7. Vince
Vince
The faster I ran, the tighter the feelings were choking me. I just couldn’t understand it. I had ran the full compound and still felt frustrated.
I pushed myself harder as I went through the gates to my house. Rounding the bend, Luca was sitting on my front steps.
First Bastion attempted to join me for my run, only to fake an injury before we reached Rome’s house, and now Luca is waiting for me. Had I forgotten something?
He tossed me a bottle of water. That look on his face was similar to when he had to tell Cecilia her cat was dead.
If I had a cat, I’d be worried.
My breathing was still heavy as I watched Nikolai's car pull into my driveway.
Right. Something had happened. A visit from the oldest and the youngest brothers.
Finishing the water, Nik stepped out of the car with two coffees. Really? When did my intake of fluids become their concern?
Leaning against the pillar, “What’s this?” I gestured between the two of them, just getting my breathing under control.
“Thought you might be hung over.” Nikolai handed the coffee to Luca when it was clear I wouldn’t take it.
“Same,” Luca nodded.
I didn’t drink last night, and they were both there. I stared at them, way too out of breath to push for answers.
Fine, I’ll just believe they both had the same concern for this terrible hangover that I got from not drinking.
“So, um, how’s your day going?” Luca asked, tapping his coffee. Looking at me.
It’s eight in the morning. The day hadn’t started. I can’t tolerate stupid questions when I’m this angry.
“We’re just checking on you. Is it that shocking to know we’re concerned?” Nik sipped his coffee, looking at me as if I should understand.
“Concerned about?”
Luca cursed under his breath.
“Concerned about?” I repeated.
“Maddy announced her engagement.” Nikolai sighed, dropping his shoulders.
So, she made her choice. “That’s it?” I looked between them again. I had known she was getting engaged.
“Yep, that’s it.”
“Which one did she pick?”
“Noah Voss.” Nik tilted his head, as if trying to study my reaction. Which bothered me.
I nodded. “Anything else?”
“Nope, just thought you might be upset to learn the woman you love is marrying someone else, but you know,” Nikolai shrugged his shoulders. “We’re clearly just wrong.”
“I told you all. We’re just friends. That’s it.”
Luca ran his fingers through his hair, standing up. “But you do realize that friendship changes now, right?”
Why did they keep telling me that? I wasn’t stupid. “No, not at all. I’m sure her husband won’t care if she stays at my house every second night.”
Luca shook his head, pointing his coffee at me. “Forget it. This will be a good learning experience for you.”
I scoffed; I’d learned things he couldn’t live with. Turning, I walked up the steps. I needed a shower.
I couldn’t message her. It just felt wrong to congratulate her like that. But knowing her routine, I waited across the street to see what store she would pick.
I should have known it would be shoes. Walking into the designer store, ignoring the retail assistant. Until I saw her being escorted to a private fitting room. After the assistant walked past me, I went to the room.
Madeline turned, that polite smile turning to a real one. I’d missed seeing it.
“What are you doing here?”
I shrugged. “I wanted to congratulate you.” Closing the door, “On the engagement.”
She frowned, watching as I walked towards her. “Right.” Placing her glass down, her ring catching my attention for the first time. That wasn’t the type of ring she had wanted. Why didn’t she tell him that when he gave it to her?
So, she’s just expected to wear a ring she doesn’t like for the rest of her life.
The door opened, the assistant not saying anything as she placed the shoes down. I sat patiently and silently as Madeline tried on the other heels. Though I did insist on helping her take each pair off and on.
After nearly an hour, the assistant left to process the order. I pulled Madeline back to my lap, before she fell while trying to put her heels back on standing up.
Within seconds, she was off me. The assistant walked back in and asked what account to charge the bill too.
I did a double take when she said Noah Voss. When had he created an account here? The assistant left, and Madeline turned, looking at me.
“Do we need to talk about this Vince?” she gestured between us.
Yeah, we did. I had an issue with her using his account.
“We can’t be so…” she paused, “we’re too comfortable with each other. And it’s unfair to Noah. So,” she dropped her head back, “You know what I’m talking about, right?”
I stared at her. Not really. I had no issues with how we were.
Straightening her shoulders back. “I’m not yours to touch Vince, and you’re not mine. So, from now on, just friends.”
We were always friends. I nodded. “Fine,” I won’t touch her, seeing her fiancé might have an issue with it. Gripping the edge of the chair. “But I have an issue with you charging his account. Just use mine, please. I don’t want you indebted to him.”
“So I can be indebted to you instead?” she arched her eyebrows, her lips twitching up. “He insisted I did. I’m shopping for a trip, that he asked me to go on with him. Otherwise, I would have charged mine.”
My stomach turned. Engaged not even a week, and he was already taking her away from my city.
“What is next, kids?” I scoffed, standing up.
It was her lack of reaction that shocked me.
“Maybe, I don’t know.” She crossed her arms. “What about you? Have you given any thought to your future?”
“Never thought about it. Hadn’t planned on making it past twenty-five, let alone being twenty-nine.”
“Well, it might be time you did.” She gestured to the door. “Are you coming?”
“No, I might just stay in a woman’s shoes shop for fun.”
She smiled, and it took all my self-restraint not to reach for her. Holding the door open for her, I shoved my hands in my pockets.
I’m not yours to touch Vince, and you’re not mine.
How did one sentence cause so much rage?