Hearing him repeat those words caused a trigger in me.
I stared at him incredulously. “I don’t believe you.”
“How could you not?” he asked, his voice getting louder. “Why the fuck would I lie about something like that? I have nothing to gain! Want me to say it again? I’m in love with you, Alessandra!”
I held back tears as I shook my head at him. “You’re lying. Just admit it. I know you’re lying through your teeth right now.”
“I’m in love with you!” he said, his voice cracking. He was close to yelling, and we were both on edge.
Those words took me aback. He couldn’t be serious. It was too soon—we didn’t know enough about each other. There was no way. Anger filled my chest. I felt as though I was being played again. I wouldn’t let him manipulate me. I was about to tell him again when a voice came over the speakerphone.
“All families report to the bride or groom immediately. The wedding will begin shortly,” the minister’s voice said, already sounding exasperated. “All guests are to take their seats in the pews. Thank you.”
I looked at Savio and could see the fire raging inside his eyes. The pent up frustration was evident. I’d pushed him to his limit, but he still hadn’t hurt me. He’d only admitted that he was in love with me over and over again. Still, I had difficulty believing his words. What did he know about falling in love? I barely knew anything about him, to begin with.
“I’m going back to Lucia.”
I brushed past him and was immediately pulled back as his hand gripped my arm. I ripped my arm from his grasp and glared at him, which made him even more furious. I wasn’t sure where we stood. I’d pushed him to a point where I wasn’t sure if he would even talk to me again. The worst part was that I cared. I thought I’d be able to get rid of him from my mind. I’d obsessively considered the next time I would be face to face with him. I’d pictured it in my mind, and it hadn’t been how things had gone down.
Real-life was always vastly different than how we expected things to go.
“This isn’t over,” he said.
I furrowed my brow in surprise as he pushed the door open and stormed out. I thought I’d finished things. It seemed as though I’d only started right back at the beginning. That lump in my throat was still there, as was the thought of him ignoring me like he had immediately after taking my virginity. It wasn’t some small thing.
It mattered to me.
