Chapter 13 Constantine #2
“Because I don’t want to spend another second in your presence, Issy.
That’s fucking why.” I wanted this part of my life to be over, a relationship nine years dead to finally be buried in the cemetery with my ancestors.
“If you need help getting home, I’m happy to get you there safely, but if that’s not what you need, leave me the fuck alone. ”
Her eyes started to water. “How is this so easy for you?”
“Because I’m in love with someone, Isabella. Because I’m happy. Because I’m going to be a father. It’s time you move on too.”
Her eyes continued to water. “Con, what we had was special—”
“Stop.”
“Con—”
“You’re drunk. Probably not even going to remember this in the morning.”
She moved into me, some kind of insane last-ditch effort, and tried to kiss me.
She didn’t come close. Probably because a part of me expected it to happen. “Isabella, fuck off. Just fucking fuck off. I used to love you and I’ve always cared for you, but now, I just fucking hate you.” I headed to the stairs to put more distance between us.
I heard her gasp before she choked.
Halfway up the stairs, I looked back at her.
She drowned in a wave of tears, music coming from the terrace of the cocktail lounge, people passing on the main street above, oblivious to the fucking soap opera. “It’s not fair. It should have been us. It should have been us . . .”
The restaurant was closing down, but they didn’t ask me to leave.
Antonio stayed with me while the others headed out. He didn’t say much, just silently supported me.
I wanted another drink, but I’d cut myself off a while ago. Now I slouched at the table and rubbed my temple like I could feel a stress migraine approaching over the horizon.
Antonio continued to drink his wine as he glanced at me from time to time.
It was midnight. I knew I should head home because Aurelia couldn’t sleep unless I was there. She hadn’t been that way before, but after what happened with Darius, I knew she was irrevocably changed. “At least this day is officially fucking over.”
Antonio smirked slightly. “Sorry, man. But Aurelia will understand.”
“Understand that I’m out drinking with the boys and talking to my ex in an alleyway, and she tries to kiss me? Yeah, she’ll just love that.”
“That’s not how it happened.”
“That’s exactly how it happened.”
“You’re being way too hard on yourself.”
“I was afraid Isabella was going to fuck this up in the beginning, and now I’m afraid she’s still going to fuck this up for me. Honestly, I wonder if that’s what she’s trying to do. Thinks if she can get rid of Aurelia, then maybe we can work it out.”
“Why would she think that?”
“Well, I told her that the reason I couldn’t make it work with us is because I resented her for what happened to Edric. But I don’t know. I’ve had some closure with that and know it was wrong to blame her for any of it. Maybe that gave her a glimmer of hope, which isn’t what I wanted.”
Antonio gave a slight nod. “Yeah, maybe.”
“Am I twenty-three or thirty-three?” I snapped. “I can’t tell the difference anymore.” I finally paid the tab and left the table, and the two of us walked down the deserted walkway out of the heart of the village.
We parted ways on one of the roads because Antonio lived in an apartment in the center. He clapped me on the shoulder. “You’ll be all right, man.”
“Yeah, thanks.” I walked to where my Range Rover was parked and headed up the mountainside to my villa.
As the crow flies, my home was actually really close to the heart of Taormina, but with the winding roads up the cliff face, it took at least twenty minutes, maybe a little less if no one else was on the road.
It was the first time I’d come home and didn’t want to be there.
The first time I didn’t want to see Aurelia.
I parked in the garage and headed through the door. The lights were still on, like she was wide awake. When I stepped into the living room, Aurelia and Medusa were asleep on the couch together, side by side, Aurelia spooning Medusa from behind.
I stopped and stared at them for a while, the smirk that moved onto my lips unstoppable. Medusa must have been dead tired if she didn’t wake up at the sound of my footsteps. I could hear her snore a little bit when I came closer.
Aurelia was wrapped in a blanket she’d pulled off the back of the couch, wearing one of my T-shirts, the TV still on but the volume off, like she’d turned it down before she fell asleep.
I took a seat by her head and gently ran my fingers through her soft hair, watching her sleep like a fucking angel.
Medusa must have smelled me, because her eyes opened, and she turned her head to look at me. Then she released an excited whine, her tail wagging and smacking Aurelia on the hip. Unable to contain her excitement, she got up and moved into my lap.
I chuckled quietly. “Oh baby girl.” I held her in my arms and gave her a rubdown while her tail continued to go crazy. “Thanks for looking after her while I was gone.”
Aurelia sighed before she got up, moving the hair out of her face. “What time is it?” she asked in a strained voice.
“After midnight.”
“Oh wow.” She moved her back against the couch and pulled her knees to her chest. “Guess that means you had fun.”
If only that were true.
I dropped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close to Medusa and me, brushing a kiss to her hairline. “I love you.”
She turned into me, sliding her arm over my torso as she snuggled into me, half asleep. “I love you too.”
With both of my girls on me, I didn’t want to get up. Didn’t want to ruin the special moment by talking about someone I truly had begun to hate. So, I watched them instead, watched Medusa fall back asleep on me while Aurelia’s breaths deepened as she drifted off.