I pull up an extra chair.“Unfortunately, I didn’t get out of the city while I was there.But Munich has so many parks, it doesn’t have such a big city feel.It’s very lively, very clean.”
Madison and Damiano ask me more about what I did while I was there, but as I was mostly working, the conversation doesn’t have far to go.
“How about things here?”Madison asks Damiano.“You said you aren’t in pain, but you must be bored.”
“I’m not bored now, with my two favorite people in the room with me.”
The flash of pain across Madison’s face is so quick, I’m not sure if Damiano registers it.But I can tell she’s thinking about Alessia, and she’s wondering where Alessia falls on the list of Damiano’s favorite people.When I called her about the accident, I mentioned that Damiano and Alessia are divorced, but there wasn’t time to go into detail—that wasn’t the point of the call.I mainly wanted to make sure she knew he was hurt, and he’d appreciate a visit.
Our conversation meanders to zombie shows.After a while, Damiano’s eyes start to close—he’s getting tired.
“I should go,” Madison says.
“Stay.”He squeezes her hand.
“Of course.”She settles into her chair and sends me a smile.“I can hang out here if you want to take a break, Seth.”
“I’ll stay for a bit.Why don’t you pick a show to watch—we can stream it on my tablet.”
Her grin turns wicked.“Well, of course it has to beFlesh and Teeth.Damiano still needs to watch Season Two.”
That evil smile on those pouty lips.Her kindness as she makes sure Damiano is comfortable.The way she laughs with her whole body—her eyes dancing, her shoulders shaking.
The distance did fuck-all for my feelings.I’m just as in danger of falling in love with her as I was two weeks ago.
6
DAMIANO
She’s back.Here.With me.My beautiful girl.I won’t fuck it up this time.I will be completely honest from here on out.She deserves my honesty, and she always has.I was an idiot.
After a couple episodes ofFlesh and Teeth, I can feel my medications making my mind fuzzy.But I have to talk to her before she goes.
“We have something to discuss.”I take her hand.“I need to apologize.”
Seth meets my gaze and sets his tablet on the table.“I’ll be going, but I’ll leave this here in case you want to use it later.Madison, it was good to see you.”
She seems surprised by his soft tone.“Yeah, uh, you too.”
Once he’s out of the room, Madison looks at the door and whispers, “Do you think he wants to be friends again?”
“Of course he does.He always has, bella.He’d be insane not to.”I fully face her.“But that’s not what I need to talk about.I need to say I’m sorry.I’m so sorry I wasn’t honest, and that I put you in that position with Alessia.I hope you’ll let me explain.It won’t be an excuse, but I do want to give you all the information so you can understand why I was a complete asshole.”
Madison shifts uncomfortably in her seat.“We don’t need to do this now.Let’s wait until you’re feeling better?—”
“I can’t wait another minute.”I clear my throat.My eyelids are getting heavy.“If you’re willing to listen, I very much want to speak.”
“All right.”She lifts my hand and kisses it.“I’ll listen.”
I already feel forgiven, but she deserves the truth, the whole story.
“Alessia divorced me while I was wrongfully imprisoned.We haven’t been together since before my arrest.I have no interest in her romantically or sexually, and I haven’t in a long time.I promise, Madison—I swear—I’m helping her only because her ex-boyfriend is abusive.I have given her guards, and an apartment in my building.She doesn’t live with me.”
She leans over and kisses my cheek.Her flowery scent fills me with comfort.“I get it.But we need to back up a little…you were wrongfully imprisoned?”
It’s been a very long time, yet the betrayal and the lost years still hurt.However, I shove the emotions down and give Madison the straight facts.
“Someone hurt a woman in my city,” I say.“The description of her assailant matched me.I did happen to be in the area at the time, and the police latched onto me as the assailant.They never looked further—I believe because one of the officers was interested in Alessia.Once I went to prison, they started sleeping together.She asked for a divorce a few months later.”
