Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I told her the reason I couldn’t forgive her was because I resented her for everything that happened with my brother. Told her it was wrong, and that’s on me. But it was nice to get it off my chest.”
“I thought you said that to her already?”
“Not quite as explicitly, though. We didn’t leave on a good note or a bad note. And maybe that neutrality is a good thing.”
She started to rub my arm, the touch of her fingertips so subtle but loving at the same time. “Why don’t you go out with your friends tonight? Get some drinks and blow off some steam?”
“Why would I want to do that when I can be home with you?”
Her eyes deepened in affection before a gentle smile shone through. “That’s sweet. But I can tell you’ve had a long day. Might be nice to do something fun.”
“Then come with us.”
“It’s okay, Constantine. We don’t have to do everything together.”
“I know we don’t. But I’d like to.”
She moved past me and pressed a kiss to my chest on the way. “I’ll be fine. It’s not like I can drink anyway.”
I sent a group text to the boys to meet me at Daiquiri, and Antonio was the first one to arrive. I’d already had two drinks since I got there, needing the booze to take the edge off the shit day I’d had.
Antonio clapped my hand in his when he got there and took a seat. “Still drunk from the wedding?” he teased.
“That hangover was the worst, man.”
He chuckled before he looked at the menu. “Aurelia still around?”
“Yeah. Good thing I didn’t throw up.”
“That you remember . . .” He waved for the waiter’s attention and ordered his drink. “Why isn’t Aurelia here?”
“She told me to go out without her. She can’t drink anymore, so I kinda feel bad doing it around her.”
“Yeah, I get that.”
“I also had a day from hell.”
“Isabella?” he asked.
“Yeah, how’d you know?”
“Beatrice told me. She heard the two of them going at it in the restaurant.”
“And she didn’t do anything?” I asked, mildly hurt.
He shrugged.
Why did my mother understand loyalty so well, but my sister was oblivious to it?
“To be fair, Beatrice said Isabella was a little over the top.”
But my sister didn’t do anything, and that’s what mattered. “That’s actually not on my mind. I went to Palermo today to talk to Tommaso.” I told him the whole thing and the shitty predicament I’d gotten caught in.
“Is she cute?”
I shot him a glare.
“I mean for someone else . . . or maybe me.”
I continued the glare.
“All right, never mind.”
“He forced me to keep my end of the deal, and I feel like shit about the whole thing.”
“Why?”
“Because it was inappropriate. I shouldn’t have been there.”
“But you didn’t want to be there. You just did your time and left. You really think Aurelia will be mad about that? You’re like the most loyal guy on the planet.”
“I don’t think I’ll lose her or anything, but she might be a bit ticked.”
“If she’s so reasonable about Isabella, I really doubt she’ll be unreasonable about this.”
“Yeah, fair point.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it. I mean, you don’t even need to tell her since there isn’t much to tell.”
“No, I’ll tell her.” If it was something I wanted to hide, then that meant I needed to come clean. I preferred honesty and full transparency. I was an honest person because it was the right way to be, but I also couldn’t handle the guilt of deceit. So my honesty didn’t come from strength . . . but weakness. “Just not today. I’m so fucking tired.” I sank into the chair and took a drink.
“Yeah, that’s fair.” Antonio looked toward the stairs. “Francesco and Aldo are here.”
“Great, let’s get the party started.”
We sat together for an hour or two, ordering more drinks and eating the appetizers they continued to bring out. Being with the boys made me forget all the bullshit that happened that day, so I finally let it go.
The guys shot the shit about some of the girls they were talking to, we argued about football for a while, talked about heading to the beach next weekend to jump off the cliffs. I’d been jumping from the rock since I was a boy, and it was the first time I felt hesitant to do it.
Because people depended on me.
Aurelia, Medusa, and now someone I hadn’t met yet.
My whole perspective on life had changed ever since Aurelia told me about the little one growing inside her. Everything was easier but also more complicated. My life seemed to have more value, not because of my importance, but because of the impending responsibility of fatherhood.
“Oh no . . .” Antonio’s eyes followed someone who’d stepped onto the terrace.
That caught my attention, so I followed his gaze.