Taking a deep breath, I admit with a shaky exhale, “I think it’s time I put myself first for a change.”
“These last few weeks…” She hesitates. “I know you didn’t remember everything that had happened, but I thought things were changing. I thought Dante was making an effort.”
For the necklace, yes. For me? I’m not so sure.
“Tiana, you know me. After everything Dante has done, I’ve never been his greatest fan. I thought he only wanted power and money. But he gave you the company, and he seems so set on helping you succeed with your own startup. Surely, that means something?”
“I think he was just playing a role as long as I was stuck in the past.”
“I know it was wrong of me.” She stares at her hand that lies in her lap before meeting my gaze again. “But sometimes, I didn’t want you to remember. I just wanted you to be happy.”
“Oh, Jazz.” I squeeze her arm. “I appreciate you so much.”
She continues with a frenzied expression. “But don’t you think Dante deserves another chance? I know how much you love him. The way you behaved toward him during these last few weeks reminded me of that fact. I think the two of you can be happy if you both tried.”
That familiar old inhabitant inside me—a deep, profound sadness—makes itself known. “I told him multiple times how I felt, and he hasn’t told me once that he loves me.” Taking in the devastated look on her face, I smile. “Don’t look so sad. I’ll survive. But I think I deserve better, don’t you?”
She studies me for a moment, fighting her tears, and then she leans forward and hugs me carefully. “Look at you, soothing me when you’re the one who needs consoling.”
“I’ll be fine,” I lie. “I just want to live the life I deserve.”
Raising her eyes skyward, she catches a tear that slips free with her finger. “I don’t want anything less for you. I’ll always be there, no matter what. You know that, right?”
“As you’ve proven time and again.” Not wanting to talk about my pending breakup lest I start crying too, I change the subject. “How about you and Mr. Dark And Infuriating?”
“Reino?” She blinks away her tears. “Now that your memory has returned, you understand why I don’t want to have anything to do with him. I mean, he’s our enemy.”
I lift a brow. “Is he?”
“You know what I mean. He threatened a director to give me an audition and hid the truth from me. The worst wasn’t even the lie. It was the disappointment of knowing I never earned that invitation as I believed I did. Look how it all started out. He spied on you and deceived me, not to mention that he was involved in our abduction in Denver.”
“Yet you’re ready to forgive Dante.”
She holds up a finger. “I didn’t say I’d forgive him. I just said that maybe, if he made you happy, it was worth giving him another chance.”
“Does Reino not deserve another chance?”
“We’re clearly attracted. I can’t deny that.”
I laugh. “And you wanted to set me up on a date with him.”
She rolls her eyes. “I was just trying to get you out of your dating slump.”
“Okay.” I relent with another laugh. “Carry on.”
“So, yes, we’re attracted to each other, but dating him will feel like a betrayal to you.”
“Listen to me, Jazz.” I hold her gaze, letting her see how serious I am. “The past is the past. I’m finally getting over it, and I’m no longer going to dwell on things I can’t change. If you think Reino is the one, I’ll be nothing but happy for you. In fact, I’ll resent myself if you throw away a chance at happiness for my sake. That’s not what I want for you.” I smile. “Besides, I’ve come to like Reino. He’s kind of cool with Noah.”
Her expression goes all mushy. “He is, isn’t he?”
“So stop fighting it. If that’s what you want, give it a shot. What do you have to lose?”
Fiddling with the hem of her cardigan, she says, “I’ll think about it.”
“Good.”
Her face drops. “When are you going to make a decision?”
