Mia
Francesca is seated with her back to me. I’m kind of glad, because it means she doesn’t see me hesitate as I approach the table. She doesn’t see me stop, and she doesn’t know how desperately I want to turn and flee.
The feeling I got when Mateo tried to make me leave, the feeling of having disappointed someone? I feel it now. I feel that way about Francesca. She was so sure I was perfect for him; she had me convinced I was some magical Beth reissue, and then all this happened.
Clearly she was wrong about me.
I’m going to hate sitting here seeing that on her face, but it can’t be put off anymore.
I force myself forward, gently touching her shoulder in greeting as I walk past.
She looks so much dimmer now. Last time I saw her beautiful face, she was glowing from within, on cloud nine as she became Mrs. Salvatore Castellanos.
Instead of letting me sit, she stands and comes over to my side, grabbing me and giving me a hug.
Oh man. I swallow, trying to keep from letting my mind go to the sad place. I guess Mateo isn’t here, so I technically can, but I don’t really want to start crying in public.
“I’m so sorry, Mia,” she whispers, fiercely. “I’m so, so sorry.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I know you loved Vince.” Just saying his name gets a lump lodged in my throat. The sting of tears threatens, but I manage to blink it away.
Pain flashes across her face as she looks away from me, easing back into her seat across from me. She doesn’t speak right away. I don’t either. I have no idea what to say.
After another minute of awkward silence, Francesca faintly shakes her head and says, “I don’t even… I don’t even know where to begin. What happened?”
I had hoped Mateo filled her in so I wouldn’t have to talk about this. “I don’t know what you know.”
“Literally nothing. Mateo told me Vince was gone, when I asked what happened… he said he threatened you?”
My stomach sinks with the weight of guilt. “He didn’t threaten me. Well…” I guess that’s not true, but Mateo has made that up in his mind; I’ve never, even now, confirmed that Vince threatened me. I guess it’s silly to keep covering his ass when he’s already dead, but I don’t want to risk Mateo feeling justified in what he did.
The server comes over and buys me a couple minutes, taking our drink order and telling us about today’s special. Once she’s gone, Francesca’s expectant brown eyes travel back to me, waiting for the rest of the story.
“Okay, so, I danced with Mateo at your wedding.” She nods, but there’s no shadow of eagerness this time. I’m mad at Mateo for ruining her excitement with his brutal reality. She was so excited about us, and now it’s impossible to feel joy over this union, knowing the cost. “He told me he wanted me. Didn’t explain, of course, just wanted to fuck with my head.”
Rolling her eyes, she says, “That sounds about right.”
“Yeah, so, he did. Vince was already mad, that didn’t help. Things got worse. Vince and I were fighting a lot, and I ended up staying at the mansion. Mateo…” I’m not altogether sure how to explain this part. “We…”
Since she’s not an idiot, she nods her understanding.
“Okay,” I say, slightly relieved. “Long story short, he asked if I could share.”
Frowning without comprehension, she asks, “Share what?”
“Share him.”
Her jaw drops open. “With the maid?”
“Not a maid anymore, but yes. With Meg. So that’s what we decided to do. And it was great. For three days. I wasn’t actually sharing, he spent each night with me, but, you know, honeymoon period. We got a three day honeymoon. Then I had to tell Vince we were over.”
Grimacing, she says, “That probably should’ve come up by then.”
“Right, but I’m an atrocious person,” I explain. “And I didn’t want to deal with the confrontation because I knew it wouldn’t go well. I was right. It went terribly. Vince didn’t want me to go, said he wouldn’t let me be with Mateo… it was really rough and horrible. Another long story short, I knew I wouldn’t be able to peacefully extract myself and I didn’t want bloodshed, so I told Mateo I changed my mind.”
Her eyes widen slightly, then drop to the table. “Well, that was a bad idea.”
“I didn’t know what else to do! They’re both crazy. I thought Mateo was more level-headed, and I would remind you, he still had a fiancée at home. It’s not like I was leaving him miserable. I should’ve been more expendable to him than Vince. But apparently not, because he lost his fucking mind, he came to our house, he was horrible, and… you know the end result.”