Page 22 of Inevitable

“Before I interfered. Before you came here, were you happy?”

I bite my lower lip as I think about his question. Was I happy? Content, sure. Satisfied with my career, barely. But happy? No. I haven’t been happy in a while. “Simple answer, no.”

He nods as he stares at the screen before he turns to me again. “And the not simple answer?”

I give a sad smile and sigh. “How can I be happy when the two people I loved more than anything in the whole world left me. One wasn’t by choice…but one was.”

I give him a pointed look and he flinches for a moment like I slapped him. He wanted the truth, he got it. Luca almost looks regretful for a moment before he turns away and continues to watch the movie. That wasn’t what I wanted to talk about. I am trying really hard to leave all of that stuff in the past, but I am clearly not over the hurt.

“I am sorry,” he whispers almost to himself.

I turn to look at him and I can practically feel the sincerity rolling off of him. I give sad smile and nod, wordlessly accepting his apology.

As the movie begins playing out, Luca and I find ourselves quoting some of the scenes back and forth to each other. I crack up laughing at his Brad Pitt impression and his eyes sparkle with mischief as I do. Everything feels relaxed, easy.

About halfway through I notice that Luca is relaxed back into his seat with his arm stretched out across the top of mine. I feel the gentle graze of his fingertips brushing my bare neck and can’t suppress the goosebumps that race across my skin. My chest is bursting with butterflies when I look up to see he is watching me. His eyes are filled with heat and desire. I can tell all of his restraint is about to snap, I just need to be brave.

Slowly, I lean forward with my eyes still locked on his and the movie forgotten. When I am only a few inches away from his lips something flashes across his face and he pulls his arm away and stands up. I nearly fall into his empty seat and look up at him confused. Instead of seeing Luca standing there though I just see him striding out the door, slamming it shut with a resounding thud.

I try to push down the burning pain of rejection yet again, but it is really hard. We were having a good time. He looked like he was enjoying himself, I know I was. Luca was touching me. I thought… I don’t know what I thought honestly. Maybe he really was serious the other night. He might still love me, just not enough to be with me.

-

The next afternoon I am sitting on my balcony when a knock comes from my door. I try to push away the disappointment that fills me when I see Marisol step through the doors.

“Hi Marisol.”

“Hello Ashlynn, a delivery has arrived for you.”

My eyebrows raise as I stand. “Really? From who?”

She smiles softly and turns on her heels out my door. I guess I am supposed to follow her. I trail after her down the hall to a set of large wooden doors.

When she opens them, a room with floor to ceiling windows is revealed. There are various couches and plush loveseats around the room and a large desk in the corner. I notice that sitting on top of the desk is my sketchbook and my supplies from my father’s house and work. How did this all get here?

I spin around to see that I completely walked past a huge pile of different fabrics and materials in the corner as well as a brand-new sewing machine and literally every other thing I could possibly need to work. It is like Luca brought my entire office to me. I will say this about Luca Mariano, he never does anything halfway.

There is a computer sitting at the desk and creepily enough, it is already logged in and synced to my work computer. I open my email and see an ungodly long list of tasks that Camila has assigned me during my vacation. Ugh, she is such a bitch.

I get started on the list and find myself completely lost in my work for the rest of the day. I haven’t even finished half of my tasks when I look up to see it is already 8:00PM. It is not like the work is going anywhere anytime soon. I will pick all of this up tomorrow morning. I head back to my room for the night.

A few minutes after I have showered and changed into pajamas Marisol comes in with a tray that hold a silver dome on it. She wordlessly sets it on the bistro table and removes the dome lid. It looks like dinner is steak with mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus. I swear if I wasn’t so hung up on Luca and Luis was like 35 years younger, I could marry him.

I walk over to the table just before Marisol turns to walk away. What is her deal? She is so quiet and reserved. She is also extremely skittish. Something tells me she has not had the easiest life. I hope Luca treats her well, she is a kind person and a hard worker.

“Thank you, Marisol,” I call out to her retreating form.

She barely lifts her eyes from the ground as she hustles out the door. Before she exits completely, I call out to her again.

“Marisol, wait!”

She stops mid-step and freezes. Her shoulders are tight as she turns around tentatively like she is about to be reprimanded. She scans my face with her eyes. She must see the kindness and sympathy I am trying to display to her because she slightly relaxes, but not totally.

“Yes Ashlynn?”

“Can you stay for a moment?” I ask.

She looks at me like it is the last thing she wants to do but she obviously does not want to tell me no. Slowly, she steps back into my room and stands in front of me awkwardly twisting at her hands. She seems to do that a lot.

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