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“I think I’m learning to find my own way.”
She picks up her pen and taps the end on the table. “I think that’s true. I also think you’re starting to fall for that man and it has me a little worried.”
I stop with my glass halfway to my lips and bring it back down to the table. “Nico? I’m not falling for Nico.”
“You may want to the world to think that you want to wrap your hands around your neck and strangle him, but I know better.”
I pick up my glass. “He’s absolutely infuriating. Thinks he can make all of the decisions he wants, when he wants.”
‘And the way he turned you inside out yesterday meant nothing.”
My jaw drops open. “How do you—”
She waves her hand all around. “It’s written all over your face.”
“I can’t fall in love with Nico. I can’t fall in love with anyone right now. I need to protect myself.” What I don’t say is that I have to focus on Frankie and how to help him. I can’t be concerned with my feelings for Nico. Feelings that I push down and lock deep in a box.
If I don’t change the subject, Sofia isn’t going to let the topic go. I pick my phone up and open social media. “At some point, you have to move on. You’re too young to be alone for the rest of your life.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see her pick up her pen again, her attention back on the textbook. The discussion isn’t over, Sofia won’t let it go forever, for now though she’s letting it go.
My attention is immediately drawn to the picture on my phone. Out of habit, I had gone right to the church’s page again.
This time, it’s not just Frankie on the page. I click on the picture and zoom in. My stomach instantly revolts. The woman standing in the photo isn’t unfamiliar to me. I’ve looked at her picture enough to know who she is.
Elena is alive.
Nico lied to me. At every turn he protects Luis and his secrets. I dig my nails into my thigh, not wanting to show any outward signs to Sofia, since there’s not a single question I can answer.
Determined to dig deeper, I stand up from the counter. “I’m going to go relax. I’m starting to get a headache.”
I can feel the blood rushing through my head, so it’s not totally a lie.
Sofia looks at me with quizzical eyes. “All right. Do you need anything?” The worry is back in her eyes.
I wrap my arms around her shoulders from behind and press a kiss to her cheek. “I’m okay.” I’m nothing close to okay. “I just need a little rest. It’s been a long couple of days.”
She gives me a soft smile. “It has and I’m really proud of the way you’re handling it. For a while I worried that you would drown in sadness if I let you.”
“Taking it day by day.” With that, I leave the kitchen and head directly to my room.
Warm water fills the tub, steam rising to cover the mirror. Phone in hand, I step into the water. This can’t be the only picture of her. I’ve been so focused on pictures of Frankie, that I failed to notice anyone else in them. Mostly, they were group pictures.
I continue scrolling looking through each picture. The water begins to turn cold during my search. A few more pictures of Elena pop up on the page.
All this time. He never had any intention of really being a part of their marriage. Maybe he broke it off with her. After all, things had improved between us dramatically around the time Nico had said she passed away.
Part of me wants answers, where the other part is afraid to hear them. The realities of my world have continued to be crushed every moment since Luis’ death. Nico spends the day looked up in the office and I don’t bother going to find him. I don’t know what I’ll do if he tries to lie to me again.
I go through the motions of my day until I can feign exhaustion and go to bed without anyone worrying about me.
No sooner do I shut the door, the knob turns and the door opens again. Nico strolls into my room like he has every right to be there. The sleeves of his shirt are rolled up on muscled forearms. My body begs for me to strip him down. To let him make me come multiple times before he fucks me into slumber. It’s probably the only way I’ll get any sleep.
When he moves to wrap me in his embrace and places his lips on mine, my mind wins out over my body. I shove him away.
He stumbles backward. “What the fuck, Scarlett?”
“You lied to me.”
