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A sky without stars, a home without heart.
“Don’t,” Vivian whispered.
The air shifted, our earlier playfulness vanishing beneath the weight of our emotion.
“It’s the truth,” I said. “Your clothes are here. Your memories are here. Butyou’renot here, and I…” I dragged in a shaky breath and pushed my hand through my hair. “Fuck, Vivian, I didn’t think I was capable of missing someone so much. But I am, and I do.”
I had all the money in the world, but it couldn’t buy me the only thing I wanted.
Her, back by my side.
It was what I’d wanted since I came home and found her packing. Hell, it was what I’d wanted since we returned from Paris and I pulled away like an idiot, but my head had been so far up my ass about Francis and revenge I couldn’t see anything except my own bullshit.
It took my brother, of all people, to make me see the light.
I loved Vivian. I’d been falling in love with her, bit by bit, since she crashed my exhibition and stared me down with defiance in her eyes.
“Say something, sweetheart,” I said softly when she went quiet again.
“You say you miss me now, but the feeling will pass. You’re Dante Russo. You can have anyone.” A waver rippled beneath her voice. “You don’t need me.”
The tiny crack on the wordmehit me like a punch in the gut.
You never wanted to get married, and you never wantedme.
One of her six reasons, and one I took a fair share of the blame for. But I wasn’t the only one. Her parents had a hand in making her feel like she was dispensable other than what she could do for them, and I’d never forgive them for it.
It was hypocritical, but I didn’t care.
“I don’t wantanyone,” I said fiercely. “I wantyou. Your wit and intelligence, your kindness and charm. The way your eyes crinkle when you laugh and how your smile makes the world tilt just a little bit. I even want the disgusting food combinations you put together and somehow make taste good.”
A half laugh, half sob bled over the line.
“But that’s the thing about you, Vivian.” My voice softened into something rawer. “You take the most ordinary or unexpected things and make them extraordinary. You see the silver lining in every situation and the good in everyone, even if they don’t deserve it. And I’m selfish enough to hope you’ll seehow much I don’t just want butneedyou. Today, tomorrow, and all the days that come after that.”
Another sob, this one quieter but no less powerful.
Fuck,I wished I could see her. Hold her. Comfort her. And look into her eyes so she knew I meant every damn word I said.
“I know it took me a while to get here, sweetheart, and I’m not the best with expressing my emotions, but…” A ragged breath. “Give me a chance to prove it to you. Go on a date with me. Just one.”
The first silence had been long. This one was torturous.
My heart slammed, fast and hard enough to bruise, then stopped altogether when Vivian finally replied. Soft and hesitant, yet thick with emotion.
“Okay. Just one.”
CHAPTER39
Dante
“Micetta,it’s so nice to see you!” Greta brushed past me and swept Vivian up in a hug. She only used thelittle kittenendearment for her grandchildren, but apparently, she’d extended it to Vivian. “The house isn’t the same without you.”
I scowled at her pointed tone. She’d given me the cold treatment all week. I was pretty sure she’d burned my pork chops on purpose the other night. I’d forced down two bites before I gave up and ordered takeout. It wasn’t just her, either; even Edward had cast disapproving glances my way when he thought I wasn’t looking.
My staff didn’t know what happened with Vivian. They only knew she was gone, and they blamed me for it.
Hell, I blamed myself too, which was why I was trying to make amends.
