‘Who isthisversion of you, Stella? I look at you and I don’t know. Sincehearrived,’ she pointed in the direction of their apartment, ‘you have changed.Ti giuro, ho paura per te.Per noi.’
The night air thickened inexplicably as Stella tried to steel herself with a deep breath. ‘For God’s sake, Marcella.’
‘No. Zitta. First,Italk.’
Gnawing on the inside of her cheek, Stella conceded. ‘Fine.’
Marcella seemed to soften a little. ‘Stella, youthinkyou know who Vincent is. But tonight, he showed us his true colours again.Thatwas Vincent. The real version. The same rude, grumpycoglione.’
‘Don’t call him that.’
‘Ok,scusa.’
‘He’s just exhausted. He doesn’t mean it.’
Marcella’s head tilted sagely to the left. ‘You cannot say that his behaviour tonight didn’t worry you. I saw your eyes across the table. Your spirit died a little. I know it did. I am worried about you, Stellina.’ Marcella seemed to stop suddenly, and Stella sensed that she was withholding something.
‘Out with it. Whatever it is you want to say. And no doubt it’s got something to do with that little performance at theBoccaon Monday.’
Marcella’s curls bounced as she shook her head. ‘Stella, I think he’s lying to you.’
Stella’s jaw dropped. ‘Excuse me?’
‘Last weekend – the night before we went to the Museo Nazionale Romano – he said he came home at midnight. But I heard him at four.Ti giuro! And it wasn’tper fare la pìpì. He came home late.’
‘You’re basing this attack on the fact that you think he lied about when he came home? Do you hear yourself?’
‘I’m just looking out for you,eh?’
‘I don’t need to you look after me, Marcella. I’m a big girl. And did you stop to consider that perhaps,just maybe, hedidcome home at midnight, and youdidhear him at four because hehadgone to the toilet? But you aresoexhausted, and rattled and drained from work that you’re not thinking clearly? You are hardly ever home, Marcella!’
Marcella stopped short, and her argument deflated a little. ‘No.’
‘What you are implying is deeply offensive.’
‘And what am I implying, Stella? That it’s strange that he does one thing, but says another? That he challenges you about Marco and plants a seed of concern in your mind about his intentions? Tries to scare you off being friends with a handsome, wonderful man? That he iselusivoandevasivo, when we ask about his work hours. About Pietro.Ma, sul serio, chi è questo Pietro? Esiste per davvero?’
‘You’re convinced he’s lying to me? Tous?’
‘Sì.’
‘You don’t know him like I do. You don’t know what he’s been through, or who he really is.’
‘Don’t let what happened with Andrew cloud your judgement, Stella.’
Stella, whose eyes had planted themselves between the cobblestones, looked up. ‘I could say the same about Federico, Marcella,’ she shot back. ‘You are looking for faults, for issues and cracks, because Federico’s cheating programmed you to do so. Leave me and Vincent out of it!’
‘Don’t bring Federico into this.Lascialo stare, Stella.’ Her tone tightened. ‘This isn’t about Federico.’ Just the mention of his name brought a familiar sting to her eyes.
‘Not everyone is like Federico, Marcella. You can trust Vincent. He’s a good guy. He can’t hurt me like Federico hurt you.’ She hadn’t wanted to share the finer details of Vincent’s past with Marcella, but right now, it was her best defence. ‘Vincent’s not all that different from you and me, Marcella. His ex, Céline, cheated on him too. He found her with his boss. His boss! He had to leave his job, and Paris. And this,’ Stella began pacing, gesturing to their surroundings, ‘ishisfresh start.’
Stella watched as Marcella’s stiffened stance loosened behind an exasperated sigh. ‘Stella—’
‘He’s incredibly sweet and kind, and he believes in me. He wants to protect me, and see me do well, Marcella. So, he gets a little grumpy when he’s tired. But that’s just because he’s so overworked at the moment.’
‘I’m just scared that . . . you know . . . sometimes you get carried away with things very quickly. You sometimes miss what’s happening right under yournasone.’ She reached across and waggled Stella’s nose, trying to lighten the mood.
‘Thank you for your concern. But youneedto let go of this. It’s not healthy for anyone.’
