Chapter 34
ISLA
It had been two days since I last spoke to Ciro. He called several times a day and texted, but I deleted his messages. I thought about changing my phone number or blocking him, but as those thoughts entered my mind, Pippa stopped me from reacting emotionally.
Eventually, I’d talk to Ciro.
There was no place for being immature when my innocent baby was involved. My daughter kept me stable. I would do anything to preserve her relationship with her father because I knew the pain a child experienced not having a daddy around. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, especially not my daughter.
“Hey, how are you doing?” Falina asked, leaning against the counter.
I shrugged, focusing on the vegetables I was chopping.
“Still not taking his calls?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I have nothing to say to him.”
“I understand. You’re right to ignore him.”
I blinked in surprise. “Wait, what? You understand?”
“Yeah, I do. He’s a player. Most dashing, sexy-as-fuck billionaires are. I’m sorry I encouraged you to give him a chance.”
“Where’s all this coming from?” I set the Santoku knife down before I dropped it on my foot or chopped off my finger.
Falina pulled out her phone and grimaced. “I sort of followed him everywhere. He was tagged in some pictures.”
I peered over her shoulder. It was Ciro and the redhead kissing. He helped her into his car. They drove off together.
“Yes, aren’t they lovely?” I resumed chopping. “Those were from the other day. Fresh scandalous images should appear at any moment. We wouldn’t want the public to get bored with stale photos.”
“I’m so sorry, Isla.”
“So am I. But hey, at least I know, right?” I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
“You’re handling this a lot better than I expected.”
“What choice do I have? I need to think of Pippa. Obviously, I suck at picking men.” I laughed because what else could I do?
“There’s one man who might be the real deal. He’s had his eye on you since day one.” Her eyes went wide as Jon entered the kitchen from the back door.
“I’m not ready to let another man into my heart.”
“Who said anything about love? You need to treat yourself. Take a break from being a mom and be a woman… with Doctor Jon.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
He flashed a broad smile our way. “Hey, how’s it going?” Jon put his stuff in his locker and took out his apron.
“Hi.” I smiled back.
“Jon, I got your message about leaving at seven. It’s no problem,” Falina said.
“Thanks. I got called in to work a twelve-hour shift in the ER.”
“How very Grey’s Anatomy.” Falina fluttered her eyelashes. “I love that show.”
“Yeah?” He chuckled. The deep rumble tickled my stomach. “The real deal isn’t quite as exciting as the show. Are you a Grey’s fan too, Isla?” He stared down at me with an arched brow.
I screwed up my face. “Heck no. I don’t like blood. I’m the girl who faints at the sight of it.”
“Good to know. I’ll be ready to catch you if you ever faint.” He issued me a slow wink.
My insides felt weird. I didn’t like it. The last thing I needed was to be confused.
“Do you like baseball?” he asked in a serious tone.
I tilted my head, trying to gauge where he was going with his question.
“As in the Giants? I have two tickets. They’re playing the Dodgers.”
“Oh… Um…” Was he asking me on a date?
Falina elbowed me like a weirdo as she walked away, as if Jon didn’t notice her urging me to accept his invite.
“We can go as friends.” As if going as friends made all the difference. I might have friend-zoned him, but he clearly liked me. Even Falina thought so.
“Isla,” Chris called from the kitchen door. “Someone’s asking for you on line two.”
“That’s strange.” I wiped my hands on a rag and headed for the phone on the wall. Saved by an unknown caller. I hoped Jon would forget about asking me to the game, but he probably wouldn’t. “This is Isla.”
“Don’t hang up.”
“Ciro?” My heart seized. “How dare you bother me at work.”
“You weren’t answering my calls or texts.”
“For good reason. I don’t want to talk to you.” Was he for real?
“Please let me explain.”
“No. And don’t call here again.” I ended the call.
I knew Ciro well. He wouldn’t call here again. It surprised me he tried the bistro at all. He must’ve been desperate. Good.
Jon nudged my shoulder. “So, how about the game? Just as friends.”
“When is it?”
“Friday at seven.”
It was rare for me to have a Friday off. Going out could be fun and if Ciro came like Paolo said he would, then Daddy Ciro could spend the evening babysitting.
“I do like baseball,” I replied to Jon. I remembered that my dad was a huge Dodger fan and never missed a game on the television.
“Is that a yes?” A hopeful grin stretched across his face.
“Yes. As friends.” I needed to get on with my life, and there wasn’t a better time to get on with it than the present.
“Fantastic. We’ll grab dinner at the stadium, unless you don’t like that sort of thing. I’m open to anything you want.” If he didn’t seem so dang innocent, I’d think he was letting me know he’d give me anything I wanted.
“No, no. We can eat at the game. My ex might be here to see the baby, so we won’t have time to grab dinner before the game.”
“Here to see only the baby?” he asked.
“Let’s just say, things are complicated right now.”
“Fair enough.”
Jon went out into the dining room, and I returned to chopping veggies. He was a decent man. Kind and funny. Hell, he was going to be a doctor. Jon was every parent’s dream for their daughter. Maybe going on a date with him, even as friends, was what I needed to get over Ciro.
Not that I wanted to get over Ciro, but I needed to. It was apparent he hadn’t changed and was otherwise involved.
I shouldn’t be so angry. He was a free man, like I was a free woman. It just hurt a lot, especially so soon after we had sex and he’d been saying all the right things.
Stupidly, I had let myself start to hope.
Jon strutted into the kitchen with a broad smile. He acted like all he wanted was a chance to prove to me he could make me happy. Part of me believed he probably could. The other part of me knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I’d compare him to Ciro.
No more. I wouldn’t let Ciro or my father have so much power over me. My dad had shown me men couldn’t be trusted. I’d just refused to believe all men were like him.
I quietly laughed. Stupid, stupid Isla.
Ciro hadn’t been some great mystery. He’d been upfront with me in the beginning, never hiding his true colors. He hadn’t lied about who he was or what his expectations were.
I was the fool. A hopelessly-in-love fool.
If Ciro stayed away, I’d be okay. If he didn’t, he’d weaken me.
Why did I love a man I couldn’t have? Why couldn’t I have fallen in love with someone who wanted the same things as me? Someone like Doctor Jon?