My heart gets heavy, and my voice cracks. “I can’t go back. So… when I can. I’ll find a way to disappear again.”
“You know I got you. Whatever you need.” She says it, but I know her just as well, I hear her tears through the phone. “It’s just… I don’t want you to disappear again.”
This is what I was afraid of.
“I know, and I wasn’t going to call. But I couldn’t not. He hurt me, Ria. He hurt me a lot. I can’t go back.” The silence lingers and there’s nothing left to say. “I’ll see you tonight, okay?”
“Okay.” Her voice sounds as broken as my heart feels. “I love you, Lilly.”
“Love you too.”
21
Ren
Walkingoutthatdoortook all my strength. Not breaking down the fucking door to get to her, took even more. It wasn’t easy leaving her alone. I wanted so much to take her in my arms and make everything all right. To hold her and tell her to give it all to me. She’s not alone, never again.
But she needed space, and that’s what she got.
It’s been a few hours since I left her. Sleep was impossible, so I spent most of that time in the gym, trying to work out all the rage I felt listening to her cries.
It didn’t help.
My phone rings when I set the percolator on the stove to make her coffee. Then I look at my phone.
My father.
An early morning phone call, this can’t be good.
“Good morning, father.”
“Buongiorno figliolo, come stai?” His accent is thick even though he’s been in the country since he was a child.
“Same day, different shit. You know how it is.”
“Ah, but you are wrong.” He sounds more upbeat than I’ve heard in a long time. “My son is getting married and I’m going to be a grandfather soon.”
“Holy shit, is Amari pregnant?”
“Why do you say such stupid things for?”
A laugh slips out, stirring him up is not only a lot of fun but the only way to deal with a ridiculous statement like that.
“That house is too big for just the two of you. I’m not getting any younger. I want to meet my grandchildren before I die.”
My father is the master of the Italian guilt trip. But it’s not going to work on me, so I let out a deep breathe, not wanting to fight.
“Is there a reason you called papa, cause we’re just about to head out for work?”
He lets out a gruff grunt, but thankfully drops it. “Si, I’ve been thinking about tomorrow night’s dinner.”
“Ah huh.”
“It’s too much to expect your fiancé—?
“Lilly.”
“Si, Lilly. To prepare dinner for the entire family so soon. So, we’ll have it at Alberto’s.”