Page 40 of Sweet Retribution

Do I tell her how gentle and caring he was when he nurtured me back to health? How he held me, comforted me during panic attacks, washed my wounds, and spoke soft words of encouragement, then turned around and acted as if I was repulsive?

“Things changed. Candle burned hot and fast. The flame is now dead.”

“Liar.”

I tear off another chunk of bread instead of responding.

“Since he’s not going to say no to sex, I take it you’re the one who pushed him away. Ah, shit. It isn’t because of me, is it?”

“No. It was over before you came here.”

“Yeah, and he would have set you straight about us. Which he hasn’t then, has he? He thinks you believe he and I are getting it on.”

“He didn’t deny it when I accused him.”

“I’m normally not one to push conversation, but you two have to talk. You’re both all kinds of messed up.”

“Gee. Thanks.”

“You’re both miserable and sex-deprived, and both in love. A simple conversation would clear it all up, and the make up sex.” Sebastiana fans herself with her hand. “Ho-ly shit. I can only imagine how hot it will be.”

“I don’t understand why he pushed me away after...”

“After?”

I’ve never had a girlfriend to confide in. I can imagine Stone’s cousin Elena and I becoming good friends. She was so sweet to me at our wedding, but I haven’t seen her since, and talking about my sex life–or lackthereof–with her cousin is a big no.

Sebastiana doesn’t seem like she’d be the type, but she’s all ears. I tell her about Antonio kidnapping me and how Stone cared for me as I was in and out of consciousness. About how he practically shunned me when I wanted to be close again.

“I think it’s obvious.” Sebastiana picks up the empty wine bottle and glasses and stands. “He blames himself for your kidnapping, and I’m sure for my near attack as well. He thinks distancing himself from you will keep you safe. It’s self-sacrifice and it’s killing him. You’re going to have to convince him you’re better with him than without.”

I stare at her in shock. “You... you think so?”

“Guaranteed. That man stayed by your side, nursed you back to health, gave you free reign of his house, and let you into his heart. You own him, Mrs. Parlatore. Now go get him back.”

She leaves me alone on the balcony with my thoughts. It sounds preposterous that Stone could actually fall in love, and with someone like me. Sebastiana is right, though. He’s given me so much more than what he’s aware of.

He also rescued my mother and is spending a fortune giving her the best life while she waits for me to rejoin her. Over the past few months, he’s slowly let his guard down, even smiled, and laughed a time or two.

I wouldn’t call it love, but I believe he has feelings for me. It’s too late to do anything about it now. Tomorrow I’ll talk to him.

And say what? “Hey, are you being an asshole because you like me and don’t know how to act?” It sounds so elementary.

But what do I have to lose?

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