“You said you’d call me!”
“And I was going to later tonight, but you couldn’t wait, could you? And now you’re all angry and hurt, and calling to make me feel bad.”Shut the fuck up, Ciro!
“You think I’m trying to manipulate you? I’m not playing games with you, Ciro. I don’t have the stamina for it or wherewithal. I’m a mother. Pippa is my top priority. We were doing just fine before?—”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” I warned her.
“Ciro, baby,” Courtney sang from behind me. “Who are youtalking to?”
My blood went cold as I whirled around. She was doing one of her sexy modeling poses, pushing her hip out and lifting the hem of her oversized Beatles band shirt. Except she didn’t entice me in the least and hadn’t for many years.
“Shit, sorry.” Roman ran in and grabbed Courtney, but he struggled to get her back into the bedroom.
“Oh my God!” Isla cried.
“It’s not—” The line went dead. “Fuck!”
I called her back, panicked as all get-out. It went to voicemail.
“Son of a fucking bitch!” I roared and called her again. Voicemail.
“I’m sorry,” Roman said. “She told me she needed to pee. I fucked up.”
I paced, feeling as if my heart would explode in my chest. I knew what Isla thought, but she was wrong. Of course, she wouldn’t have known that. All she knew was that I’d avoided her and was with another woman.
Could this situation get any more fucked up? Probably better not to tempt the universe.
“Do you want me to call her? I can explain what we’re doing here.”
“Let me text her first.” My fingers flew across the screen as I typed:It’s not what you think. Roman and I are helping a friend. Call me. I’ll explain.
I waited and waited for a reply and got nothing.
After an hour of calling and texting Isla, I was losing my mind. Roman and I had finally gotten Courtney to sleep and we went home.
Why in the hell hadn’t I called Isla earlier?
What did I need to process?
Why did I tell her my emotions were all over the place? Imade it sound like I didn’t know how I felt about her, which was the furthest thing from the truth.
Yes, I was angry, but I loved her. I needed Isla and I wanted her more than anything.
And I fucked up with her,again.
32
ISLA
I sat numblyon the hotel bed with Pippa smiling up at me from her bouncy chair. My sweet baby girl was oblivious to what her father was up to, and I preferred it that way. I didn’t even want to know Ciro was with another woman.
Was I really all that surprised and shocked? Nope.
But was I disappointed and hurt? Yes.
Disgusted I slept with him so quickly? One hundred percent, completely disgusted.
I hated myself for being so freaking gullible for falling back under Ciro’s spell in less than two days.
