MC: LaPonte by L. Ann Marie Read Free Book Online

figuring
them out." She says almost shy like.
    The breath I was holding
whooshes out, "thank fuck. I know I don't deserve a second chance,
you won't regret it."
    "Danny we need to talk,
really talk. I see where I've let this whole thing with you change
me. I don't like what I'm seeing. You may not like what I need to
do in order to make a decision about us." She sounds like she's
frowning. Jesus, my shit not only hit her but fucked with her
life.
    "I'm sorry I put you where
you are right now. Whatever you need, I'm behind it. I'm not asking
for a decision Kate. Just a shot before you make one. We use to be
friends. I'd like the chance to start from there." My brain is
chanting 'say yes'.
    "I'd like that. I have a
couple of days off, would you like to take me to breakfast
tomorrow?" She's back to shy but I hear her smile.
    "I'll be there at nine.
Thanks for the shot Kate." My throat is tight. Fuck.
    "See you tomorrow." She
says softly and I get dead air.
    Fuck. I sit on the porch
going over everything I can remember her saying. I'm going get back
to the guy I was and win her back.

Chapter Six
    I'm just walking out the
club doors with the last of the shit from my room when I feel a
hand on my shoulder. "Danny I need some help man. I got a run
Friday but I have to be in court. Can you take it for me? Just
running from Boston shipyard to Providence. Group of eight
going."
    "Sure Bob. What time?"
I've done this run before it's just a ride along.
    He visibly relaxes. "Guys
pull out at six thirty am. I appreciate it man." He slaps my back
and heads back inside. I won’t tell him but I love subbing for
him.
    I make it to Kate's and
she's waiting for me on the porch before I can put the truck in
park she's opening the door. "I would have got that." I'm not sure
what to do here.
    "I got it, no need for you
to get out." She clips her belt without moving toward
me.
    "I was wondering what to
do here. If I would get a kiss but maybe that was too
presumptuous." I watch for her reaction.
    She looks at me and sighs.
"I need to figure out what I want Danny. I don't think I should
cloud my judgments or feelings anymore by jumping right back to
where we were. I'd like to talk to you but I don't want to do it
right here in my driveway."
    I shift and pull out.
"Ok." I drive to a diner across town. The silence is stifling. What
the fuck am I supposed to say? I park and she waits for me to get
the door. Thank fuck that didn't change. I'm feeling so low opening
her door gives me a lift. Fuckin pathetic.
    After we get our drinks I
tell the waitress we'll let her know when we're ready to order.
Kate takes a drink and looks at me. I'm scared shitless and wait
for her to start.
    "Since we've been seeing
each other I have not been with anyone else. We never talked about
exclusive so I can't even be angry at you seeing other people. I'm
hurt that you would be so blatantly open about the whores when I
know most of the guys from the club and see them regularly. I think
I'm more humiliated than anything else. It was a conversation I
overheard that clued me into your exploits with other guys and more
than one whore. When the guys look at me with pity, now understand
why, I never got it before. If I'm not enough for you, I think you
should have the balls to end us. Humiliation is not a mask I enjoy
wearing." She looks at me with tears in her eyes; she's trying to
blink them away.
    "I never meant to hurt
you. I didn't set out to hurt you Kate. I'm so sorry I did." She
nods but doesn't say anything. "When I got free of De I still had
Rich to look after. I did nothing that would show him anything but
how to be honorable and live with integrity. I wanted him to have a
good role model. I was determined to be that for him. When he left
I was free for the first time since I was nineteen. I was living
every fantasy I ever had. I never once thought about how that would
touch you. I always thought we'd end up together. The longer I
played the more I did. I was a fuckin