Chapter 36
ISLA
I gobbled up the sushi Alba brought me, purposely stuffing my mouth so I couldn’t talk. She watched in amazement and anticipation. Of course, I didn’t want to talk after I’d received the call from Roman.
His deception made me furious.
I knew Ciro had put his brother up to it and that the entire Remotti clan had been listening. They’d always been a tight-knit family but putting me on speaker had taken it too damn far.
“Would you like a glass of wine to wash it down?” Alba asked, pouring herself a glass of Pinot Grigio.
I shook my head as I chewed. I would love a glass, but I’d vowed not to drink alcohol while nursing Pippa. One glass wouldn’t harm her, I knew as much. It was a personal choice, and I wouldn’t let Ciro Remotti make me break my promise to myself and my daughter.
“I brought Pellegrino, too.” She removed the green bottle from the bag.
I nodded enthusiastically.
Alba sighed and filled my glass. “Eventually, the sushi will be gone, and you’ll have to tell me what happened.”
I slowly chewed and swallowed my delicious food.
“You might be thinking, why did Alba ask what happened?” She tapped her manicured nail on her puckered lips, dramatically.
I remained silent.
“I’ll tell you why,” she continued.
I knew she would.
“Because you requested spicy crab roll, and the only time you eat spicy crab roll is when Ciro has done something.” She placed my mineral water in front of me. “Drink. Then talk.”
“It should be a crime to know me so well.” I rolled my eyes and gulped my beverage. Nigiri was my favorite and healthier than a roll doused in spicy mayo. Grr. I should have known better.
“Also, Paolo told me you talked to Ciro and it didn’t go well.”
“Oh my gosh! Paolo. Paolo. Paolo. What the hell, Alba?” I tilted my head back and stared up at my popcorn ceiling. “You’re supposed to hear everything from me, not Paolo.”
“Would you have told me what happened if Paolo didn’t mention it to me?”
I lowered my head and studied her. “Is something going on between you two? There’s a strong energy coming off you right now. It’s telling me yes there is something going on and you’ve already dropped your panties for him.”
Alba gaped. “I have a strong energy coming off of me?”
“Yes, dear. It’s called I-had-sex pheromones.” I took another drink. “You’re glowing, too.”
“It’s the green smoothies you drink after you meditate, right? All that healthy leafy stuff gives you superpowers and an ability to smell my pheromones.” She blinked her eyes and her face turned red.
“Probably.” I set my glass down. “How? When? Paolo is always with me.”
“When you’re at work and Pippa is napping.” She covered her face in shame. “He’s so freaking delicious; I couldn’t resist him.”
“I know all about that.” I shook my head, but I wasn’t upset with her for sleeping with Paolo. Like all the Remotti men, he was handsome. It was obvious he had rocked Alba’s world, which she needed. It’d been years since she’d been with a man.
“I feel awful. Worst babysitter ever.”
“No you aren’t. I know if Pippa needed you during your dirty activities, you would have stopped and tended to her.”
“I swear to you, I would have.”
“I just hope you didn’t scream and moan. She could be traumatized.”
“Paolo stuffed a rag in my mouth to keep me quiet.” She gasped and covered her mouth, eyes bulging. “Oh, shit. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
I couldn’t help but giggle. Alba could always make me feel better.
We continued laughing and eating for a spell. I so needed this time to decompress and process what had happened earlier.
“Apparently, I was mistaken. Those pictures of Ciro and the redhead didn’t tell an accurate story.” I wiped my mouth and hiked my leg up, setting my foot on the corner of the chair.
“Is that what he said?” Alba’s intense stare drilled into me from across my little dining table.
“Not at first. Roman called me, but Ciro and the whole family were there listening to me on speaker.”
“You’re joking.”
“I wish I were. Shame on me for trusting Roman. For trusting any of them.” Suddenly, I felt deflated.
“Then he wasn’t cheating on you. That’s good, right?” Alba asked.
“How can he cheat when we aren’t a couple? Just because we had sex and share a daughter doesn’t make us a couple. He can be with whoever he wants. I’m done, Alba.”
“Oh, babe. I’m so sorry he let you down.”
“No, I let me down. I should’ve been stronger.”
“But you love him.”
I nodded as a tear slipped out of the corner of my eye. “I do. I did love him.” My ears perked up hearing a loud thump.
“What was that?” Alba froze.
“Probably my sister and her loser boyfriend. I’m sure Paolo will deal with it.”
Pippa started fussing. She’d been asleep for barely an hour.
“Great. They woke my lovebug.” I sighed getting up. “I wished they’d move.” My sister and Roy were the couple who didn’t only yell, but they threw stuff at each other. It was unsettling. I could never be with a man who hit me. Ciro wasn’t without his imperfections, but he never struck me.
“Why not move in with me?” Her question caught me by surprise. “I have an extra room. Just imagine how much better it would be for both of us to share the expenses.”
“I can’t, Alba. It would feel like I failed if I moved in with you.” I smiled at her. “But thank you for asking.”
“You’re so stubborn.” She sipped her wine.
I was stubborn about proving to myself that I could take care of me and my daughter without anyone’s help, especially Ciro’s.
But now that he knew about Pippa, I was confident he’d force me to move out of this building, and I wouldn’t object. Things were getting out of hand next door, and this wasn’t the kind of environment I wanted Pippa to grow up in.
If Ciro bought us a house, I’d invite Alba to move in with me, and I wouldn’t charge her a penny. After everything she’d done for me and being the bestest best friend a girl could have, it was the least I could do.
After getting Pippa back to sleep I returned to the living room where Alba was waiting on the sofa and texting, presumably Paolo.
“Is your boyfriend doing okay?” I teased her.
“He’s not my boyfriend. But he’s fine. He hates Roy.”
“Everybody hates Roy except for Elsie, for whatever reason.” I rolled my eyes and plopped down next to her.
“Speaking of boyfriends. Are you excited about your date with Doctor Jon tomorrow.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “A ball game is just the first step toward something infinitely more romantic.”
“I think I’m going to cancel it.” I hide my face behind my hands. “He’s too nice for me to lead him on. I’m not over Ciro, despite everything, and Jon deserves better.”
Alba lowered my hands. “I understand. We wouldn’t want a guy to string us along if he had feelings for another woman.”
“Exactly.”
“But you can be friends with Jon. Maybe he’ll wait for you.”
“Yes, we can be friends. But he’s a catch. Women will be lined up hoping for a chance with him.”
She nodded. “Guess it’s a case of the right guy, wrong time.”
I shrugged, remembering how I would tell myself that about Ciro. Right man. Wrong time. I sort of still felt that way, but I couldn’t make excuses for him anymore and I definitely wouldn’t put my life on hold any longer.
In time, my broken heart would mend and then I’d be ready to try again with a worthy man. But I wouldn’t hold my breath that it would be Doctor Jon.