Men of Mayhem by Anthology Read Free Book Online

finished rehab, you could dance again.”
    I rubbed my hands along my thighs. “Not exactly. He said I might be able to dance again, but that he couldn’t guarantee anything.” I lowered my voice. “A ruptured Achilles tendon can be a career-ending injury for a dancer.”
    “So you gave up without knowing for sure.”
    “I was busy.” Even as I said the words, I realized they were a lie. In actuality, the thought of packing up my bags and crawling back to Nebraska scared me to death. When Kevin proposed, I seized the opportunity to focus on something other than the end of my childhood dreams. I put my career on hold and micromanaged every detail of our wedding plans.
    Carmela jumped up and clapped her hands together. “Well, let’s pack your stuff and get you out of here before Kevin shows up. I’m not sure you’re strong enough to face him yet.”
    I would’ve argued with her, but Carmela knew the truth, so I didn’t bother. “Where to? I don’t have money to rent my own place.”
    Carmela looked pointedly at my finger, where I still wore my two carat custom designed wedding ring. “Pawn your engagement ring. It will pay for a few months of your living expenses and physical therapy. But tonight, you have me, and that means you can stay at my place until you figure out how to put the pieces together.”
    Exhaling loudly, I twisted the ring on my finger, contemplating pawning it for cash. I never liked it. I told Kevin I wanted a sapphire, not a diamond, and something rough-cut, not refined and uptight like the ring he designed for me. He never listened to me. Everything revolved around him and what he wanted.
    When Kevin had to work late, I convinced myself he had to finish a few commissioned paintings.
    When I saw a red lipstick stain on his collar, I attributed it to paint.
    When he spent an entire party introducing his protégée to all of his friends and ignoring me, I called him a good mentor.
    “Don’t you think I should give it back?”
    Carmela’s eyebrows shot up. “No, you caught him screwing another woman in his art studio. Consider it your severance package.”
    “Yuck.”
    “Which part?” she questioned.
    “Both.” I took off the ring and stuffed it into my pocket. It didn’t mean anything, and all things considered, it never had. “I feel so dumb,” I mumbled.
    “Why? He took advantage of you. He should feel dumb. You, on the other hand, should feel lucky you found out before you married him.”
    I shoved my tangled strawberry blonde hair away from my face. “Not about the cheating, although that is embarrassing, but after we’d been dating for a month, I asked him what color my eyes were.”
    “And?” she said, her eyebrows furrowed as she planted her hands on the sides of her hips.
    “He said blue. Can you imagine? My eyes aren’t even close to blue. What a fucking loser.”
    She shook her head.
    “He could have said brown or hazel, but no, he said blue. I shouldn’t have talked to him again after that, but I kept making excuses because I wanted the fairy tale.” I tipped my head to the ceiling. “Now look at me.”
    “You’re right where you’re supposed to be.”
    I scoffed. “Broken, depressed, and unemployable.”
    “No, you’re smarter and more worldly. Every girl needs a reality check now and then, and now that you’ve had yours, you’ll be smarter next time.”
    My phone vibrated on the coffee table again. “He’s getting impatient,” I commented, watching the phone skip across the slick, dust-free surface.
    “Then, let’s move.”
     

     
    Gian
     
    “No way, Carmela. I won’t even consider it.” I picked up a towel and wrapped it around the back of my neck as I walked out of my home gym. “Stop asking.”
    “Gian, you need a personal assistant, someone to stock your kitchen, water your plants, go to the dry cleaners, and stop by the house when you’re out of town,” she yelled after me. Her four-inch red heels clicked against the wood floors