Page 48 of Six Nights in Paradise

She scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest defiantly. “Antonio doesn’t have arealjob. He can’t even sell enough of his paintings to put food on the table.”

So shewashis sugar mama.

“That’s not an excuse. What you did was unforgivable. Hell, everything you’ve done the last couple months has been unforgivable. Did you ever really love me at all?”

“Yes,” she answered on a strangled cry. “I still do. I’m just notinlove with you anymore. And I think you feel the same way.”

“You were sleeping with someone elsewhile we were engaged,and canceled our wedding because of him.Thenyou lied to me about being pregnant with my child. Can you blame me for no longer being in love with you?”

“It happened before that.”

“What?” I asked, taken aback.How can she say that?

“Things changed between us over the last year. The closer we got to the wedding, the more apparent it became that we weren’t meant for each other.”

“Like I said that night, you could’ve told me sooner.”

“I kept thinking it was just pre-wedding jitters. For both of us. It wasn’t until I met Antonio that I realized what was missing in our relationship.”

That stung. Even though I never wanted her back and was ready to give my heart to Taylor, it hurt to hear those words come out of her mouth. But I needed to hear them.

“You have to tell everyone else the truth. Do your parents know?”

“No,” she replied. Her shoulders sagged and her head hung shamefully. “They’re going to lose it.”

“Do you want them to come over here? Get it over with now?” Her eyes flashed to mine and widened in fear. I mentally kicked myself. Why did I offer to do that?

“I think I’d better tell Antonio first. He deserves to hear the truth before anyone else.”

“You’re right,” I agreed. “He does.”

“I’m so sorry for everything I’ve done to you.” Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes again. “I panicked. I didn’t know how I would live without my parents’ support. It was the only solution I could think of at the time. You were out of the country, my parents weren’t speaking to me, Antonio was spending hours in his studio, and I was throwing up every morning.”

Somehow, she managed to make me feel sympathy for her. I had no doubt she was scared, and people often made irrational and sometimes devastating decisions out of fear. For that, I couldn’t find it in me to hate her. I didn’t love her, and I certainly didn’t like her at the moment, but I didn’t hate her.

“I’m not going to tell you it’s okay because it’s not, but I accept your apology.” Forgiveness would come later. Her betrayal was just too fresh right now and I needed some distance.

She returned my house key without any fuss and I sent her on her way with the lunch she’d brought, encouraging her to meet up with Antonio. As mad as I was with her, he would be even more furious. At least, he should be.

I couldn’t believe how smoothly that went. I expected her to deny everything, forcing me to produce the recording. She didn’t even ask me how I knew. At least I didn’t have to rat out her friend. If I had, that girl would rue the day she crossed Gianna Venetti.

With that mess cleaned up, I plopped down on my couch and kicked up my feet, switching on the TV. I hadn’t been able to truly relax in weeks, and it was time to catch up with Sports Center.

***

At eight o’clock that evening, my phone rang and a photo I’d snapped of me and Taylor during that sunset cruise flashed across my screen. As promised, she was calling as soon as her shift was over. I hadn’t told her about the meeting with Gianna yet. That wasn’t a conversation I intended to have over text.

“Hey,” I greeted.

“Hey yourself,” she replied.

“How was work?”

“Good,” she answered a little breathlessly. “Busy. I just got out.”

“Are you tired?”

“Not really. I slept really well last night.” She giggled as an answering grin formed over my lips.

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