Sophie
I start crying the second I get in my car.
I don’t know what to do about Joey. I should have realized he wouldn’t let us go without a fight.
I respect that. He’s a man who knows what he wants and refuses to take no for an answer. Those are great qualities in a leader.
But right now, I really need him to back off. If he doesn’t, I may have to leave town even sooner than I planned.
As I drive home, I consider my options. You can’t tell a man like Joey what to do. I thought telling him I miscarried would make him back off, but apparently, he’s still all in with me.
That thought brings on full-on sobs.
God, I didn’t know it would hurt this much to lose him.
I didn’t think I was that attached to him. To a future with him. When did that even happen?
It doesn’t matter. I need to stay strong. I remember his mother’s words and steel my resolve. It wasn’t going to work and ripping off the bandage now is better than a fractured marriage years down the road.
His mother.
She might be the one person who could influence him to let me go.
When I get back to my place, I text my Aunt Marie and ask for Donna Teresa’s phone number.
There must be a god because Aunt Marie texts it to me without calling for an explanation.
I pick up the phone and call Donna Teresa, drawing a deep breath as I wait for her to answer.
“Donna Teresa? This is Sophie Palazzo.”
“Yes?”
“I wanted you to know that I considered your advice, and I’ve broken off the engagement with Joey.”
“You have.” She’s not giving me much back in this conversation, but that’s fine by me. I’m trying to get through it without breaking down.
“Yes. But I wondered if you could help me.”
“How, Sophie?”
“Joey won’t stop calling me and stopping by my work. I wondered if you could talk to him?” My voice starts to break on the last work, and I hit mute as I drag in a sobbing breath.
There’s a pause. “I see. Yes, all right. I will speak with him. Of course. Let me know if it continues.”
“I will,” I manage to choke out. “Thank you. Good night.” I end the call and hold the phone against my chest, weeping openly.
There. Now it’s over.
Now I really won’t hear from Joey again.
I wish that made me feel even one ounce better, but it doesn’t. It only makes me feel five million times worse.
ChapterSeventeen
Joey
“I’ll see your C note and raise you by another.” I toss two hundred dollar bills onto the table. My phone buzzes, and I glance at the screen. My mom. Great.