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“Don’t ever say that again. You are perfect. This was not your fault; you didn’t fail them. Please don’t think you did. No one except Romano and your father are to blame.”
“Thank you, Frankie.”
He gently rubs my back, soothing the tension in my muscles. “Anything, I mean every word. Now, just tell me what you need.”
I pull back. His face is stoic, his jaw tight. I cup his face in my hands, and he leans into my touch, closing his eyes.
“Are you okay, Frankie?”
He simply nods. He’s so good at burying his emotions, he could believe he truly is fine.
“You aren’t sad?”
A darkness swiftly flashes over his eyes as they open. “Sad? No.”
“Oh.” I didn’t expect that.
“Completely and utterly fucking devastated? Yes.” With a gentle gesture, he covers my hand with his own.
“How do you stay so strong? I want to be like that.” I’d give anything to not hurt like this.
He half laughs and shakes his head. “Trust me, you don’t.”
“You are just as strong as me, Zara. If not fucking stronger. Remember that,” he whispers, nuzzling his head into my neck and kissing me softly there.
This is the first time I’ve felt anything other than numb in twenty-four hours. He brings me strength, and he brings me to life.
With him by my side, I can conquer anything.
57
FRANKIE
Song- Just Pretend, Bad Omens.
I wake up in the middle of the night to find Zara downstairs in the kitchen, sipping coffee at the dining table, staring at her engagement ring placed in front of her.
Just seeing it off her finger again has my heart racing.
“Zara, baby. What are you doing?” I ask, edging closer to her.
“Just thinking,” she mutters, not looking up at me.
“About?” I ask softly, stepping behind her chair and holding onto the back.
“Us.”
I blow out a breath. Fuck.
“I need more than that, Zara.”
She slides the diamond ring further away from her.
I can feel my jaw ticking with frustration. So, I lean over and retrieve it, my fingers brushing against her left hand as I carefully place it back where it belongs.
She flattens her palm onto the smooth wood, and she sighs.
“Was any of it real?” she asks.
