I’d gone out with the guys to let off some steam, but now I was in a secluded alleyway with my ex, a position I didn’t want to be in, while my pregnant woman was at home waiting for me. I felt like a dick just for being there.
Issy had this glaze to her eyes, like she was already drunk before she’d even arrived at the cocktail lounge. “Con, I’m sorry about all of this. I told Beatrice to make more of an effort with ...her.”
She should have wanted to do that on her own, and the fact that she didn’t pissed me off even more. Made me angry at both of them. “I’ve gotta go, Issy.”
“Wait.” She reached for my arm again.
This time, I made sure I was out of her reach. “What?”
“Why are you so angry right now?”
“Because I don’t want to spend another second in your presence, Issy. That’s fucking why.” I wanted this part of my life to be over, a relationship nine years dead to finally be buried in the cemetery with my ancestors. “If you need help getting home, I’m happy to get you there safely, but if that’s not what you need, leave me the fuck alone.”
Her eyes started to water. “How is this so easy for you?”
“Because I’m in love with someone, Isabella. Because I’m happy. Because I’m going to be a father. It’s time you move on too.”
Her eyes continued to water. “Con, what we had was special—”
“Stop.”
“Con—”
“You’re drunk. Probably not even going to remember this in the morning.”
She moved into me, some kind of insane last-ditch effort, and tried to kiss me.
She didn’t come close. Probably because a part of me expected it to happen. “Isabella, fuck off.Just fucking fuck off.I used to love you and I’ve always cared for you, but now, I just fucking hate you.” I headed to the stairs to put more distance between us.
I heard her gasp before she choked.
Halfway up the stairs, I looked back at her.
She drowned in a wave of tears, music coming from the terrace of the cocktail lounge, people passing on the main street above, obliviousto the fucking soap opera. “It’s not fair. It should have been us.It should have been us ...”
The restaurant was closing down, but they didn’t ask me to leave.
Antonio stayed with me while the others headed out. He didn’t say much, just silently supported me.
I wanted another drink, but I’d cut myself off a while ago. Now I slouched at the table and rubbed my temple like I could feel a stress migraine approaching over the horizon.
Antonio continued to drink his wine as he glanced at me from time to time.
It was midnight. I knew I should head home because Aurelia couldn’t sleep unless I was there. She hadn’t been that way before, but after what happened with Darius, I knew she was irrevocably changed. “At least this day is officially fucking over.”
Antonio smirked slightly. “Sorry, man. But Aurelia will understand.”
“Understand that I’m out drinking with the boys and talking to my ex in an alleyway, and she tries to kiss me? Yeah, she’ll just love that.”
“That’s not how it happened.”
“That’sexactlyhow it happened.”
“You’re being way too hard on yourself.”
“I was afraid Isabella was going to fuck this up in the beginning, and now I’m afraid she’s still going to fuck this up for me. Honestly, I wonder if that’s what she’s trying to do. Thinks if she can get rid of Aurelia, then maybe we can work it out.”
“Why would she think that?”
