Page 197 of Mama Si's Paradise

So, with that thought in mind, I searched every single hallway that I knew and others I’d never been to before,hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Or anyone else who could tell me where he was.

An hour must have passed, and I was lost in the maze of corridors on the ground floor without a clue where to go next, or even where I was. I sat at a corner to rest my legs, to breathe, to try to come up with a plan. To stop wanting to call for Grey, scream my lungs out to him so he could come and get me and take me to bed and make me feel at home again.

Fuck, the way I wanted him was senseless. Completely fucking senseless. Missing him had turned into an ache deep in my chest, like I hadn’t seen him in days. Weeks. Months.

Silly, silly Fall…

“Are you okay, Miss Hayes?”

I looked up to find Vinny pushing a small silver cart at the end of the corridor I was in.

“I’m…I’m fine,” I muttered, pushing my hair away from my face, trying to seem more presentable. What for, I had no idea.

His brows shot up. “Are you sure?”

“I think so.” I was awake, wasn’t I? I hadn’t passed out yet, so…

“Oh. Would you care for some fruit salad, perhaps?” And he reached for something in his cart.

My stomach growled loudly, as if on cue, and though he was on the other side of the hallway, I felt like he heard it.

“Actually, that sounds…” My voice trailed off as he came for me with a white bowl in his hand and a fork covered in a napkin in the other.

“The brides requested them, but since you’re here, you can have yours right away.”

The brides. Of course, they requested fruit salad. They were probably drinking and gossiping about me. After all, a few of them had been there in the main hall that morning. They’d heard everything, had seen everything, just like me.Andtheywere the ones who’d taken me to my room on Romin’s order.

“Thank you, Vinny,” I said, grabbing the bowl from his hands. The smell alone had me wide awake within a second. Fuck, I was starving.

“You’re very welcome,” he said, looking down at me like he wasn’t sure what to make of me yet. “Is there a reason you’re hiding in the corner, Miss?”

“I’m not hiding.” I attempted to smile at him. “I’m just looking for Valentine and I sat here to rest.” How long had I even been there? I couldn’t be sure.

“I think I saw Master Valentine in the theatre last. Do you need me to deliver a message?”

Theatre. “Are you sure?”

“I am, yes. Do you?—”

I jumped to my feet, the bowl in my hands still. “Thank you, Vinny. Thank you so much.” I turned around and I started to run around the corner, when?—

“Uh, Miss Hayes? The theatre isthatway.” Vinny was pointing behind him, at the hallway he’d been coming from.

“Right, right, of course,” I muttered, turning back. “Thanks again!”

I stuffed my mouth full of banana slices and strawberries as I went, eating like I really had been on the brink of starvation. When I finally found my way to the theatre, I was only halfway done—and that was a good thing.

Because when I opened the door to the corridor that led to the theater’s stage, and I heard the sound of the piano playing, my stomach turned violently, and I almost threw up.

Leaving the bowl on the floor, I made my way down the dark corridor and to the door I knew well. I pushed it open with my breath held, knowing what I’d find behind it.

Valentine was sitting alone in front of the piano, a hand onthe fall board, his forehead resting on it, and with the other he played a song I knew well, very slowly.

Fuck, he broke my heart without even looking my way.

“I picked up a few notes while I watched you play,” Valentine said without stopping, but I no longer even heard the music.

I moved to the middle of the stage. “I’m sorry.”

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