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“Yes, we’ve already discussed some tentative dates.” I drum my fingers on the shiny white marble. “I also got some really amazing news this morning after I left the hospital. A booking representative for Carnegie Hall called about hosting a performance next month. It was something my father always wanted for me, a shared dream, I guess.”
I don’t know why I feel the urge to tell her. Maybe because I feel like I can actually talk to her as a friend, and I’ve been starved for those for longer than I can remember.
“That is amazing.” She holds up her glass and I clink mine with hers. “Cheers and congratulations. You absolutely deserve it.”
“Thank you. And thank you for everything. The baby gifts, watching Daniela. You’ve been so incredible, and I’m so glad I got the chance to meet you.”
“It doesn’t have to be the end.” Tori puts her hand over mine. “You know, Danil came here right after leaving you at the hospital yesterday. I’ve never seen him so depressed before. Whatever happened between you really hit him hard.”
“It’s all for the best. What happened between us was a freak thing. And being thrown back together proved to me that anything between us needs to stay in the past. It just can’t be my future.”
Tori nods. “I know. You have a life and a career and a daughter. But she’s his, too. And he adores her. Being with Daniela was the only thing that could make him smile yesterday. He stayed with her all night. I think it was because he knew he needed to say goodbye, too.”
Tears sting my eyes. “I wish it didn’t have to be this way.”
“It doesn’t, sweetie. You have a choice. We all do.”
“I know, and I made it.” I shake my head and swipe under my eyes. “You can’t go back, Tori. You just can’t, no matter how much you want to.”
“You’re still in danger.” Her blue eyes darken. “Are your brothers going to be able to handle whatever happens next?”
“We’re working on it. I have money for security. I’ll take care of whatever we need. Nobody will ever get close to us again.”
“I really wish you’d reconsider. You can work things out.” She lets out a laugh. “If you only knew how the relationships in my family started, you’d never believe how they ended up.”
“There’s nothing to reconsider. I know what I want, and Danil can’t give it to me.” I finish the rest of my water and place the glass on the top of the island. “But someday, someone will.”
I can’t bear to look at the dismayed expression on her face. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re making this even harder than it already is.”
“I just hate to see you go without resolving this. You need to figure something out. Don’t deprive Daniela of a father who wants to be part of her life, even if that doesn’t work for you.” Tori walks around and positions herself in front of me. “I will track you down,Lola. I’m your biggest YouTube stalker, and I’m very persistent.”
I capture her in a big hug and breathe in her sweet, perfumed scent. “I don’t doubt that.”
“Just think about what I said.” She flashes a hopeful smile. “This doesn’t have to be the end.”
“Trust me. I’ve thought long and hard.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and hug Daniela close against me. “We leave for New York tonight at eight. It’s time to move forward. Things are really taking off for me. I can’t afford to make any more sacrifices.”
“Are you saying all of that because you really believe it, Larysa?” Tori gives my good shoulder a squeeze. “Or is it just a bunch of words that justify your reasons for giving up a chance to be a real family?”
My shoulders sag, a deep sigh slipping from my lips as her words burn a hole in my brain.
That’s the real problem, though, isn’t it? Too many words flying around, and not nearly enough to back them up. Trust has been broken, hearts have been shattered.
I’m tired of being a character in someone else’s book. For the first time in a long time, I finally made a choice to take back control of my story.
And I won’t let it go again.
Chapter39
Larysa
The air outside the United Airlines terminal at Miami International Airport is so thick and heavy, it chokes me. A blast of cold rushes over my skin once I push through the glass revolving door and step inside. Such a relief from the sweltering heat outside. I let out a deep breath, the hair on my bare arms prickling from sweat.
I squeeze Daniela’s hand tight and glare at the long lines at the ticket counter. Perfect. Just what I want to deal with right now. A long wait coupled with a broken heart. “Come on, let’s go get our boarding passes.”
My brothers follow me toward the end of the line. It feels like forever before we make it up to a ticketing agent. And another day passes before we finally pass through security and re-pack our overnight bags after they’ve been ravaged by TSA agents. It takes longer than I anticipated because of my one working arm, but then again, everything has taken longer because the idea of going through the motions of each day knowing the man I fell in love with let me walk away drains me to my very core.
I slide my iPad out of its case and place it in a plastic box along with my phone and keys before staggering through the X-ray machine in my socks.
