“How’s your stomach?”
“Not good.”
“Brando…” My mouth was somehow dry and gummy, and my heart felt stretched, as though willing itself to make it to where he was despite the confines of skin. “Did you drink too much?”
“Yeah.” Then he sighed. “Donato offered goodwill to Shufflebottom,” he said so quietly that it made my ear itch.
“Shufflebotham?”
“That’s what I said.” It wasn’t, but that wasn’t the point. “Things—”
“Things. You mean almost choking the man to death and making him crap his pants?”
“Yeah. He understood after a few beers. He told me he has no friends. He’s in Africa with us.”
“Is that how Donato cleaned up the—mess?” I couldn’t seem to find a more suitable word.
He grunted. “Call it what you want. He’s all right, just a—” He searched for a suitable word.
“Twat?” I deputized.
“Yeah.” I sensed his grin. “He’s better when you keep him drunk, which we have been. He passed out cold when he went under with the sharks. Shit his pants again.”
“Well.” I sighed. “That sort of thing is not for the faint of heart.”
“That’s nothing,” he said. “Being married to you, now that’s not for the faint of heart.”
I snickered. “You’re having fun, though, aren’t you?”
It took him a minute to answer. When he did, his voice was even softer. “Yeah. I’m enjoying being out here with my brothers. They’re different here. I can be too. On the other hand, no, I’m not fucking enjoying myself, Scarlett. I miss you too damn much. I want to turn around and tell you everything I love about this place. When I do, you’re not there. Which pisses me off even more. Dark thoughts keep paralyzing me. But I keep convincing myself—just another day, another day, another day. It tears at my heart just to hear your voice. To know that I could be buried deep inside of you, taking care of you, enjoying what you’ve been, but instead, I have a prime view of Shufflebottom pissing in the air.”
“Please. Don’t go into any more detail. My stomach is about to rise up against me.” I sighed, long and hard, and then cleared my throat. My words came out soft. “Just for the record. I miss you too—so damn much.”
He cleared his throat. “We weren’t meant for this, Scarlett. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty because we are the way we are. Relationships are different. Not all of them are meant to be so dependent on each other. Ours is. I’m not whole without you.”
We became quiet, nothing on either side of the line echoing. I was thankful for the peace. On the way home from our night out, Rosaria had stopped in a private area with her soccer player, one of our men having to stand guard while she made noises that could crack glass. At first I was affronted on Rocco’s behalf, but then the memory of him with the stewardess on my father’s plane evened out the offense. I decided it was wise to be Switzerland in their marital affairs—neutral.
“It’s quiet there,” Brando said, breaking ours.
“Yes,” I sighed. “Collette, Abree,andRosaria spent the night in a hotel.”
“You’re naked.”
“No, well, yes. I have your leather jacket on. It’s gets chilly here.”
“Put some clothes on—they’ll be coming back with those football players sooner or later.”
“Don’t worry,” I assured him. “Guido is right outside of the door. He’s not letting anyone in. He told me he was going to keep watch—I guess he wasn’t sure when they were coming home.”
Brando had an issue with other men being in the house. He grew up waking to a new face every other night. Maggie Beautiful hadn’t been quiet about it either. “The trip was supposed to be women only. I’m going to have a talk with Guido.”
“No,” I said, thinking how those three would turn on me if I even inadvertently put the kibosh on their fun times. Though Carmen was getting fed up enough to do it herself. It washerparty. “I know Guido talked to each man before we left—what was expected of him was made clear. Rocco didn’t set any limits for Rosaria. Except for one—cause no trouble. They seem to have a mutual understanding.”
“Fuck understanding,” Brando said, hitting something in the background. “Why even get married?”
“I don’t know. I’m staying out of it from now on.”
“That’s one good thing,” he said. “Did you talk to Collette?”
