Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Putting his hands on his knees and breathing heavily, Alex tried to control the rage he felt. A few moments ago, he had the woman of his dreams in his arms and now she was gone.
He straightened as he looked around the empty parking lot.
Frantically pulling out his phone, he dialed Aria’s number over and over, each call going straight to voicemail.
Hanging his head, Alex stalked back to the boat to face the one person he never dreamed he would see tonight.
“Alex. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your little get-together,” Bella said, standing up from the deck chair when he returned, her black silk skirt flowing as she rose.
“This wasn't a ‘get together’, Bella. I was on a date with a woman that I care about. I can’t imagine what she thinks of me right now.”
He put his fist to his mouth, trying to control his anger.
“What on earth are you doing here?”
“I missed you, Alex,” Bella said as she grabbed his hand. “I couldn't wait any longer to see you. I know I hurt you and I wanted to give you time. I made a mistake, and I really want a chance at us again.”
“A mistake?” he huffed, pacing the deck, his face in a tortured scowl, hands flailing. “Bella, I was ready to leave for an assignment when I got a call from a friend who saw you getting into an elevator in a Paris hotel, making out with some guy. You do remember that don’t you?”
Her face grimaced at his words. “I’ve told you. He meant nothing. You missed my event, and I was so angry. Then you were leaving for months. I was tired of being alone, Alex. But I know now I want you in my life no matter what.”
“It’s too late for that. I told you this. Your betrayal ruined everything.”
She reached for him again and begged, “I understand that. But I’m still begging you. Can you ever forgive me?”
Ignoring her question, he asked, “How did you even know I was here?”
Bella sheepishly pulled her bedazzled phone out of her purse, scrolled a bit and showed him a post that Michael’s agent made during the photoshoot.
Alex shook his head, frustration written across his face. His eyes squinted as he read it again.
“He didn’t tag me, though. How—”
“I, I may have looked you up a few times. Surprise?” she answered, her voice playful.
Alex didn’t answer but grabbed his own phone from his pocket and turned off the music, the sound now painful in his ears.
“Tonight was my grand gesture to show you how sorry I am. To show you that we can be something wonderful again if you just give me a chance.”
“We? Bella, there is no ‘we’ anymore. I’m sorry. I don't want to hurt you, but please understand that what we had is over,” Alex said, looking at her incredulously.
“I can’t believe that there isn’t something left inside of you for me. That can’t be true, can it?”
She moved toward him again and he backed away.
Holding his hands to ensure she understood, he said, “There’s nothing left, Bella. The woman you saw me with tonight? She has my heart. All of it. There’s nothing left to give to you or anyone else.”
He watched as her eyes brimmed with tears.
Rubbing her arms as she held them across her chest, she asked, “Who is she?”
“No one you know. Now, I will drop you off at your hotel, but I need to go to her house and try to pick up the pieces of this disastrous night,” Alex said, walking down into the cabin, turning off the lights and locking up, plunging the yacht in darkness.
The solar lights of the marina lit their way off the yacht and onto the pier as he led her by the elbow.
“I don't have a hotel. I tried to book one on the plane, but nothing was available that would suit me. Could I stay with you at your father’s house?
I won't be here long. I have a photoshoot back in Paris late tomorrow night, but I wanted to spend tonight and tomorrow morning with you. Please?” she pleaded.
Alex was too mentally exhausted to deal with her, and he needed to get to Aria’s house. Taking out his phone again as she watched him silently, he quickly worked on fixing part of his problem.
“There. Got you a very nice hotel in the city center. You’ll be more than safe there and very comfortable. They can arrange transportation back to the airport in Naples for your trip home,” Alex said, irritation marking his expression.
He had let her go, and she followed behind him, her heels clomping loudly on the wooden slats.
“Alex, I’m sorry I lied about the hotel. I just wanted to spend more time with you.”
Turning around to face her, he answered, “I’m used to your lies, Bella.”
She winced at his answer and hung her head, tears falling down her face.
“I’m sorry, Alex,” she whispered. “I messed up. So badly. I know that. But I do love you. You would have heard me say it every day over these last few months if you hadn’t blocked my number.”
“You don’t know what love is. Not really.”
“I do. I really do, now. I realize you’re the only man I’ve ever loved, ever wanted to share my life with. I was crazy to let you walk away. Please give me another chance to show you that I’ve changed. I, I can’t give up. Not yet, Alex.”
“Let’s go, Bella. Where are your bags?”
“Oh, oh no. I left them in the taxi. I asked the taxi to wait to make sure it was you on the boat.”
Scrubbing his face, Alex sighed. “Fine, call the taxi service and see if they can come back with your bags.”
He listened as Bella made arrangements for the taxi to meet them at the hotel. He paced around the well-lit parking lot, anger simmering inside. He called Aria’s number several more times but finally stopped.
“It’s all set up. We can leave now,” Bella said quietly.
She followed Alex to his car, yelping a few times as she navigated the gravel in her heels. She tried to start a conversation on the ride, but he didn’t answer her.
It didn’t take long to get to the hotel from the marina, and when the taxi pulled up, Alex got out and helped her get her luggage to the hotel lobby.
When he turned to leave, she put her hand on his arm, her long manicured nails touching his skin and said, “Alex, please.”
Shaking his head, Alex looked at her and answered, “No, Bella. Have a safe trip home.”
With that, he turned back toward the doors, which slid open with a ‘whoosh’. His pace picked up as he walked back to his car, intent on getting to Aria’s house as quickly as possible.
The ride was fraught with tension as he yelled at the drivers around him to go faster.
“Why is everyone driving so slow tonight?” he yelled, banging the steering wheel before taking a deep breath in, trying to calm down.
Skidding the car to a stop in front of her house, Alex didn’t bother turning it off before jumping out and knocking on the door. The porch light was off, but her car was still there. Peering into the windows of the darkened house, he went back to the door and rang the doorbell several times.
Cursing under his breath, he leaned his forehead against the door. He straightened up and stood in the silence, deciding what to do next. Either she was home and ignoring him, or she had gone to one of her friends.
Giving up, he sauntered back to his car and drove off, not sure where to go. He tried her phone a few more times before heading to the marina.
Alex climbed out of the car, his limbs heavy from the emotional night. He stood and faced the coastline as it stretched out before him. Lights from boats moored nearby reminded him of how his night had started.
His feet felt like lead as he climbed onto The Albatross.
He unlocked the cabin and walked down the stairs, turning the fairy lights back on, trying to remember the feeling he had when Aria was in his arms. Dragging his feet up the stairs, he walked toward the deck bench seat and when he dropped down, something colorful caught his eye.
Seeing that it was Aria's scarf, he pulled it until it was free, smiling for the first time since the night ended in disaster.
Did she hear me say I remembered she wore it that way in school?
Instinctively, he pulled it up to his nose and inhaled, rewarded with a strong dose of her perfume.
Right now, none of his material possessions held the importance of this slip of colorful silk. It was his lifeline to her.
Making a plan to stand outside her door all day the next day until she listened to him, he sat on the deck sofa, clutching his prize tightly in his hand.
Sleep didn’t come as he stood guard over the boat as if she may show back up there. He knew it was unreasonable, but the mind played tricks when it was in pain. He wouldn’t be able to rest until he could speak to her.
Standing up and pacing the deck, his eyes went to the sky, and a silent prayer went up. A prayer for another chance to show her what she meant to him. He knew it was too soon to feel this strongly but his heart would not be denied. The strong pull, almost magnetic in nature, couldn’t be ignored.
He'd heard of soulmates from his parents. Remembering the beginning of their love story, he felt somewhat vindicated in his feelings toward Aria. His mom said it was one look, one touch of his father’s hand that told her all she needed to know.
It was instant and powerful, much like what he was experiencing in the moment.
Is this what true love feels like?