila was trying to convince herself of that.But love was a powerful emotion, and like Sheila had said earlier, she and King had history.Mia sucked in a deep breath and released it.She was suddenly over it.She needed time to think.
“Thank you for setting me straight.”She turned and went back inside before Sheila could say anything else and stood for a minute with her back against the door.She needed to pull herself together before she could face Sammy.So many emotions were running through her.She listened to Sheila’s car start outside, and then the crunch of gravel beneath her tires as she drove away.
The burning in Mia’s eyes warned her that tears were coming.She wasnotgoing to cry over that man!But it didn’t stop the feeling of embarrassment that washed over her.If what Sheila had said was true, she’d been played.She was a fool.
Deciding that she’d wasted enough time, she went back inside to find Sammy napping.Thank goodness.It would give her time with her own thoughts.
Later, when Sammy woke up, the two of them spent the rest of the day lounging on the sofa, watching movies, and eating pizza.Mia was happy to spend time with her cousin, but her thoughts kept drifting back to King.
As the day wore on and the evening approached, Mia grew increasingly restless.She should call King and confront him, but she knew she needed to wait a little longer, until she had calmed down enough to have an adult conversation with him.
Finally, as bedtime approached, and after she took Precious out one last time, Mia climbed the stairs to her room, knowing that she probably wouldn’t get much sleep.
Chapter 14
Mia