Prologue III Constantine #2
“I’m leaving because it’s time to move on.
And I can’t do that in this little town where I have to see you all the time.
It’s been a really shitty six months, and I need to be away from here.
” I needed to live in a city where everything wouldn’t remind me of her.
Where I could eat at a restaurant and not think about our first date.
Where I could go to the beach and not remember how pink her nose was after she got sunburned.
I needed to be free of her, and this was the only way I could accomplish that.
“So . . . you aren’t over me?”
No other woman had my attention. I got offers left and right, but I behaved like I was still in a relationship. Was committed to her even when she hadn’t been committed to me. She’d made me feel like a fucking fool. “Of course I’m not.”
She sucked in a big breath as her eyes watered. “Then let’s—”
“No.”
“Con, come on.”
“No.”
“You seriously can’t let this go? How can you love me and not be over me six months later but still not let this go?”
“Because you aren’t the one, okay?”
She winced again, this time her hand flying to her mouth.
“Because if you were, none of this would have happened.”
She sniffled and blinked back her tears as best she could. “You’re an asshole.”
“Yeah, I’m the asshole. I’m the one who kissed your twin sister and lied about it and carried on an emotional affair with clandestine meetings and texts late into the night. Yep, all me.”
Her eyes started to water again. “How can you do this to my family? To your mom? Just leave her like this?”
“Because she understands that I need to go. She understands that life has been fucking unbearable for me and it’s time to leave. Because she actually gives a shit about me, and all you care about is yourself.”
“All I care about is myself?” she asked incredulously. “I fucking love you, Constantine. Your brother is the one who intentionally pretended to be you, and I’m the one who gets all the blame for this—”
“Trust me, you both got the same treatment.”
“But I’m the one who loses you. He still gets to keep you as a brother.”
“And you get to keep me as a friend—someday.”
“I don’t want to be your fucking friend!” she screamed through her tears.
Footsteps sounded from the back, and then I realized it was my mother. I’d completely forgotten she was there, that she’d gotten in hours ago to do some work in the office.
Isabella spotted her first, quickly stopped crying, and wiped her tears away.
I felt humiliated that my mother had heard a very private conversation.
But of course, my mother was a loving woman, and she came to Isabella and held her. Held her like she was her own daughter. Stroked her hair like she was a child who’d just had a bad dream. “Shh, I know this is hard . . .” She continued to hold Isabella while I stood there. “Hard for everyone.”
“Please talk some sense into your son,” she said through a shaky voice. “We’re meant to be together. I just made a mistake, and I said I’m sorry . . .”
Now I was about to be ganged up on—great.
My mom and her mom were best friends. Isabella really was another member of our family.
My mom had watched her grow into a woman, and when I told her we were together, she’d never looked so happy.
She’d been crushed when I’d told her we were done—and then she was crushed again when I told her I was moving.
My mom pulled away when Isabella seemed to have recovered. “Isabella, I know that you are sorry. And I know that you love my son. But he’s made his decision, and we all have to respect the way he feels.”
Isabella was so shocked she couldn’t even hide it. She’d expected my mother to take her side in a heartbeat.
But I was even more shocked.
“Of course I was sad when he told me he wanted to move to Palermo. But I’ve seen him wither away here in Taormina.
He doesn’t listen to music anymore. He doesn’t smile when I walk inside.
He’s always so charming and funny and warm .
. . and he’s become a shell of a man. This is what he needs to heal—and we should all support him. ”
I have the best fucking mom.
My mom continued to stroke Isabella’s hair.
“My heart breaks for you, honey. I know you’re a good person who just made the wrong choice.
I wanted you as my daughter-in-law, but make no mistake, you’re still my daughter.
Still a part of this family, whether you marry my son or not.
” She started to rub her back. “I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but it’s going to be okay. ”
Isabella sniffed, then blinked quickly to stop the next wave of tears. She gave a nod before she wiped her eyes again. Then she turned away, and without a word to either of us, she walked out and left.
The second she was gone, I felt the stress leave my shoulders.
My mother stood across the counter from me, looking at me with the kind of love only a mother could give. “You okay, baby?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
She watched me for a moment longer before she read the lie in my words and came around the table to hug me. She could only reach my chest, but she seemed to cocoon me anyway.
I didn’t know how much I needed that hug until she gave it to me. I rested my chin on her head and closed my eyes. “I love you, Ma.”
“I love you too, baby.” She pulled away, then gently patted both of my cheeks with her palms. “I agree that she’s not the one for you.
Because you deserve someone who would never make you feel like this.
Someone who would never suck your soul from your body.
Take the light from your eyes and leave you in the dark. ”
“I really thought you would try to convince me to take her back.” It came as a complete surprise to me when my mom accepted the news and stayed out of it. Never tried to persuade me either way. It wasn’t like her at all to take a step back, especially when it came to family matters.
“No.” She shook her head. “You’re the most exceptional young man, Constantine.
I’m not just saying that because you’re my son.
You deserve the absolute best, shouldn’t have to forgive and forget, shouldn’t have to tolerate a mistake.
The woman who’s meant for you is out there somewhere—and I can’t wait to meet her when you find her. ”