“One day at a time. And you’ve got Aunt Rosa on your side. No one fucks with Aunt Rosa.”
The idea of my future lying in her hands was terrifying. What if she found out what I did? Their marriage was a hot fucking mess, but she still loved the bastard. What if she wanted revenge?
“You going to finish that rice?” Frankie was already reaching for the container, and I pushed it toward him. “Thanks.”
“Add ‘you’re a bottomless pit’ to the list of Frankie facts.”
He gave a tight-lipped smile, digging into my second lunch.
And like that, our heart-to-heart was over.
Around closing time, Frankie got a call and had to step out. I checked my phone and saw I’d missed a call from Luca.
“You rang?” I wedged my phone between my ear and shoulder while packing up my laptop.
“Hey, baby. I’m going to be late getting home tonight. I had to head out of town, but I’m on my way back.”
“Okay?”
“We’ll talk when I get home.”
I sat back down, tossing my keys on the desk.
“Sasha?”
“What?”
“I love you.”
I sighed. “I love you too. Be safe.”
“Always.”
I hung up. After the weird cake tasting, I’d expected to talk to Luca and discuss what happened, but instead, I was about to go home to an empty house—again.
“You ready to go?” Frankie stood in the doorway, his brow furrowed.
“Yeah.”
I waved at everyone on the way out, not interested in small talk.
Once I was settled in the car, I asked, “Where’s Luca?”
“Driving home. You know that.”
“Let me rephrase. Where was Luca today?”
Frankie turned up the radio, not even looking at me.
Light rain hit the window, obscuring the view. My phone vibrated as we drove past Tower Grove Park, and I immediately flipped it over. BETH lit up the screen, and I frowned.
What the hell does she want?
I sent her to voicemail, knowing I’d never check it. I had more important things to worry about than Beth and her weird bouts of nostalgia.
EIGHT
Luca got home well after three a.m. and stayed in his office. He finally joined me in the bedroom when his clock radio alarm went off.