Page 99 of Nailing Heat

“Yes, peace of mind in knowing that I wasn’t making it all up in mind.”

“Makes sense.” I sigh.

“Why did you really ask me here, Dex? What is this really about? Are you looking for me to explain to your girlfriend that we really are divorced now?”

I shake my head, “No, no that’s not it. I realized that I neverapologized to you about all I put you through. I confirmed it. I never apologized, I never said I was sorry.” I swallow hard. “I am really sorry for all the cheating and lying. That wasn’t fair to you. I should have left you, not cheat on you until you couldn’t take it anymore. That isn’t fair. I’m really sorry, Elise.”

She gives me a shy smile. “Wow, Dex. I never thought that I would ever get that kind of an apology from you. It means a lot, it really does. I guess it was unfair to you, the way I handled things this morning.”

“I call it karma. I was probably due for some bad karma. And you have certainly earned the right to be the one who gives it to me.”

“We had some good times though, right? It wasn’t all bad. I wasn’t the world’s worst wife, right?”

“No, you weren’t,” I admit. “I think we should have communicated better. It wasn’t you; it was me too. We shouldn’t have gotten married.”

“So, this divorce is a blessing,” she says with a laugh.

“I think so.” I run a hand down my face.

“Good to know.” She pauses for a moment then rises. “I’m going to go. While I still have this last nice memory with you. And I promise, should you move on again, or get back with your soccer girl, I will stay far away. I have no intentions of coming to wreck your life. Heck, I didn’t even mean to really do it this morning.”

“Oh, come on, part of you found that fun.”

She shrugs, “Yes, part of me did.”

I stand up and hold my arms out to her. “One last hug?”

“Sure,” Elise slowly steps into my arms.

I squeeze her tight and kiss the top of her head. “Take care of yourself, Elise.”

“You too, Dex.”

I watch Elise walk away and I shoot August a text.

Dex:You back at your place now?

He answers immediately.

August:Yep, me and your stuff are here.

I send a thumbs up and head to what will be my new home until August can find me something else.

August’s house is exactly what I expected it to be. It’s in a building in downtown Tampa, that has a doorman. The living space is vast and open. The couches aren’t leather, which does surprise me, but he has sports memorabilia hanging all over. I see there’s a framed picture of the Blaze standing with August.

I walk over and see if I can find Amelia in it. I can. I find her rather quickly; it’s like my eyes are drawn to her. She is slightly bent, hands resting on her knees, grinning at the camera.

“If I catch you beating off to the picture, I will kick you out,” August teases me, coming from the hallway.

“Fuck off, man, you won’t,” I reply back, giving him the finger in the process.

“Sure, you won’t.” He walks over and claps me on the back. “How are you doing?”

I sigh. “Well, in the span of the last eight hours, I’ve had to see my ex-wife twice and lost Amelia. So not so great.”

“Why did you see her twice?”

“I met her while she was waiting for her flight. I felt that I owed her an apology for everything,” I say with a shrug.