“Because I’m weak and selfish, and even though I know I should, I can’t seem to let you walk out of my life.”
His honesty and the raw emotion in his voice rocked my resolve, making me admit to myself how much I’d missed him as well. Money didn’t always mean an easy life, and Domincio sounded like he’d gone through the wringer. Still, I needed to protect my heart. He clearly wasn’t the type of guy I could trust with it.
“Please talk to me,” he pleaded, sounding more vulnerable than I would have thought possible. “It’s been a rough past couple of weeks and… fuck it! I need to hear your voice.”
That did me in. “What do you want me to say?” I relented.
“Anything. Just talk. How are you? How’s work?”
I gave him a brief rundown on how well everything was going at Antonio’s.
“Sounds like you’re really enjoying it.”
“I am, thanks.”
“And how’s your father?”
My gaze drifted to the door. We were on the other side of the anniversary of Mom’s death and he seemed better—not necessarily sober, but coherent—today. “He’s all right.”
Awkward silence lingered between us, filling up with all the things I wish I could say.Where were you? Why didn’t you call? Are you okay?
“What are you doing tonight?” he asked.
“Nothing. I just got home from work.”
“Do you work tomorrow?”
Wondering where this line of questioning was going, I asked, “Why?”
“I know I fucked up by not calling you, Annetta, but I thought about you every single day.”
Residual anger stirred within me. “Just not enough to call me.”
“Too much to call you,” he replied. “My life’s complicated. I don’t get the luxury of doing whatever the hell I want. But I missed you and… Damnit, I hate phones. Can I come pick you up?”
The question surprised me. “And take me where?” I asked.
“Anywhere you want to go.”
Knowing I should decline the offer did not make me smart enough to do so. Especially when I had missed Dominco, too. “Will you talk to me? Tell me why you didn’t call at least?”
“Annetta, I—”
The hesitancy in his voice told me all I needed to know. “Sounds like a no. Why don’t you go ahead and give me a call if you change your mind?”
I tried to hang up for the second time.
“Wait! Annetta, listen. Okay, yes, I will tell you as much as I can.”
Shocked that I was even considering it, I sniffed my hair, which still smelled like the restaurant. Before I could come to my senses, I said, “I can be ready in thirty minutes.”
“Thank you. I’ll be there.” The relief in his voice chipped away the last of my resolve. Before I could say goodbye, he added, “Bring a swimsuit.”
Wondering what the hell I’d signed up for, I clicked off the phone and headed for the shower.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Annetta
