Chapter 34
chapter thirty-four
MARISOL
I smile as Leila squeezes my hands. “You look incredible, Marisol. The shots on the beach came out so fucking amazing. I can’t wait for you to see them!”
“I’m sure they’re beautiful,” I say. “Elio is incredibly talented.”
“As are you.” She raises a brow before she steps in closer. “And I wanted to apologize for that day. I didn’t know Jack used to be your agent or anything about that whole situation.”
“It’s okay,” I say. “I didn’t expect you to.”
“And I didn’t mean to make your boyfriend feel unwelcome. I wanted to apologize to him, too.” She looks around the beachfront mansion she rented out for the occasion. “Is he here?”
“No, uhh…” My stomach drops at the mention of Leo. I need to sort that out, because this isn’t the last time someone is going to ask about him tonight. “He had a work thing come up. I don’t think he’ll make it.”
“Oh.” She nods, looking back at me. “Tell him I’m sorry, will you?”
“Of course.” I smile, and Leila gives me a small kiss on the cheek before she disappears into the crowd gathered in the large living room.
This house is stunning. Sliding doors run all the way across the front of the house, leading to a large patio that sits only a step above the sand. It’s dreamy, and the perfect place for an event like this.
I step out onto the deck, letting the ocean breeze tumble in my wavy hair as I watch the sun set over the horizon.
I left it natural today, embracing the uneven curl pattern in hopes that it looked beachy.
But really, I struggled getting ready this morning.
It’s been over two weeks since Sabrina and I came back to Sorrento, and all I’ve been able to do in that time is read every single article André Hugo has ever written.
And honestly, I’ve felt sick the entire time.
Part of me wishes I never knew his name, that maybe I’m glad Leo kept it to himself for as long as he did.
Then I thoroughly chastise that part of myself, because as horrible as I feel knowing who he is, it also gives me a kind of power, a kind of relief.
I needed that, and Leo might have never given it to me.
But fuck if I don’t miss him. Especially here.
I’m so used to having him by my side now, that I feel out of place by myself.
But I’d better get used to it, because this is how things will be from now on.
I was getting used to the idea that once our act was up, I’d still have Leo, but none of this went how I expected it to.
I need to be the independent girl, the one who has a life that fulfills her, who doesn’t need a man. But I think I do need Leo.
I think I need his reassuring stare and his delicate touch. I think I need his voice in my ear and his overwhelming smile that makes everything else disappear. I think, despite his mistakes…I think I need him.
“Hey, you.” I turn around to see Isabella walking toward me. She looks beautiful, her long blonde hair falling down her back. She’s wearing a knitted striped dress that hugs her body perfectly, accentuating her curves.
“Ciao,” I say as she pulls me into a hug, pressing her cheek to mine. “Tutto bene?”
“Better now that you’re here,” she says, grabbing two champagne flutes from a passing server. She hands one to me and clinks her glass against mine. “Jack’s voice fucking travels, doesn’t it?” she says, rolling her eyes. “He’s been schmoozing since the moment he got here.”
“No surprises there,” I say, taking a sip of my own drink. He was always good at that. But I’m more nervous than usual to see Jack tonight, especially with Julia.
The other thing Leo failed to think about is that I could help him in his investigations. It only took me one internet search of that pesky photographer’s name—courtesy of Caio—to figure out that he’s Julia’s brother.
Coincidence? I don’t believe in them.
“Where’s your piece of arm candy?” Isabella asks.
I smile at her lack of subtlety, gauging that in her opinion, men are only something pretty to look at. “A work thing.” I shrug, but there’s that sinking feeling again.
It feels silly lying, but I can’t exactly tell people we broke up, and I can’t exactly say that our pretend relationship for PR purposes has run its course either. So a work thing is what I’m going with.
“That’s a shame,” Isabella says, and I snort. “Have you tried any of the desserts?” She changes topics. “The key lime pie is to die for.”
“No, not yet,” I say. When I came in and saw the miniature desserts laid out between the savory canapés, the bright colour of the key lime pies grabbed at me.
I imagined how good it would taste, but as I stood there, thinking about trying it, nerves swelled in my belly, and I could feel myself getting hot.
Leila swept me into conversation a moment later, saving me from the torture in my mind.
I’ve been trying to take baby steps for a few weeks, but I find myself taking a few steps back every time. And every time I do take a step forward, there’s only one person I want to tell.
The room falls quiet as the sound of someone tapping on a microphone echoes through the house.
“Thank you all for being here to celebrate the launch of Sirena Swim,” Leila says, and the room erupts in applause.
Everyone from models to influencers to investors are here today.
Leila had an insane turnout for something so last-minute.
“We had an incredible day shooting this campaign. My models were absolutely amazing to work with. So please give a round of applause to Anna, Lucia, Julia, Isabella, and Marisol.”
Eyes fall on Isabella and me as we clap with everyone else, smiles and nods coming our way. I catch Julia’s eye, and she’s smiling straight at me. The psycho bitch.
“And my incredible photographer, Elio, who couldn’t be here today.
” The clapping continues. “I’m not going to talk for any longer,” Leila says with a laugh.
“You can see all of their hard work for yourselves.” She gestures to what I thought were glass panels behind the bar that take up half of the gigantic dining room, and they light up with images from the shoot.
Hidden TVs. Fancy.
Everyone claps as the TVs slowly flick through different photos, and they look dreamy. Elio worked his magic like he always does.
A solo photo of me in a deep purple bikini appears, and I don’t even glance at my stomach.
I look at the ease on my face, the way a soft smile curves my lips.
This was when Leo was there. I know it from the bikini I was wearing because his eyes raked over me like I was a dessert he wanted to devour.
If I didn’t know from that, I’d know it from the look on my face.
“Work must have gotten off early,” Isabella says from beside me.
“What?” I turn away from the display and follow her gaze to see Leo walking through the room. I have to force myself not to run and catapult into his arms when he smiles at me, because god, have I missed him. But what the hell is he doing here?
I remember I’m supposed to be mad at him, but also that him being here means we have to play happy couple.
I leave my feet planted firmly on the ground and take him in as he moves through the crowded space. He’s wearing beige linen pants and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, with the top few buttons undone like he just walked off the set of The White Lotus.
“Goddamn,” Isabella mutters before she slips away.
Leo doesn’t have any hesitations as he reaches me, slipping his arms around my waist and pulling me into him.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper as I automatically sink into his embrace. I’ve spent far too long without his touch.
“Well,” he says, pressing a kiss to the side of my hair as he pulls away. “We never officially broke up.” I shake my head as he grins down at me. “I missed you.” I tip my head in response, gritting my teeth to stop myself from smiling.
“And I wanted to say that I’m sorry, Marisol.” He brings his hand to my face.
“We can talk about it later,” I say, avoiding his vulnerable gaze.
But he drags my chin up, forcing me to look at him.
“I had no right to keep it from you. I’m sorry.
” We stand wrapped up in each other as the party carries on around us, both of us missing the display of photos.
“I realized that my intentions and my actions contradicted each other. I didn’t want to bring that information to you when you seemed to be moving on, but I realize you didn’t have any other choice but to move on, because you never got closure.
I didn’t mean to withhold that from you. ”
My heart pounds in my chest, and I can’t tear my eyes away from his.
“And this lackluster apology might not mean anything to you, and it might not change how you feel about me now, but I couldn’t leave things how they were without telling you that.”
“You could’ve said all that over the phone,” I say, a small smile picking at the corner of my mouth.
He smiles in return. “I thought this might have a little bit more of an emotional payoff.”
I shake my head, smiling at the floor, and he lets me, his touch falling to my neck. I revel under his touch. Sometimes it feels like we’re just two kids, fumbling our way through this, trying to find a way to be together. We keep making mistakes, but we keep wanting it all the same.
When I finally drag my gaze back up, he’s looking around the room, his attention snagging on the TV with my body on it. He pulls me in front of him, resting his head against mine as we watch the photos change.
“Do you forgive me?” he whispers, his breath skating over the shell of my ear.
I turn my head ever so slightly toward his lips. “I’m still deciding.”
I don’t have to be looking at him to know he’s grinning. He leans down an inch, pressing a warm kiss to my cheek. “How about now?”
I close my eyes as I smile. He brushes his nose along my skin, his lips landing by my ear in another kiss. “Or now?”