“Dante. You know I can’t do that. I need to be there for Henry. He needs me.”
“What time is the surgery again?”
“It’s at noon, but there is no reason you need to be there. I know you don’t approve, and I don’t want that negativity between both of you.”
“Even though I disagree, it doesn’t mean I won’t be there to support you.”
“Well, just so you know. I don’t expect you to be there. So if there is something else you need to do, you can do it. I won’t be upset. Besides, I’ll be sitting and waiting, so there won’t be much to do.”
Dante was hurt. After all they had been through she didn’t want him by her side when she might need him the most. She was giving up on them, and he couldn’t allow it. “What is this? There is something that you’re not telling me.” He knew now, or at least was ready to admit that he loved Madison. He wanted her in his life for as long as she would stay.
“I guess it’s nerves for my showing at fashion week. I need to win.”
He just hoped this wasn’t the end.
****
On Thursday, Dante showed up at the club. Would Madison would call out? They had texted and talked on the phone while they were apart, but it wasn’t the same.
So he was surprised when she came in and came up to his office like their routine.
“Hey.” He moved his chair away from the desk so that she could come and sit in his lap like was their routine, but she didn’t move from just inside the doorway.
Regret flickered across her face before it was gone.
“I just came up to bring you the money back. I don’t need the extra, and please don’t add anything to tonight’s either.” She walked toward the desk and then went back and closed and locked the door. She placed the money on the desk but didn’t move around it to sit in his lap.
“What’s up?”
“I’m sorry, Dante. I can’t do this right now. With all the things going on, I don’t have the time to devote to a relationship.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it. Things are slowing down for you. Fashion week is next week, and then you will start your new job.”
She looked away.
“Just tell it to me straight. You’re not a good liar, and I think I deserve the truth.”
“I don’t want to be in a relationship with you anymore. My time here is up, and I think it’s best if we just make a clean break. No hard feelings. It just didn’t work out.”
“You mean you didn’t want it to work out.”
“That’s not true.”
“Whatever, Madison. I don’t have time for your games. I’m too old for this shit.”
“We’re just too different. Besides I realized I’m not comfortable with your, uh–” She touched her neck. “—background.”
Instead of having her leave, he got up and walked away. He unlocked the door and left her in the office alone. Dante didn’t stop until he reached his car and then he got in and drove.
He drove for hours. Past the time of her sets until he knew she would be gone and then he headed back. She had a key to his place. Would she be there when he got back? But when he came in the house was empty. In the bedroom, her things were gone. Where had she left the key, or did she keep it in case she changed her mind? He found the key under the mat in an envelope that had “sorry” written across it.
He wanted to punch something. To scream and rant and rave. He wanted to convince her to give them a go. To tell her how much he loved her, but she didn’t love him back and didn’t want to try and grow to love him.
How was it that less than a week ago he had introduced her to his parents for the first time and now they were no longer together. Life sucked.
****
Madison took the bus to Henry’s house that morning. She would drive them to the hospital in his car and then drive him back. She was going to stay the night with him and see how he was in the morning. This was the new plan since the surgery was just for Henry and no longer required her for this part.
