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“I was busy, Alonzo. What's wrong?” she said. The moment her body spun around, and she clasped eyes on us stood together, the tears started. “Alonzo they are really here… together?”
He nodded as she ran up to us both and tackled us into a hug before she smacked me around the head once and took a step backwards with fire in her eyes.
“Ow. What was that for?” I said, rubbing the spot on my head where she’d given me a good wallop.
“You know what… you don't just disappear into thin air. I know Everleigh was still around. You messed up, Dawson Parker. Now, sort it out,” she said, storming off in a huff before stopping with her hand on the kitchen door and shooting a wink at Everleigh. “Make him work for it, my Belle.”
That woman was one of her own. Italian blood through and through. You never wanted to piss her off or you'd pay with her wrath. It looked like I was on her shit list as it stood and who would have blamed her. Even in her late sixties, she could hold a grudge. Alonzo saw that, but I deserved her insult.
“I'm glad she's giving me a chance to explain everything,” I admitted to them both, cowering back slightly as I felt a warm hand reach mine, giving it a slight squeeze.
“I said I would listen, didn't I? Nothing else. Doesn't mean we can't enjoy the company.” She smiled at me before turning her attention to Alonzo. “Could we have our normal table if it’s free, please?”
“Of course, this way,” he replied guiding us forward, even though we both knew the exact steps and direction to take. It was secluded in the corner with a wraparound booth surrounding us, roses trailed up the back of the wall.
My beauty, my Belle. Always.
“Alonzo, could I have my regular order… well, if you can still remember it, please?” Everleigh said shyly, a pink blush formed on her cheeks, knocking me straight off my game plan. “Dawson? Do you need time?”
Time for what? To think and go over the menu… no. Time to think how to reveal everything else… yes. “No, I will have the usual too, please?”
“One spaghetti arrabiata,” Alonzo pointed at myself. “One carbonara for my Belle,” she nodded. “A garlic and tomato bread to share and a bottle of 2015 Scarbolo Campo del Viotto Merlot. Are we having Arianna’s tiramisu sharer for after with an extra espresso topper?”
“Please Alonzo, if that's no problem,” I asked as I watched Everleigh’s movements for guidance in case she disagreed. I didn't want to overstep the mark.
“I’ll leave you kids to talk,” he replied, giving me a final squeeze of the arm and a whisper in the ear. “Tell her the truth. That's all that matters.”
10
Everleigh
Iwas playing with fire, and I was afraid I’d be burnt. Would it bother me though? No, if I'm honest. Dawson’s touch had ignited those locked away feelings I’d fought to keep stored away from the naked eye. But until I knew why he’d left me, I wasn't going to be acting like a schoolgirl in love. My broken heart was patched up, but the band aids were already loose in places. Dawson could irrevocably break me so easily, so I had no choice but to protect myself. I wasn’t a patient person, so having to wait had been killing me slowly but after tonight, I hoped to know everything. After tonight, one less weight would be on my shoulders. I thought accepting his invitation to one of our favorite places would test him, but in reality, it was testing us both in so many ways.
I had seen Arianna around the city a couple of times, but she wasn't blind. She could see the hurt of a woman lost to love and never pushed me to talk. It was like she knew I was stuck in limbo, awaiting the decision of my destination, except it never came. Well, not till now. That was why payback was a bitch. Arianna was that payback and held a grudge like no other woman I knew. If Dawson could stand up here without backing down, I knew that whatever he had to tell me was worthwhile listening to. Whether it hurt or not was another question.
“Right, enough delays,” I said, going straight for the jugular once I took my seat in the corner and placed my jacket onto the seat next to me. Dawson scooted across the bench seat to sit opposite me as the lights suddenly dimmed down. My mouth ran dry at the change in atmosphere. It was stifling, unexpected, but the man in front of me was breathtakingly illuminated by the surrounding low-lit candles hitting his chiseled jaw as I gulped hard, waiting for him to talk.
“I… I don't know where to start?” he admitted honestly, staring into my eyes as his fingers dug into the white tablecloth, gathering the fabric along the edge of the wooden palleted table.
“From the beginning Dawson, from the very beginning…” I reached forward and placed my hand palm up on the table, offering my strength for him as Alonzo dropped our wine on the table and left without a word.
“I’d struggled the few months prior to when I…” He fought back the tears as I cupped his hand.
“Left, Dawson. You left,” I said as he nodded. I took a deep breath and watched him close his eyes for a moment before they snapped back to look deep into mine.
“Stone… he wouldn't stop,” he admitted, biting his bottom lip, a nervous trait it seemed he hadn't lost. “He wouldn't leave me alone. He pushed. Called. Sent people to see me when I refused. He gave me an ultimatum, Everleigh.”
He ran his hand through his hair, and I noticed the beads of sweat forming on his head as he grabbed a napkin to collect the droplets. Alonzo dropped our meals at the table and nodded at me as I gave a weak smile in return, before leaving us alone again.
“Your father… he gave you an ultimatum?” I leaned forward, unsure I had heard the words leave his mouth correctly. I felt the anger start to build in my chest. The sudden appetite I had disappeared and all that existed was the pair of us. “Explain, Dawson. Is this a sick joke?”
“Never.” His brow wrinkled across his forehead and his mouth drew into a flatline. “Thatman…tore my life apart.”
“Did he really?”
He reached forward to show me the wine glass and the bottle and raised his brow. I nodded and watched as he poured us both a large glass of wine before passing me mine. He leant back in his chair and swirled the glass, watching the movement.
“Everleigh, he wanted control and I wouldn't conform to it.” He lowered his tone. “Thatmansaid if I didn't move into his beloved crooked world on Wall Street, follow his lead taking the stockbroker market by storm…”
