Page 60 of Depths of Desire
"We've only spent a short time together. I doubt very seriously that he cares for me. Sex is one thing, but love is a different ballgame. I want to marry for love, Pippa.” The sex was wonderful, mind-blowing really. Something I might never capture again. But without love, what even is life?
“I know you do, honey, but who’s to say that love won’t grow between you two?—"
"How did you come?" I cut her off.
She blinks. "What?"
"How did you get here?" I ask more forcefully. "Because I'm thinking you can smuggle me out in the trunk of your car. I think that's the only way I'll get out of here."
Pippa frowns. "Oh, that's gonna be a problem."
"What? Did you come in an Uber or something?"
She shakes her head. "No."
I’m mystified. How else could she possibly have come? Then it hits me. I stare at her.
"Don't tell me... they can fly."
"Well, something along those lines."
"Fucking fabulous. How am I going to get out of here?" I demand.
"Luna, I get it. I get that you want to get away. I totally understand it. But I really think you should know?—"
I shake my head. "It's not like you and Mia. I know you guys are going to live a long time with your husbands, whom you love. That's not what's going on for me. I'm going to end up being fooled. And alone. Nico's not going to stick it out with me even if, as you suggest, we magically fall in love, he won’t stay once I get old. And then what? At some point, you guys have to walk awayfrom everything anyway and reset, because, ultimately, people will notice you're not aging. No. I want to get out of here. I want to escape. I want my life back." Actually, I want a brand new life.
"I get it. I really do." Pippa squeezes my arm again. "And I'll try to help you. But I'm not quite sure how we're going to do it."
“What about getting one of Nico’s guys to drive us into town for something? You can claim you lost me in the crowd.”
Pippa opens her mouth to respond, but the door creaks, and I glance over just in time to see Luca step onto the patio, with Nico trailing behind him. I turn back to Pippa, eyes narrowing.
She gives me a guilty frown. "I'm sorry. I didn't really have a choice."
"What do you mean, no choice?"
"Well, Luca wanted to come, and..."
"And what?"
"It was just the fastest way to get here."
"Fan-fucking-tastic. Thanks a lot, friend." I spit that last word out bitterly.
Luca nods at me. I nod back. Then the door opens again, and Mia and Renzo step outside.
“The gang's all here," I murmur.
I look around at the gathering, my stomach tightening. "So what, did you guys all come to convince me to marry Nico?"
Mia sits down on my other side. "Really, Luna. It is the best option."
I say nothing. There's no point in arguing. They won’t see my side of things. And as Nico said earlier, if I don’t do this, they’ll kill me. He didn’t say it in so many words, but I’m not an idiot.
That’s the problem. I understand. I get it. I just hate this family. I don’t want to be a part of this world.
"It won’t be so bad. I promise," Pippa says softly.
