23. Masaccio
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Masaccio
“ S o, go fucking get her.”
I shake my head.
“I can’t. I have destroyed all my chances with her. She won’t take me back.”
My sister throws me a death glare. “Don’t be stupid.” She snaps at me, sliding off the kitchen counter. “That girl really liked you a lot Masaccio. Whatever you did to make her leave - you can still fix it by just going after her.”
“Not if she is there with someone else.” I snarl back at her. Getting angry because she won’t drop this subject, and I don’t want to talk about it because it’s upsetting me too much.
“What in the world makes you think she is there with someone else?”
“Why else would she go to Hawaii?”
“Um - because it’s where you had your honeymoon. Jeez Mas, all you need to do is try. There is nothing that can go wrong if you just try. If you don’t try, you will lose her though.”
I blink at my sister. The truth of her words has shocked me into silence. If I do nothing - then I really one hundred percent have lost Leora, and I will never be able to forgive myself. She’s right. She’s so fucking right.
“I have to go to Hawaii.” I say, a whisper.
“Yes, you do.”
“Call the pilot. Book a flight for as soon as possible. I need to grab a bag.” I bolt upstairs while Dalila sorts out my flight for me, getting the pilot to meet me at the runway near my private jet.
I grab my car keys and rush towards the front door. Pausing, just for a second, to give my sister a quick hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Thanks, Lila. I - just thanks .”
She grins and pushes me away. “Hurry up. Go get your girl back.” She laughs, then watches me bolt out the door.
I arrive at the airport feeling anxious. All this time I’ve wasted sulking at home. All this time I could have already been there with her. Well, there is no point in stressing about the things I can’t change at this point. What I need to focus on is what I can change - and how I am going to win her back.
I’ve showered her in gifts, I’ve given her material things - but the one thing I haven’t done is told her how I feel. I guess I didn’t understand or know I how felt until she was already gone. But I owe her that.
I have to do this right because I think I only have one more chance - if I even have that.
On the flight I do my best to get some sleep. I am going to arrive in Hawaii after sunset.
I know which villa she booked into because I saw the statements on the credit card. I know where to go. Everything is going to be fine.
The lady at reception points me towards the beach.
“Leora is over there, at the beach bar where the music is.” She smiles. “Oh, so you know her?” I ask, surprised she didn’t even have to look up the room number or anything.
“Everyone knows her - and everyone loves her. She’s amazing.” She replies as though I should already know this.
I do.
I know how amazing she is.
“Thanks.” I say, turning towards the beach.
The music is loud, and people are laughing and talking over it. They are clearly having the best time.
I stand to the side, near the bar, scanning the crowd trying to find her. It doesn’t take me long to spot her. She radiates beauty and catches my attention within moments.
But as soon as I find her - I see the man who is all over her on the dance floor.
Is that who she left me for?
She is wearing a soft, flowing summer dress that moves around her body in elegant waves like water. It looks incredible on her. She looks beautiful, like she belongs in paradise.
Her hair is pinned up in a high and messy bun. It looks like it’s been touched by seawater. A little wild.
The man laughs at something she said.
Jealousy surges like acid inside me. I want to tear him apart.
I want to walk straight up to them and smash my fist into his face and not stop until he’s choking on his own blood.
I grit my teeth, clenching my jaw until the muscles hurt.
I can’t seem to move. I’m just bolted to this spot, watching them.
But the longer I watch the more it seems that my first impression was wrong.
She is chatting to the guy, they are dancing together - and from his side - sure as shit he is doing his best to flirt with her - but she is keeping him at a distance. She is trying to share her attention amongst her other friends she is dancing with. She’s talking to everyone.
The guy moves closer to her again and places his hand on her waist, pulling her around to face him and every nerve ending in my body catches on fire as I get ready to walk over there and rip him to pieces.
But I don’t have to.
Because as he leans close to her - she places her hand on his chest and pushes him away, shaking her head. I can see she is being nice about it - polite - and I can tell, even from here, that her rejection hurt him.
She has turned him down.
Relief washes through me. She turned him down. So, she wasn’t with him. She wasn’t here to have some fun with another guy.
The guy nods a few times, smiles, and then walks towards the bar. He looks up at me with disappointment in his eyes.
He leans against the bar, orders a beer and then turns towards me.
“That didn’t work out as I had hoped.” He chuckles, his eyes void of the laughter spilling from his mouth.
“I guess you can’t win them all.” I reply.
“Yeah - but she is something special man. I mean, I have only spoken to her a few times - but sometimes you just know when you’ve found a really special one.”
His eyes fall and he stare down at his beer. “Anyway.” He sighs and turns his back on me.
I don’t go to Leora straight away. For some reason I am happy to just watch her for now. I think it is because this is the space between hoping that I can still make this work for her - and having a definitive answer. Somehow not having the answer - not being turned down - is easier for now.
But at some point, I will have to face this.
I drink my beer and watch as she dances with some people she knows, laughing a little, but not looking entirely like herself. There is a spark missing. A glitter in her eyes that was there when we first got married - before I hurt her.
It is my responsibility to make her smile again. Her real smile.
The one I stole from her.
Leora turns and looks towards the bar. It’s like she is moving in slow motion.
Her dress floats around her body. My eyes are on her as she looks up and at me.
She freezes. I can see a look of panic in her eyes. But very quickly, so quickly I might even think I misread it, the look is replaced by defiance. A certain resilience.
She stares at me with confidence. Her eyes narrowed and serious.
I tilt my head to the side and one corner of my mouth curls up into a smile.
Surprise. I think to myself with a laugh.
She looks surprised. That’s for sure.
Leora sighs and tilts her head back. Then she walks towards me, her hips moving in ways that make it impossible for me to look anywhere else but at her.
“Leora.” I say, with a smile, when she reaches me. She ignores me, leaning against the bar. The barman comes straight over to her. “What can I get you Leora.” He asks.
“A gin for me and - whatever he’s having - um - another beer.”
Before she turns to give me her attention, I watch her face. She closes her eyes and takes a moment, looking as though she is gathering her thoughts.