Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Alex smiled as he reached for the phone, expecting it to be Aria. He was surprised when he answered and heard Bella on the other end.
“Hi, Alex. I’m surprised you answered,” she said sheepishly.
“Honestly, I thought it was Aria. How are you?”
“I’m fine. So, I guess you two made up, then?”
“Yeah, I’m grateful she let me explain. Why are you calling, Bella? I don’t want to be rude, I just thought we said all that needed to be said.”
“Well, you did, and I guess I needed to say this to you and not through a text. I’m sorry, Alex. I messed everything up and lost you. I wish I could go back and make this right but it’s obvious I can’t. I just wanted to say that I wish you happiness. Aria’s a very lucky woman.”
Alex could hear the emotion in her voice and softened his tone.
“Bella, despite all that happened, you’re a wonderful person and I hope you find love and happiness. I’m glad we could talk one last time on a better note. I’m glad you called.”
“Thanks for listening. I wish you the same, Alex. Goodbye.”
Alex walked into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee when he heard the phone ring again. Turning back to the living room to grab it, he saw Aria’s name on the caller ID.
“Hey, I missed you today. Had fun tonight?”
Chuckling, Aria answered, “Yeah. So much fun. What did you do today?”
“Worked on some plans for the house. Some small projects I want to do next in the kitchen. Put a sound system in the living room so we can dance next time you’re over.”
Alex could hear the smile in her voice when she answered.
“So, you like dancing now, huh?”
“If it’s with you, yeah, you bet I do.”
“I love dancing with you, too.”
“Oh really? Guess I made quite an impression on you so far,” he answered, loving this new flirty tone of hers.
“I guess you did.”
She sighed heavily and he could hear her moving around.
“So, I wanted to ask you about something. About what I said to you last night. On the beach.”
“I remember,” she answered softly.
“I meant it when I said I won’t rush you, Aria. I have no expectations except to spend time with you. I know how I feel, but I also know you need time. I won’t bring it up again until you do. Are you alright with that?”
He sat on the sofa, putting his cup on the end table.
“Yes, and I’m grateful. But I do have feelings for you, Alex. Just need more time to process them.”
“Take all the time you need. I’m glad you called. I like hearing your voice before my day ends.”
“Me too. I guess I’ll head to bed then.”
When they hung up, he leaned his head on his sofa, looking up at the ceiling, his heart light.
When his phone rang, he didn’t look at the ID, assuming it was Aria again.
“Miss me already?”
“Not really,” a female voice said flatly.
Who is this now?
His head snapped forward and he pulled the phone from his ear, seeing it was an unknown number.
“Sorry, who’s this?”
“Hey, Alex. It’s Corinna, Aria's friend. I asked her to give me your number. Seems you two might be spending time together while you’re here. Just wanted to have it in case of an emergency.”
“Oh, hey! I’m glad to have yours now, too.
Yeah, spending time with Aria is the plan.
But I'll be in Positano indefinitely. I canceled my next assignment the other day. I haven’t told her that yet, but I will soon.
I want to assure you that everything I've said to her is true about my feelings and my intentions. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. ”
“You sound like a very old, very proper English chap, but I’m glad to hear it,” she said, making them both laugh. “Alex, I called because I need you to understand something. I will kill you slowly and painfully if you hurt her.”
Alex coughed to hide his burst of laughter as she continued.
Corinna’s tone turned serious as she continued. “I heard what happened with Bella and I'm choosing to believe what you said, but if I ever see her in the condition she was in that night—”
Her voice broke, and she paused. Alex became very serious, sitting up on the sofa.
“Aria is special, Alex. She is completely selfless, guileless. She's been like that her whole life and losing Nicholas changed her. She never lost the love and care she has for others, but she lost herself.”
“Corinna, I would never intentionally hurt her. Bella and I have been over for almost a year. She cheated on me. She will never be a part of my life again. Aria has shared some of her pain with me in the time we’ve spent together, and it broke my heart.
I’d never do anything to add to that pain,” Alex said as he stood and paced his living room.
Corinna cleared her throat, as she tried a few times to continue talking, her voice squeaking until words formed.
“I, I know she’s probably shown you a glimpse of what she’s been through, but there were days we didn't think we would be able to bring her back from the brink of complete hopelessness. She still has nightmares about that night. She might not survive another heartbreak like that, and as her friend, I can’t watch her get to that point again. Do you understand?”
Swallowing hard, his heart hurt to hear her friend describe her pain. He felt like it would burst in that moment.
“I can’t imagine what she’s been through. But I'm in love with her and I want nothing more than to bring joy to her life. She has my whole heart and I'm in as much danger of being destroyed if she rejects me as she is,” Alex answered, his voice gravelly and low.
The line was silent for so long, Alex was about to ask if she was still there. But finally, her shaky voice broke the silence.
“Well then, Alex Rossi. I will support whatever she decides about your relationship. I'm trusting you. Don't disappoint me.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to earn and keep that trust.”
“Good. Oh, and Sunday is her birthday. She hasn't made a fuss about it since Nicholas' passing, but we're going to the beach. You, Sofia, Adrian, and Enzo are invited,” Corinna said, her tone less intense.
Giving him the details, she hung up telling him she would see him then.
He fell back onto the sofa, his heart processing Corinna’s words. He wished Aria was close so he could hold her, shield her from pain, keep her safe, heal her hurt.
He prayed that this great love he felt would always be enough for her.
The next morning, after receiving a text from Sofia, Alex sent one to Aria.
Alex: Hope I’m not waking you up. How’s 1:00pm?
He went to kitchen to make his coffee and received a return text several minutes later.
Aria: I’m up and headed to the market. 1:00 is perfect.
Alex: Great. Can’t wait to see you.
Aria: Me too.
Alex: Can’t wait to kiss you.
Aria: Don’t push your luck, buddy.
He laughed heartily and started counting down the hours until he saw her again.
Alex spent the next morning at the beach in front of his house, relaxing and reading. When it was time to leave to pick up Aria, he couldn’t keep the smile from his face at the thought of her spending the day with his family.
He had also decided that he wouldn’t tell her about his call with Corinna. He wasn’t sure how she’d feel about Corinna telling him about her grief and he got the feeling Corinna wasn’t going to tell Aria either.
But since he had mentioned not taking the well project, he knew he would have to tell Aria soon. He wasn’t sure what her reaction would be, but he prayed it would be the grand gesture he wanted it to be to show her how he felt.