Chapter 17
LILA
“Icouldn’t wear that!” I stared at the slinky red dress Vanessa was holding up, my eyes wide. “Need I remind you how old I am?”
Vanessa glared at me. “What? I don’t care how old you are, it’s how old you feel. You’d look great in this.”
“My husband may have cheated on me, but I’m not turning into a one-dollar tramp because of it,” I retorted. “And I'm sorry, but where would I even wear that? To the garden? Taking out the trash?”
Even saying those words still hurt me. Victor had cheated on me, and no matter what I did, no matter how many trucks I torched or bitches I slapped, I still loved the bones of that man. I couldn’t help it; I’d loved him since the moment I’d laid eyes on him.
Victor could’ve had anyone, but he’d only wanted me. Stolen kisses when no one was around, him sending me flowers and me having to lie to Vanessa about who’d sent them.
Until one day she’d stolen his phone and seen the messages between us. She’d warned him once not to fuck me over, and it had pretty much been a fairytale ever since.
Now this.
It hurt so much I felt like I couldn’t breathe. My hand moved to my chest as tears stung my eyes. I would do anything for him to kiss my forehead again and tell me everything was going to be alright.
Anything.
Vanessa harrumphed, bringing me back to the present. She shoved the dress back on the railing with a clang.
“Well, about that.”
I blinked and inhaled sharply, trying to push away memories of ‘us’ before. I still couldn’t believe Victor had done this. To us.
How could you be together for so long and then fuck it all over with some woman? To make it worse, he wasn’t even in love with her. Somehow, that made it worse. He didn’t even do it for love.
Would my soul ever stop searching for answers where there were none?
“So, what do you say?” Vanessa beamed at me, and I realised I’d missed something important while I’d been lost in the crevices of my own mind.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
Vanessa gaped at me. “Girl, what? I just offered to whisk you away, and you weren’t listening? That was my grand gesture! My good deed of the century!”
I reached out and took her hand, the woman I loved like a sister. “I’m sorry. Tell me again.”
Vanessa softened and sighed, squeezing my hand. “I’m going to a hair convention in Atlantic City. It’s only for a few days, but I thought you could come with me, you know?”
Something sparked deep inside me at her words, but it wasn’t exactly what she was saying, more of an idea… an excitement I’d not felt in years.
A break by the coast, but not just any coast.
I could go to Europe. I’d always wanted to go to Europe, especially Greece. We had some savings, mainly for our retirement, but who gave a shit about that now? I’d contributed just as much to the savings so fuck Victor.
“Actually,” I said, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves that were suddenly zinging. “I think I’d like to go alone, as lovely as your gesture is.”
Vanessa frowned. “Alone? Lila, who goes on vacation alone?”
But I was already imagining the sun-drenched white sand and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. Greek music and cocktails. Heat on my skin.
“Me,” I replied, a heat blossoming in my chest at the thought of doing what I wanted, without thinking of anyone else. “I would. I want to go to Greece.”
“Greece?! Alone? Are you having a breakdown? It’s not safe to just jet across the world…”
I tuned her out, moving to the swimsuit section of the store we were in, imagining myself in a big-brimmed hat, sunglasses and a wide smile.
Oh my god. This is what I need.
“Not to mention the men. I mean, yeah, they’re hot, but they prey on single women!” Vanessa was still ranting, but I was already working out the logistics. I could put the house on the market, and the realtor could show people around while I was away.
I needed to book it, as soon as possible.
There was just one thing I needed to do: tell Victor I wanted to sell the house.
I sighed. He still hadn’t signed the divorce papers.
“Okay, look.” I put a hand up to silence my babbling best friend. “I love you. I do. But I’m going to Greece, and I’ll be absolutely fine. Lots of women travel alone. As for hot Greek men? I can handle that.” I chuckled, and Vanessa scanned my eyes.
“Shit, you’re serious.” She twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “Do you want me to come?”
“Girl. I love you, but I want to do this on my own.”
Vanessa nodded, widening her eyes. “No, I get it, I just worry about you…”
The sound of my phone ringing interrupted her, and she waved at me to get it.
“Hello?”
“Hi, is this Mrs Lila Rossi?” a woman asked, the background noise almost taking over her voice.
Not for much longer, I thought before answering, “Yes?”
“I’m calling from the hospital,” she said, and my heart dropped. “It’s about your husband, Victor Rossi? You’re his emergency contact.”
Suddenly, everything stopped. I couldn’t hear anything because of the ringing in my ears. If anything had happened to Victor, I wouldn’t be able to breathe.
“Is he okay?” I whispered, as Vanessa snapped her head to me.
Fear seized me as the woman continued. “He’s fine, just a few cuts and bruises. He’s been in a car accident.”
“Jesus Christ,” I murmured, closing my eyes. “But he’s alright?”
“Yes, he was arrested under suspicion of driving under the influence, I’m afraid.”
Air whooshed from my lungs. That wasn’t like Victor at all. Drinking and driving? My heart sank. “Thank you for letting me know.”
“Of course.”
I ended the call and stared into the alarmed eyes of my best friend, his sister.
“What, Lila? Tell me!” Vanessa demanded, her voice trembling.
We all loved him so much.
“Victor has been in a car accident,” I explained as her face drained of colour. “But he’s okay. He’s been arrested for suspicions of drunk driving.”
Vanessa gasped, her eyes filling with tears. “That stupid bastard! I need to call my mom.”
I nodded as she called her mother, my mind numb.
He was okay. But he very easily could’ve not been, and that terrified me.
I needed to see him—and put an end to this—before he hurt himself or someone else.