I tried to say something else, but the words failed me. My Licia was gone. I could barely recognize the lady standing before me.
Was I really being sentenced without a fair hearing?
“Fair hearing after twelve years?” A voice in my head mocked. “The case had long exceeded the statutes of limitations. It’s been thrown out of court.”
Licia went about her duties in utter silence. The atmosphere was tense. She limited contact with me to the barest minimum until Corbin’s arrival, and we were back to business as usual.
“Mr. Kevin, are we good to go?” Corbin asked with a smile.
I looked in Licia’s direction, but she didn’t meet my gaze. She looked busy or more like pretending to be.
“Yeah, sure.” I said, following Corbin to the gym. I wasn’t feeling like it anymore, but I couldn’t skip the sessions.
Whatever happened, I would get Licia to forgive me; even if it would be the last thing I do. Her forgiveness meant more to me than winning her heart.
Chapter Five
Licia
Joey and I had planned to experiment with a new recipe she’d found on a food channel. She had called several times to remind me, knowing it was my day off. Joey could be insistent and unyielding when she set her mind on something.
The phone screen lit up once more. It was Joey calling again, barely ten minutes after her last call.
I answered with a groan. “Joey, did I wrong you in a past life? Why are you bugging me?”
“Aren’t you grateful to have me? I bring joy to your life,” Joey replied, her voice tinged with mock hurt.
“That’s a rather bold assumption. What’s up now?”
She was relentless. “Nothing much. Just calling my favorite person to remind her about our little date. It’s been a while since we hung out.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me, Joey. Didn’t you just call me with this same reminder? Or should I blacklist you so I can have some peace?”
“You know you wouldn’t dare blacklist me. Is there a limit to how many times I can call my best friend?” She enunciated each word with playful mock hurt.
“No ma’am. Actually, you’ve been legally authorized to end me,” I laughed, finally propping myself up on my elbows.
“Licia, please drag your languid self off that bed and come here quickly. I have something juicy to tell you.”
“How did you know I was still in bed?”
“I know you too well. Now, get moving. I need you here in forty-five minutes, not an hour.”
“Fine, I’ll be there in forty-five minutes. And don’t forget the white wine on your way.”
I smiled. “Alright, boss.”
I took a long, warm bath, letting the water ease the accumulated stress from my body. My mind wandered to Kevin and our recent encounter.
Part of me wanted to hear him out; the other part leaned towards completely shutting him out. What could he possibly say that would change anything? I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“Should I tell Joey about my meetings with Kevin and that I’m his nurse?” I pondered aloud, but quickly dismissed the idea. It wasn’t the right time to talk about it. I was not in the right frame of mind to talk about it. Besides, who knew when he’d run off again?
I pulled out a white crop top and black high-waist jeans, along with white sneakers from my wardrobe, and quickly got dressed.
I wasn’t one to spend a lot of time in front of the mirror, but I always made sure to check my appearance before heading out. My outfit was casual yet presentable—a reflection of my typical style for a relaxed day out.
As I prepared to leave, my phone buzzed with a new message from Joey: “Just a reminder—wine!”
