Page 117 of Marcus

They just kept coming.

“I want his new number.”

Chris nodded. “I’ll give it to you.”

“I also just want to talk to him. Face to face, but I have a flight to catch and—”

A whole fucking life in New York waiting for her.

Wasn’t that the story of her goddamn life?

“He’s got a lot going on. His next week is full of interviews with investigators and hours spent with his lawyers. We’re trying to keep everything else around him at a dull roar while he handles the legal shit, you know?”

Yeah, she did.

“I’ll give you the number,” Chris said again, “and you can decide the rest. Whether you want to call, or you want to wait until you can see him. That’s up to you. I’m done assuming like I know what you should do, Cella.”

The lump in her throat was back.

“Thank you.”

“And my daughter really does miss Tiffany,” he murmured, “so if you plan to bring her around some time, Maria would be happy to see her.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Since when does Marcus drive us anywhere?” his mother asked from the backseat.

Marcus smiled to himself, knowing neither Cara nor Gian could see it. “Just for tonight, Ma. It’s a special night.”

“Yes, but why?”

“Would it be a proper surprise if I explained all the whys to you?” Gian asked.

Cara sighed dramatically. “This seems like a lot of effort for a little surprise, Gian.”

Oh, was that what his father told his mother?

Marcus shook his head.

She was really going to be shocked.

“We’re almost there,” Gian murmured, “now hush up, and enjoy your night, cara mia.”

While Marcus enjoyed his parents’ conversation in the back of the Mercedes, and he kept his attention on the very busy city street in front of him, he couldn’t help but let his mind and focus wander elsewhere, too. Like to the phone in his pocket, and a voice message he had yet to listen to from Cella if only because he was a coward.

Yes.

Marcus was a fucking coward.

She’d sent him the message about a week or so ago. He missed her call because he had been in the shower, and jumped out too late to grab it. By the time he did get to it, she was already leaving the message. Just seeing her name on the screen of his phone after weeks of no contact had been like a punch to his gut.

Was that it, then?

He had to wonder …

Was she calling to say goodbye?

Since he was such a goddamn coward, he decided not to listen to the message because right then, he didn’t want to know. After all this time of no contact, he figured there couldn’t be any other reason why she was calling except to tell him this was over between them. So, a day turned into two, and then another and another until it had been a little over a week since she left the message.