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Wiping my mouth with a napkin, I clear my throat. “Yeah, I’m excited and I know mama is too. She can’t wait to spend some time with nonno and nonna.”
Evan chuckles. “I know. It’s all she’s been talking about since she found out you would be competing there.” He turns to face Aria, who is pushing her food around her plate. “What’s up with you, Aria? Not hungry?”
Her head snaps up, glare landing on him. “No. I feel sick,” She snaps, her eyes moving to Bishop who stands off to the side, giving us no attention. He wears chino shorts and a collared t-shirt which showcases his tattoos. The guy is good looking with his dark hair, clear blue eyes, and bad boy attitude. I can admit that, but he’s not my type. There is only one person who’s my type and I doubt that will ever change.
Deciding I’ve had enough of whatever is going on with my sister, I push out of my chair. “Aria, can you come with me a minute.”
“Thalia, we are in the middle of dinner. Leave Aria to her tantrum and sit down,” Evan says in exasperation.
“No. I need to give her something while I remember,” I insist. Moving around to Aria’s seat, I grab her elbow and pull her inside, down the stairs, and to my bedroom.
She pulls out of my grip. “Jesus, Thalia, where’s the fire?”
I roll my eyes. “Cut the shit, Aria. What is going on with you?”
She flops back on my bed and stares at the ceiling. “Nothing.”
“Don’t give me that. I know you. You’ve been there for me, allow me to be there for you. I know something is going on. Is it Bishop? Did something happen?” She shifts on the bed. Tears fill her eyes, making my heart clench in my chest. Dropping down beside her, I wrap her in my arms. “Talk to me, sis. I flove you and I want to help you.”
She breaks out in a sob, leaving me in shock. My strong sister sobs and breaks in my arms. What the hell happened?
I rub soothing circles on her back whilst she breaks in my arms. It takes a good ten minutes for her to stop and when she does, she pulls back to look at me.
“Bishop broke up with me.”
My mouth drops open at her words. There’s no way he would do that. I’ve seen the way he looks at her. It’s love. In every glance, every touch, I see love. “What?”
She laughs but its humorless. “Yeah. Said he can’t do this anymore. He doesn’t love me; it was just a bit of fun that now has to end.”
I stare, gob smacked. “I don’t understand. He loves you. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
“Well according to him he doesn’t. So, either he’s a damn good liar or there’s another reason for it.”
“Have you asked him?” I whisper.
She shoots me a droll look. “Of course, I have. He just shrugs and says the fun is over. It’s time I find someone on my own level, and he’ll do the same.” Her voice cracks. “I don’t want anyone else and the thought of him being with another woman makes me feel sick.”
I stare at Aria for a long beat. She looks broken. I hate this look on her. “What’s going on with you and Evan? You seem snappy with each other.”
She huffs. “He found out about Bishop and me. A month later, Bishop is ending things. Evan swears he had nothing to do with it, and Bishop promises that our brother had nothing to do with it, but I can’t help thinking Evan said something. It’s too coincidental. Bishop and me? We were fine until our stupid brother found out.” She looks at me with glassy eyes, making my chest tighten.
“I’m sorry, Aria.”
She sighs. “I know you are. It’s not your fault. If Bishop can do this now, I’m better off without him.” Determination laces her tone, and a glimpse of the old Aria is back. I smile only for it to widen when she returns it.
“We don’t need men. We only need each other,” she whispers.
I frown as pain lances through me. She’s right but I want Theo as much as Aria wants Bishop. It’s ironic that both of us fell for unattainable men. Men we were never supposed to have but wanted anyway, despite the consequences.
I look away when I blurt my next question. “Do you think he still loves me?” I know I’m changing the subject, but I need to know her thoughts.
I feel warm hands on my cheeks as my sister tugs until I’m looking at her. She smiles, her eyes full of the pity I didn’t want to see. “I think he is absolutely still in love with you. How could he not be? You’re amazing, kind, beautiful. I bet he regrets losing you every damn day.”
I swallow. “Sometimes, I have this insane urge to reach out to him. But I’m scared. Scared of what I might hear. What if he’s happy? What if he’s with Melody and they’re a family? It’s safer to bury my head in the sand and not let my mind wander. But sometimes I can’t help it,” my voice breaks and I clear my throat. “How am I ever supposed to move on when all I see is him? He won’t go away. The memories. The love. This hold he still has over me. It breaks me but in a weird way I like it. Because it means I had him, even if only for a short period of time.”
Aria smiles, her eyes glazed, no doubt thinking about her own situation with Bishop. “I know what you mean. Remember, it’s better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all. You may never love someone like you love Theo, but it doesn’t mean you can’t love someone else. We will both be okay. We’ll learn to live with the pain of losing the men we love unconditionally. Our soulmates. Our other halves. It may hurt for a while, but it can’t hurt forever. Right?” She furrows her brow, like she doesn’t believe her own words. I don’t think I do either. But I know one thing is true. We will both be okay.
“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up and get back out there before someone comes looking for us.”
