Page 48 of No Greater Oblivion

“Did you ever look through it?”

“I did.” She nods almost frantically. “She was very talented. I couldn’t understand some of it—there were words I didn’t know—” She notices the page I landed on. “Actually, I really liked this one. Don’t think Google Translate did it justice but it came close enough.”

Somehow, I doubt that so I translate for her.

“I once believed there was no greater oblivion than solitude. The interminable passage of time trapped in the madness of one’s own mind—a madness for which there is no cure. But if poison has bittered the sweetness of true love than oblivion must be this; the abyss in which I’ve found myself, longing for your presence, and realizing it is now forever out of reach..”

I close the book and we are once more returned to a state of unendurable silence. I decide not to stay any longer than necessary for fear of igniting a topic of conversation I’m not yet ready for.

“Thank you for the gift,” I say and get up. “I should⁠—”

“We really need to talk.” She pleads.

“If it’s about O’Neil, I don’t want to hear it.”

“Alex—”

I grab the book from the counter and practically sprint toward the nearest exit. Dahlia follows me through the house.

“You have to promise not to retaliate against him. We didn’t know!”

“Retaliate.” I hiss under my breath. “Son of a bitch is lucky he isn’t at the bottom of the Hudson.”

“Look, if I had known you and Rian had history, I would’ve never gone this far with him.”

I spin on the balls of my feet to face her. “On the contrary, I think you would’ve made a spectacle of fucking him just to get a rise out of me.”

Her lips purse. “Jealous?”

“Hardly. I should probably thank him for saving me the headache.”

Dahlia’s eyes narrow to slits. “How emasculating it must feel to know you’re so easily replaced.”

“Is that what he is? My replacement? Even desperate, we both know you can do better.”

“Does insulting me make you feel good about yourself? How pathetic. You aren’t half the man Rian is.”

“Is that what you tell him when he’s inside you? You’re twice the man Alejandro is.” I can’t help the venom that seeps into my voice. “I bet it’s the perfect excuse to say my name in bed because you know it’s the only way you’ll finish.”

Her cheeks burn bright red. “Fuck you.”

“Why? Is Rian not doing a good enough job?”

Flustered and frustrated, she pushes at my chest and it’s only then that I realize how close we’ve become. She pushes again and tries to force me out of the room and into the hall but I catch both her wrists, pinning them behind her back.

“Let go!”

“The two of you won’t last more than six months.” She fights against my hold but it lacks urgency. Heat rushes to her cheeks when my fingers find the pulse in her wrist and squeeze. “You’re capricious and stubborn, and he’s stoic and unfeeling. He isn’t passionate enough for you and you aren’t levelheaded enough for him. It’s a miracle the two of you haven’t killed each other yet.”

“And you think we faired any better?” This time when she attempts to free herself, I let her. “I was back in New York within a year.”

“You left because you wanted to. No one sent you away.”

“No one was keen on keeping me either. You didn’t exactly go out of your way to get me back.”

“I kept my promise to you, Dahlia. I have always respected your freedom—I’ve always respected your right to choose.”

Incredulous laughter leaves her lips. “You are such—” She stops and immediately shakes her head. “I hate you. I hate you…so much.”