AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I say goodbye and check my phone for the first time since arriving at my parents’ house, finding dozens of missed messages in our girl chat.
We meet at Aurora’s place. When she sees me, she says, “That long face is not from the flu.”
“No.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
“No woman would feel good bitching about her man in front of his sister,” Chiara says.
“Hey, I am impartial.”
Chiara taps a finger on her chin. “Actually, yes, the only partial one would be Alessandra.”
“I heard that,” Alessandra says.
And just like that, I feel better.
“Cameron doesn’t love me.” There. I said it. They look at each other and burst into laughter.
“Did you fall and hit your head?” asks Chiara.
I shake my head.
“Cam calls me so often to ask me for medical advice, I might block his number. He made me teach him how to take your pulse in your neck, wrist, and feet. When you were ill, he counted your breaths.”
I sigh, and Aurora gives my hand a little squeeze. “He’s never had that look in his eyes. Believe me.”
The little ones come running down the stairs, and Chiara says, “Goodbye, silence.”
“Aunt Vio, please, can we see the deer?” Leia asks.
“Pretty please,” Celia adds, both girls with hands clasped together in supplication.
Alessandra gives them an intent look. “Girls, what did we say?”
“But she’s not sick anymore.”
They are so cute, standing next to each other with pleas in their eyes.
“Come on.”
We end up going to my backyard. The deer chases after the girls while Aiden crawls after them. It’s such a wholesome picture, we all sniffle, quickly wiping the tears from our eyes.
“What is it with animals and children?” Chiara says.
“Our brains are wired like that,” offers Alessandra.
Celia and Leia fall asleep on the swing, with Aiden in his mother’s arms. The deer sleeps in front of my feet while we enjoy a bottle of wine Marie brought.
I need a few days away. Maybe a break will do Cameron and me good. And when I return, I won’t be this pathetic woman wanting her husband’s love. It’s the only way. But knowing my husband, he’d refuse.
“I have to talk to Cato,” I say.
“I’ll message you when he’s home,” Chiara says.
Aurora opens her mouth, but I cut her off. “I have to go to the championship. No one will know it’s me.”
“Secrecy is never the solution.”
