Page 88 of Better Left Unsaid

“Hello?” I asked, walking out of the restaurant with whatever dignity I had left. It didn’t feel like much, to be honest. “Hello?” All right, that sounded desperate. But I didn’t catch the caller ID and wasn’t sure if it was Dom. Maybe he didn’t hear me answer the first time.

“Maria?” Jade’s voice boomed in my ear.

I exhaled a very long breath, fixing my purse on my shoulder as I unlocked my car and opened the door. “Jade. I thought you were someone else,” I admitted, tossing my purse on the passenger seat.

“You thought I was Dom,” she said, speaking the truth. Something I wasn’t too sure I was keen on. But then again, what did I expect when I confided in her?

I leaned my head back and licked my lips. “I don’t understand why he’s not calling me back. Not even a text. It’s like he’s completely shut me out.”

“Oh, honey,” Jade said, her voice dripping with concern, “you need to let him come to you when he’s ready. See it from his perspective.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Are you talking about how I didn’t really answer him? Because I feel bad enough about that. You know that. It felt out of left field, Jade. What was I supposed to say?”

“And now? Do you know what to say now?”

I shut my eyes. “I don’t know,” I practically cried. “But I really think it was a combination of things. He got scared because he didn’t like that I was dating Paolo. I don’t know why because I’ve dated before, but it was different with Paolo.” I remembered the way Dom had freaked out when he’d learned the first delivery of flowers I had gotten were from Paolo.

“Maybe because it was different for Dom when you were dating Paolo,” Jade tried to reason, but I wasn’t sure I could agree.

I shook my head, pushing that aside. “I also think he got caught up in the heat of the moment. That campaign shoot was pretty intense. It has to be that. It doesn’t make sense any other way.”

Jade sighed. “Perhaps, but what if he really does love you? That’s possible, Maria. You’ve been friends for a long time. Feelings happen.”

“Not for you and Jake.”

“It’s not the same thing. I’ve seen you and Dom together and when I think about it, it’s pretty obvious.”

I didn’t reply, only thought about her words. Was it obvious? I didn’t think it was. Was I oblivious or something? I knew Dom. He wasn’t interested in me. With our friends-with-benefits arrangement, I’d had a glimpse into what it was like to be with a man like him, and I’d say this: I wasn’t his type. I liked things just so. I was a single mom. I had baggage. I hadn’t even experienced an orgasm until Dom had given me one. I was high-strung. I was very independent, too, and that was a turn-off for a lot of men. They liked to feel needed in a relationship. With me, that wouldn’t ever be the case. I didn’t need a man. Did I want one? Sure. But need one? No. I’d always been independent. I had to be. I had a daughter to raise, and I loved my life. I did. I was comfortable just the way I was. That was why when men pushed too hard, I usually cut them loose—like with Paolo and my ex before him.

Did it feel like at times something was missing? Maybe, but it wasn’t like I could do anything about it. Dom didn’t deserve to be stuck with a woman like me. And there was no way he’d want that, not seriously. Not long term.

Finally, I spoke, but not addressing her comment about how Dom and I wereobvious. “It’s late, Jade. I’m driving home. Can we do this another time?”

I needed her to drop this. I understood where she was coming from, wanting to take care of me and make me feel better. Maybe even make me see things differently. But I was tired—emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Silence filled the other end until she finally answered, “Sure. But Maria. . . .”

“Yeah?”

“You’re going to have to tell our sisters at some point. They’re going to get curious as to why Dom’s suddenly MIA.”

“Bianca and Perla still don’t have a clue that Dom and I were sleeping together. I’m not sure I can handle their reactions.” I could just see it—excitement and disappointment all over again, just like I’d witnessed with Allie. But this time the disappointment would be for a whole other reason.

“They’ll understand. And Maria. . . if you need anything, anything at all, just call.”

It was amazing how far Jade and I had come. In many ways it was all because of Dom. Damn it, see what I was talking about? Even when I didn’t want to think about him, I couldn’t help myself.

Maybe I could try him one more time. I opened the box of my cheesecake and snapped a photo.

Maria:*sends photo*

Maria:I have a feeling it’s not going to taste the same without you.

Chapter Thirty

Dominic

I stared atMaria’s last few texts. I wanted to answer her. I wanted to answer all of her messages. That was all I wanted to do, if I was being honest with myself. That didn’t change shit, though. Our circumstances were what they were.

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