Chapter 18
Nora's POV
I've spent the past week at Bianca's. Things have been going well, except for how tightly she's clinging to me. It's driving me fucking insane. I need room to breathe, so I decide to call Owen.
The phone rings.
Owen: Hey, Nora. Are you okay? Do you need me to come to Bianca's?
Me: No! You two are driving me crazy. Take her to your house and keep her there overnight. She's making me claustrophobic.
Owen: She cares about you. She's worried. We both are. All five of us, actually.
I know he means our friends, including Graham. My teeth clench at the thought of him.
Me: Please, Owen. I just need a little space. Please?
Owen: Okay. I can do Thursday. You know we leave Friday, right?
My heart sinks at the thought of Graham being hurt overseas.
Me: Yeah. I know.
Owen: Okay. I'll talk to you later, then. Bye, Nora.
He hangs up. God, Graham is the last person I want to think about.
I flop onto the living room couch, switch on the TV, and flick through the channels. Nothing's on. I'm so bored. One more week. Make it through one more week, and I can go back to work.
I get up and decide to try some new recipes. At least cooking is kind of relaxing. Later that day, Bianca comes home from her shift.
"NORA BELLANDI! You're supposed to be resting!" she shouts.
I roll my eyes. "Would you calm down? I'm dying of boredom, so I cooked. It's hardly strenuous."
She rolls her eyes back, then surveys everything I've made. "Damn, girl. I should keep you home more often. This looks and smells amazing."
I smile. "Thanks. I needed something to keep my mind busy. Oh, before I forget, you're staying with Owen on Thursday night."
She scowls as she bites into a yeast roll. "No. I'm staying here to watch you."
I shake my head. "I'm not a child, Bianca. You're smothering me. I need a little space, too. I'm not used to this. All I'm asking for is one night. I don't want a fight." I sigh.
She smirks. "Fine. God, we sound like a married couple." She chuckles.
She's not wrong...
"So... the guys leave Friday. Have you talked to Graham?" Bianca asks.
I glare at her. "No, and I don't intend to. Don't fucking push me about it, either." I point my knife at her.
She throws up her hands. "I wasn't pushing. I was curious. How many of those painkillers have you got left? They make you bitchy."
I roll my eyes. "Today's my last day on them."
She chuckles. "Thank God. You're pretty testy."
We sit down at the table and begin eating.
The week passes slowly. Bianca still won't give me space; she seems to think she needs to watch me every minute, and it's driving me crazy. The detective visits with my lawyer to ask more questions about that night.
I haven't seen or heard from Graham since I slapped him. Maybe the message finally got through.
Thursday morning...
When I wake, Bianca has already left. I'm relieved she won't be hovering over me tonight. It's been driving me up the wall.
Still, being alone makes me a little nervous right now. I know I need to do this, though.
A knock sounds at the door. I open it to find Graham, guilt written all over his face, and slam it shut again. He knocks once more.
"Please, Nora. I only want to see your face before I leave tomorrow. I want to hear your voice and see for myself that you're okay. Please. I'm begging you. I love you."
I wrench the door open and point at him. "Don't you fucking dare say that to me!"
He stands looking at me. "Nora, I mean it. I love you, and I'm so sorry."
I slap him. "You don't fucking love me! I disgust you, remember? Those were your exact words. You never wanted to see my face again. Well, Graham, I'm giving you what you asked for!" I slam the door and lock it.
I run to Bianca's bedroom and throw myself onto her bed, sobbing into the pillow. At least she won't be here tonight. Exhaustion weighs on my mind, and I fall asleep early.
He throws me against the refrigerator. "I saw how that man looked at you. You're fucking him, aren't you?"
I shake my head. "No, I promise. It's only you, baby. You're the only one I want," I plead with Damon.
He punches my ribs. "You're a fucking liar and a whore, just like your mother."
He keeps punching until I'm on the floor. Then he walks away. I can't move.
The maid comes to me. "I've called the doctor." I nod.
The doctor arrives and carries me into a spare bedroom. As he bandages me, he says, "You have two broken ribs. You need bed rest." I nod, and he leaves.
I try to sleep, but a slamming sound makes me tremble. Please let Damon leave me alone tonight. Then I realize it's the headboard striking the wall. A woman is moaning, begging him to fuck her harder. He's having sex in our bed.
I jolt awake and look at the alarm clock. 4:45 a.m. Ugh...
I lie there remembering the terrible things Graham said.
Soon, though, the good things creep in, all the wonderful ways he treated me, every small detail.
I try to shut them out. I can't think about him that way.
I feel guilty about how we left things, and today he's leaving for a month.
He thinks I hate him. I do hate him... no, you fucking don't, Nora.
You only want to hate him because he broke your heart.
Later, Bianca comes home, clearly miserable now that Owen's gone. I understand. Graham and I may not be speaking, but that doesn't stop me wishing he were here, where I'd know he was safe.
"Hey, Bia. He'll be okay. Graham and Lee are with him," I say.
She hugs me and starts crying. "I know, Nora. I just love him so much. I can't imagine my life without him."
I wipe her tears away. "Come on. Don't think like that.
He'll come back to you. I promise." Instantly, I remember Graham saying those same words after we'd made love.
He promised to come back to me. The thought of the week before sends heat through my stomach.
We made love so much that week. He gave me such tenderness and intimacy.
She smiles. "Hey, Uncle booked you a therapy appointment for Monday. He'll take you, but he doesn't want you working a long shift on your first day back."
I huff and cross my arms. "God, you two are frustrating."
She giggles. "I know, but we love you." She kisses my cheek and goes to her bedroom to change.
Monday...
I get up early to prepare for my nine a.m. shift and drive to the restaurant. As soon as I arrive, Dad calls me into his office. "Hey, sweetheart. Take it easy today. If you feel stressed, go home."
I sigh. "I'm fine. Really. I need this. I've been going stir-crazy."
He chuckles. "Okay. But we're going to lunch at noon, just the two of us. Afterward, I'll take you to your therapy appointment at one thirty."
I nod.
Noon comes quickly, and Dad finds me. "Ready for lunch?"
I smile and nod.
He drives us to a cute little café. Once we're seated at a small table, he brings out some documents. I lean forward to read them and realize they're adoption papers.
He smiles. "I wanted to spend time with you, but I also wanted to finalize the adoption. All you need to do is sign. Would you like to keep Mercer, the surname from your new identity?"
I smirk and shake my head. "No. Bia called me Nora Bellandi. She was yelling at me, but it had a nice ring to it. If you don't mind, I'd like to take your surname."
He smiles. "I'd be honored. I love you so much, Nora."
I signed the papers, and we enjoyed lunch together.
We got into the car, and he starts driving me to my appointment. My leg begins shaking with nerves.
Renzo rests his hand over mine. "Nora, it'll be okay. You don't have to discuss anything you're not comfortable with today. All right?"
I draw a deep breath. "Okay. I'll give it a try."
We pull up outside the building, and the butterflies in my stomach seem to swarm.