‘And a year? What then, Rafael?’
His frown deepens. ‘Don’t push me, Faye.’
‘Don’t push you for more?’ My eyes widen, pressing him to admit what he cannot give. Pressing him to admit what I need to hear.
‘I want you to stay.’
‘And I want you to commit to more.’
He shakes his head.
‘Why didn’t you want Dani and Tyler to marry?’
‘What’s that got to do—?’
‘Just tell me. It’s quite clear how much they love one another.’
‘You know why.’ He studies me intently as his shoulders sag and his hand falls away to rake through his hair. ‘Why do we have to discuss it?’
‘I want you to explain it to me. I want to hear it from you.’
He eyes me carefully and eventually speaks. ‘I’ve told you before. Love isn’t something you can control. It doesn’t guarantee you happiness. It isn’t a certainty. And, when it’s taken from you, it has the power to ruin you, to destroy you and make you...make you bitter, twisted, lost...’
‘Like your mother was?’
He swallows. ‘Si.’
‘And now? Do you still feel the same after seeing your mother with Giovanni? After seeing Tyler and Dani so happy? Your cousin, Sienna, with Lorenzo?’
He’s silent and I smile. But it is a sad smile. Regretful. ‘It’s okay, Rafael, I understand. I just needed to hear you say it.’
‘I don’t want to be that weak, Faye.’ He stresses the words. ‘Never that weak.’
I place my palm on his chest, both sympathetic and distraught in one. ‘I do understand.’
I kiss him because I can’t help myself, because I can’t walk away without feeling his lips on mine once more. As I drop back, I bite back the tears to say, ‘But please understand that I can’t continue this. I have to go back to my life. It’s better for us both.’
‘I’m not asking for a lifetime, just a week or two or...’
My sad smile grows. ‘That’s just the thing, Rafael. I’d gladly give you a lifetime. I’d lo—’
‘What the hell?’
The exclamation comes from the open doorway.
Dani.
Shit.
* * *
‘I knew it! Cazzo se lo sapevo!’
My sister is steaming, shoving her sunglasses back from her eyes and storming into the room, slamming the door closed behind her.
‘How could you, Rafael? How the fuck could you?’
‘Calm down, Dani. It’s okay,’ Faye rushes out, turning away from me, a panicked hand raised up to ward Dani off.