Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
Tatiana
Once again, there’s a little welcome party for me when Dante brings me home from the hospital.
All my favorite people are there—Noah, Jazz, and Emily.
Reino and Ulysses pop in, as well as a few of Dante’s men, especially the ones who often play soccer with Noah.
Seeing that the atmosphere between Reino and Jazz is still tense, the men don’t linger.
Emily baked my favorite cheesecake. Dante didn’t want to have a lunch that would’ve lasted too long and tired me, so he instructed Emily to prepare something for teatime.
Mobility is still difficult, but I’m walking on my own. I rejected Dante’s suggestion to employ a nurse. It’s not necessary. I just have to take things a bit slower until I’m back to being my old self.
Noah doesn’t leave my side for a minute. He brought his dinosaur to visit me in the hospital. Now, it’s sitting on one of the dining room chairs, and Noah is showing me the get-well-soon picture he drew for me. Probably picking up on the excitement, Flash looks on with a wagging tail.
Noah only stops talking when Emily cuts the cake and serves him a slice. My heart melts when I watch him with all that cake smeared around his mouth. It reminds me so much of the time Dante took us to the restaurant in Denver, and Noah had a waffle for dessert.
Dante hovers like a possessive bull around me, ordering me to sit down and making me promise to tell him when I want to rest.
Jazz finally manages to steal me away when Dante takes Noah upstairs to help him with his bath. As it’s cold outside, we sit down on the sofa in the lounge. Jazz folds one leg underneath her and rests her elbow on the backrest.
She gives me a piercing look. “How are you doing?”
“My wound still bothers me a bit, but it’s getting better every day.”
Her blue eyes soften. “I wasn’t referring to your physical wellbeing.” She adds with a smile, “Well, not only.”
I wish I could tell her everything. It’s probably best that as little people as possible know about the necklace.
Dante didn’t say so outright when he visited me in the hospital because the police hung around more or less constantly after questioning me, but I know he reclaimed it.
A new calmness had come over him when he returned to see me, only to be replaced with deep concern about my recovery.
I guess that was his guilt talking again, which came as a surprise.
I never thought Dante was capable of feeling guilt.
I push a cushion behind my back, flinching from the sharp pain that stabs into my side when I shift into a more comfortable position. “I’m okay with the memories. Dante told you, right? I suppose I’m finally dealing with everything that happened.”
“What about Dante?” she asks in a gentle tone. “He’s been out of his mind with worry these last few days. I’ve never seen him so worked up.”
I cup her hand. “Thanks for dropping in here so often. Dante told me you were a great help with Noah. I really appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it. You know I love that kid like my own.” Tears well up in her eyes. “I was every bit as worried as Dante, Tiana. I was so angry at him for letting this happen to you.”
I give a small smile. “It wasn’t his fault. He tried to protect me, and he did save my life.”
“Your life shouldn’t have been in danger in the first place.”
My chuckle is wry. “That’s the choice I made when I decided to be with him.”
She searches my eyes. “Do you? Do you still want to be with him?”
Taking a deep breath, I admit with a shaky exhale, “I think it’s time I put myself first for a change.”
“These last few weeks…” She hesitates. “I know you didn’t remember everything that had happened, but I thought things were changing. I thought Dante was making an effort.”
For the necklace, yes. For me? I’m not so sure.
“Tiana, you know me. After everything Dante has done, I’ve never been his greatest fan. I thought he only wanted power and money. But he gave you the company, and he seems so set on helping you succeed with your own startup. Surely, that means something?”
“I think he was just playing a role as long as I was stuck in the past.”
“I know it was wrong of me.” She stares at her hand that lies in her lap before meeting my gaze again. “But sometimes, I didn’t want you to remember. I just wanted you to be happy.”
“Oh, Jazz.” I squeeze her arm. “I appreciate you so much.”
She continues with a frenzied expression. “But don’t you think Dante deserves another chance? I know how much you love him. The way you behaved toward him during these last few weeks reminded me of that fact. I think the two of you can be happy if you both tried.”
That familiar old inhabitant inside me—a deep, profound sadness—makes itself known. “I told him multiple times how I felt, and he hasn’t told me once that he loves me.” Taking in the devastated look on her face, I smile. “Don’t look so sad. I’ll survive. But I think I deserve better, don’t you?”
She studies me for a moment, fighting her tears, and then she leans forward and hugs me carefully. “Look at you, soothing me when you’re the one who needs consoling.”
“I’ll be fine,” I lie. “I just want to live the life I deserve.”
Raising her eyes skyward, she catches a tear that slips free with her finger. “I don’t want anything less for you. I’ll always be there, no matter what. You know that, right?”
“As you’ve proven time and again.” Not wanting to talk about my pending breakup lest I start crying too, I change the subject. “How about you and Mr. Dark And Infuriating?”
“Reino?” She blinks away her tears. “Now that your memory has returned, you understand why I don’t want to have anything to do with him. I mean, he’s our enemy.”
I lift a brow. “Is he?”
“You know what I mean. He threatened a director to give me an audition and hid the truth from me. The worst wasn’t even the lie.
It was the disappointment of knowing I never earned that invitation as I believed I did.
Look how it all started out. He spied on you and deceived me, not to mention that he was involved in our abduction in Denver. ”
“Yet you’re ready to forgive Dante.”
She holds up a finger. “I didn’t say I’d forgive him. I just said that maybe, if he made you happy, it was worth giving him another chance.”
“Does Reino not deserve another chance?”
“We’re clearly attracted. I can’t deny that.”
I laugh. “And you wanted to set me up on a date with him.”
She rolls her eyes. “I was just trying to get you out of your dating slump.”
“Okay.” I relent with another laugh. “Carry on.”
“So, yes, we’re attracted to each other, but dating him will feel like a betrayal to you.”
“Listen to me, Jazz.” I hold her gaze, letting her see how serious I am.
“The past is the past. I’m finally getting over it, and I’m no longer going to dwell on things I can’t change.
If you think Reino is the one, I’ll be nothing but happy for you.
In fact, I’ll resent myself if you throw away a chance at happiness for my sake.
That’s not what I want for you.” I smile.
“Besides, I’ve come to like Reino. He’s kind of cool with Noah. ”
Her expression goes all mushy. “He is, isn’t he?”
“So stop fighting it. If that’s what you want, give it a shot. What do you have to lose?”
Fiddling with the hem of her cardigan, she says, “I’ll think about it.”
“Good.”
Her face drops. “When are you going to make a decision?”
“I think it’s already made. It’s just a question of finding the right moment to tell Dante.”
“Tell me what?” Dante asks, walking into the room with his shirt sleeves rolled up, looking unfairly hot.
“It’s getting late.” Jazz jumps to her feet. “I better get going.”
Dante shoves his hands in his pockets. “I don’t want to cut your long-awaited visit short. I’m going to read Noah a story before putting him to bed. I just wanted to see if you’d like to be there.”
I shift to the edge of my seat. “I won’t miss it for the world.” Shooting Jazz a smile, I ask, “Would you like to join us?”
Jazz hooks her hair behind her ear, not meeting Dante’s gaze as she hurries to the door. “I’ll leave the three of you to your family time. I can visit again tomorrow.”
Dante takes my elbow and helps me to my feet. “I’ll get one of my men to drive you home, Jasper.”
She shifts her feet. “I can get an Uber.”
“Not necessary.” Dante already has his phone in his hand, typing a message. “I’ll walk you out.” He pockets his phone and cups my cheek. “Give me a moment. Will you be all right?”
“I’m fine. You don’t have to treat me like a child.”
This guilt trip needs to end. I’ve already tried multiple times for Dante to let me go, and I’m not going to fail again. This time, I won’t allow his guilt to stand in the way of my freedom.
He clenches his jaw but doesn’t reply.
While he sees Jazz to the door, I make my way with small steps to the stairwell. The pain is getting worse again. I’ve been trying to only take the pain meds when it’s absolutely necessary. My mom had an addiction to pain killers, and I don’t want to fall into that trap.
Just as I enter the hallway, Emily exits the dining room, carrying a tray loaded with plates and cups in her hands.
“I’m sorry for leaving you with all the work,” I say. “I know how much you helped out with Noah while I was in the hospital. You have no idea how much that means to me.”
She puts the tray on the table where she always leaves the mail.
“I love spending time with him.” Her smile is uncertain.
“I know how you feel about me having gone on to work for Dante. I shouldn’t have stayed after everything that had happened, but I already explained, and I don’t want to repeat myself.
I know it’s not easy for you. If you prefer, I can go back to the condo tonight. ”