Sergio puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “We live for today because we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow. That’s how we deal with it. We live.”
But what if that’s not your choice?
I nod like I get it.
When my heart is squeezing so hard in my chest, I want to puke from the pain.
Because living isn’t an option, is it?
“Thanks,” I mutter.
“Everyone upstairs!” Dad yells. “Kids, set the table. Maks, Val says you’re the only one who does a good job on the sauce.”
“I do love a good sauce.” I joke, even though it feels like it falls flat and stupid. “Be right up.”
I stand only to have Sergio grab my arm. “You promise everything’s okay?”
I can’t lie to him, so I say the only thing I can. “Not now, but it will be.”
“Come to me,” he says seriously. “If for some reason… it ends up not being okay. Promise?”
“Yeah, of course.” I need to leave before I start crying like a little bitch that won’t see past next Sunday.
Tears well in my eyes as I jog across the gym and up the stairs. The shades are open, the rain is pounding the ground, and Val is standing in front of the stove with her hands on her hips. “Why does it do this every time?”
“Why do you forget the extra garlic every time and syrup?” I say behind her.
She’s gorgeous with her dark hair and hypnotic eyes, something that we never repeat to any of Sergio’s young kids for very obvious reasons considering she’s ten years younger than him.
“Damn it!” She stomps her red heel. “I knew it!”
“I’m here to help.” I wink.
I love cooking.
And since it’s my house, I’m able to help take charge while we move around the kitchen. Mom comes in later to make the salad and grab the wine. They fall into cheerful conversation as I start to set the table.
King soon joins me and starts drinking wine right away.
I smirk and look out the large window in front of the dining room; it opens up to a gorgeous fountain in our swimming pool.
I frown when I notice Sergio is out there in the rain staring up at the sky; he’s just standing there doing nothing.
Val comes up beside me. “He does that every time it rains.”
“Stands in it and catches a cold?” I ask.
She laughs and reaches for a glass of wine, pouring the red liquid into the glass and taking a sip. “No. She—Andi always loved the rain, wanted to be kissed in the rain, to dance in the rain. She was obsessed with it, so every time a fresh rain comes, he goes out for a few minutes and stands under the sky.”
I frown. “Why don’t you go out there and join him then?”
She puts her hand on my arm and smiles. “Because he already has a partner, Maks.”
“But—” I look from her to Sergio. “Doesn’t that make you jealous?”
“No.” Her smile is full of love. “She brought us together. The least I can do is let him have a few moments remembering what it was like to dance with her beneath the clouds before she was taken… love isn’t about wishing I had more of Sergio or being jealous because another woman had him first. It’s about understanding the stages of love and grief. He’ll always have a spot for her in his heart. What sort of monster would I be if I tried to steal that too when I have the rest of it already?”
Sergio turns and starts walking back inside. He’s soon in the kitchen grabbing wine. His eyes roam until he finds Val, then he’s striding toward her and pulling her into his arms, his mouth coming down on hers slowly, passionately.
She pulls back and looks up into his eyes. “How was the rain tonight?”
He smiles. “Not as warm as you.”
I read into it.
He stayed under the rain for minutes.
But he came inside to his wife.
His soul mate.
And I realize with jarring clarity that if I keep Izzy to myself these next few days, she’s going to be standing under the rain without anyone to come back to.
How cruel can a person truly be? To steal someone’s love and then leave them with nothing?
I won’t do it.
I refuse it.
I walk over to the corner of the room and dial Jenna’s number.
“What the hell do you want?”
“A favor,” I whisper.
“How long?”
“Five days.” I can barely get the words out. “Then you’ll never have to see me again.”
She sighs. “Are you going to tell me what this is about?”
“No.” I watch Izzy as she walks into the kitchen with Serena and laughs. “Just think of it as saving someone’s heart.”
“Huh?”
“Be yourself.”
“As opposed to?”
“Come to my house tonight, in the next hour. I’ll give you one of my cars when this is all done.”