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I hold back a smile. “I feel fine.”
There’s no hint of amusement in Roman’s expression when he locks eyes with me. “I think we need to call it a night. It’s way past the girls’ bedtime.”
“Daddy, no,” Dora protests. “Bianca was going to tell us a story about V.”
“V and B,” he says softly. “It’s late. You both need to get into bed.”
Georgie yawns. “I’m sleepy.”
I wait for Roman to tuck the girls in, but no one moves, so I do.
I slide to my feet. “I’ll take off.”
Roman follows my lead. The girls both hop up too.
I step aside as the three of them hold hands, and make their way out of the bedroom, down the hallway and to the foyer. I follow in silence behind them.
My stomach knots as I scoop up my purse from the dining room table.
Something shifted hard in that bedroom, and I have no idea what caused it.
“Thanks for coming, Bianca,” Roman says in the same tone he used when he spoke to Clarice Blanchard on the sidewalk.
It’s devoid of affection or the reassuring comfort that is always there when he says my name.
“I’m glad I did,” I reply, trying to hide the emotion in my voice.
“Bye B,” Georgie rushes at me.
I run a hand over her head as she wraps her arms around my legs.
Dora joins in with a whispered, “I’ll miss you.”
I hug them close to me before they both step away.
“Come back soon.” Georgie rubs at her eyes.
I glance at Roman, but he’s staring at his children.
“Goodnight,” I say to the girls.
“Goodnight,” they respond in their sweet voices.
Roman finally raises his head to look directly at me. “Goodnight, Bianca.”
I stare at him. I don’t see the same openness that was there when I arrived. His gaze is hollow and empty. Sadness has settled over him.
“Goodnight,” I say in return as I walk out of his apartment, wondering if I’ll ever be invited back.
Chapter 49
Bianca
Roman: I have an unexpected meeting tonight. I’m sorry, but I can’t make it.
I must have read Roman’s text message ten times in the two days since he sent it. It took me hours to reply because I had no idea what to say.
Part of me wanted to respond with a question about what the hell happened at his apartment the other night.
Another part of me thought it might be best to firm up a new night for our date.
I didn’t go with either.
My response to his text was swift and short.
Bianca: OK.
I haven’t heard anything from him since. That makes it almost seventy-two hours since I last saw him.
I hope with everything that I am that it wasn’t the last time I’ll ever see him.
I glance up when I hear the door to my apartment open.
I expected Vivi to show up tonight with food. My sister can read between the lines whenever we’re talking or texting.
We’ve done a lot of both the last few days.
I kept putting her off by telling her I’d see her next week, but when I broke down in tears during a call this afternoon, she whispered that she’d bring dinner to my apartment as soon as she was done with work.
I skim a hand over the sweatpants I’m wearing. I was in them as soon as I got home from the office. I paired them with a New York Mets shirt I picked up last week.
I wanted to be wearing it and panties when Roman arrived one night.
I may never get that chance now.
“What’s wrong?” Vivi’s voice trembles as she sets down a large bag and her purse on the foyer table. “I’m worried, B.”
I run at her with my arms outstretched. She’s a bit taller than me, but we’ve always fit together perfectly.
She clings to me as I work my way through a sob. “I don’t know.”
Her hand pats the center of my back. “You don’t know what’s wrong?”
I let out a hiccup as I pull back from our embrace. “I don’t know.”
A smile blooms on her lips. “We’ll figure it out together. Have you eaten today?”
I shake my head. “I tried to eat lunch, but I couldn’t.”
“I brought soup.” She points at the bag. “And some crackers. There is a piece of cherry pie in there for you too.”
“We’ll share,” I whisper as I look into her eyes.
“Absolutely. I’m going to dish this up. Why don’t you sit down at the table and relax?”
I nod as I watch her grab the bag and breeze past me on her way to my kitchen.
I don’t know when my little sister grew up, but I’m glad she did. She’s the only person I want with me now.
***
Vivi taps her spoon against the empty bowl in front of her. “Do you want dessert now?”
She’s kept my mind occupied through dinner. She talked about what she did at work today. She booked two weddings, an engagement party, and what sounds like a very elaborate sweet sixteen birthday party.
