Alex thought he had stopped breathing. His mind tried to register the words, but his heart was breaking in two.
“A date?”
His hands formed fists on his lap, but he pushed down the anger that roiled inside him at the thought of Aria out with another man. He pushed down the rising fear that suddenly caused his trust issues to surface.
“Yes. I've been invited to dinner, so I can’t come tonight,” Aria said sharply.
Alex stammered, shaken by this statement but grateful she was giving him a chance, “O-okay. Will you be free tomorrow night?”
“Tomorrow works. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Aria said as she looked at her closed door to indicate he should leave.
Walking out of the office, he knew he had one shot to get this right. And heneededto get this right. He also needed to know who this other man was and why she hadn’t told him about anyone else. Knowing he was now in a similar predicament, he willed himself to calm down until they could talk.
Realizing he hadn't seen his friends since the gallery opening, Alex texted Enzo and Adrian, making plans to meet them at the gym. He desperately needed to expend some pent-up anxiety.But soon his insecurities rose their ugly head.
Is it Gio taking her out tonight? Did someone else ask her out?
He needed to get his mind off these questions.
Enzo told Alex that he would meet him at the gym in a half hour. Adrian would join them when he was done speaking to a potential buyer.
When Alex entered the gym, he told the manager to let Enzo and Adrian know he’d be in the back room they used for private training classes. He thought he might get a head start on the workout, but felt suddenly exhausted. He leaned against the wall-to-ceiling mirror and slid down to the ground.
“Are you finally ready for that rematch?” Enzo asked when Alex saw him walk into the room. “Hey, man, what's going on?”
A look of worry crossed Enzo’s face as Alex looked up at him.
“I think I lost her. And I’ve got one chance to try to win her back.”
“Aria? I thought you said you two had a great connection and that you were taking her out onThe Albatross. Did it not go well?” Enzo asked as Adrian walked in.
Alex gestured for him to join them on the floor.
“Bella showed up at the boat and now everything is ruined.”
“Bella?” they said at the same time.
“Can you believe it? She chose the night I was out with Aria to show up after all this time.”
“How did she even know that you were in Positano or on the boat, man?” Adrian asked.
Alex explained about the social media post and how she took a chance that he was at the marina. He also told them Aria was going on a date with someone else tonight.
“I had her in my arms. We were about to have our first kiss,” Alex said, shaking his head. “It was perfect. I had decorated the boat with lights, music. The moon was out.” Grimacing, he continued, “Ruined, it's all ruined.”
The room went quiet except for the soft whir of the overhead fan.
“I don't know what to say,” Adrian answered, moving some free weights out of the way to lean against the mirror next to Alex. “But you said she's giving you a chance, right? So, it's not over yet.”
“Also, didn’t know you were so romantic,” Enzo said jokingly.
Alex chuckled softly.
“I've been waiting all my life to find the woman I could be that vulnerable with. She's it for me, guys. Aria is the one I've been waiting for. Everyone tells me to take it slow, but if I don't show her what she means to me, I'm going to lose her.”
“Then do it. Tell her you love her. Win her heart back,” Enzo said with conviction.
“Do you think she’s ready for a relationship? What has she been saying?” Adrian asked.
