Page 58 of Kiss Away Your Pain (Wounded Hearts 2)

“Yeah.”

“Well, I suggested they hire her for the job and they did.”

“Enzo.” Disappointment drapes her tone.

“I know. I know. She ended up finding out and now she’s hurt. She thinks I don’t believe in her and she’s so tense when she should be enjoying every second of this experience.” I rub my face with my hand. “How do I fix this?”

She sighs. “You have to talk to her.”

“I tried. She doesn’t want to hear what I have to say. I’m not even sure I know what to say except, I’m an asshole.”

“You’re not an asshole. You were trying to do something nice. You just…went about it the wrong way.”

“Tell me what to do. Please.”

“She’s hurt. Give her some space. You have one more day there, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I know it’s going to be awkward, but just do your job. Be your professional self and try to make it easy on her. You’re the model and she’s the photographer. For now, nothing outside of that exists. Don’t try to talk about it on the job.”

“No, I won’t.”

“Just be the model,” she reemphasizes. “Try to let her have this. Will there be time for you to talk when the shoot is over?”

I yawn. “I’m not sure how late we’ll go. Maybe. And I’m guessing she’ll leave the next morning.”

“Then you either talk to her before she leaves or when you’re both back in town. You have to do it in person. Don’t do it over the phone.”

“What do I say?”

“Say what’s in your heart. Tell her the truth. That’s all you can really do.”

I blow a long puff of air out my mouth. Say what’s in my heart. Whatisin my heart?

HER.

“And Enzo?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m proud of you for fighting for her and not giving up.”

“I like her, Anastasia. I don’t want this to be what ends us. She’s worth fighting for.”

“She is.”

I yawn.

“Go get some sleep.”

“Okay. Thanks for talking through this with me.”

“I’m always here for you. You know that.”

“I do. I love you. Bye.”

This isn’t how it ends for us. I’m going to fix this. I don’t know how, but I’m going to fix this. I can’t lose her.

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