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“Maybe she’s better off on her own,” her sister murmurs.
“Do you really think that?” I ask, genuinely curious.
Because if there’s even a slight chance that I upended any happiness she’s managed to find, then I’ll put it all back and walk away.
“No,” Lucia says with a sigh. “She likes to pretend she’s okay, but I know she needs more. I’ve always known there was something missing. And she knows it too.”
“I just want to figure out why she’s so insistent on pulling away from me,” I say, allowing myself to feel all the frustration that’s plagued me for the past ten years.
One moment, we were fine, and I almost had her, and the next, she was just gone. I drove myself crazy trying to figure it out. And I need answers.
“She doesn’t talk about it, Nico. Actually, she pretends that night never happened. Aurora’s great at repressing her emotions until she herself starts to believe they don’t exist. She’s happier that way,” her sister says.
“Yes, but she can’t keep living in denial. It’s not fair to any of us.”
“I know,” Lucia says softly. “I still think your plan is crazy.”
“Brilliantly crazy,” I correct.
“No, just crazy. You’re not as smart as you think you are, Nico.”
“Hey, I’m a fucking genius ,and you know it,” I say teasingly.
“Humble too,” she retorts dryly. Her tone sobers up in the next breath. “Just be careful, okay? And if you hurt her, I’ll murder you.”
“You and I both know she’s more likely to hurt me. Plus, I would never hurt her.”
Lucia laughs softly at that. “She said something similar to me a couple of weeks ago. I think you’re right. Both of you need to face this. You both deserve the closure. And while I’ll deny it if Aurora ever asks me, I’m rooting for you, Nico.”
“Thanks, Lucia.”
I’m glad I at least have her on my side. Lucia’s like the little sister I never had.
“I’m coming back soon. I’ve been away for far too long.”
“Let me know before you come back so I can make arrangements to keep you safe.”
“Okay. Bye, Nicky,” she says, calling me the nickname she used when she was younger.
She hangs up, and I stand there in silence for a while to gather my thoughts before heading back to the living room to face the woman who probably has a lot of things on her mind at the moment. When I return, she’s still seated on the sofa, arms crossed and jaw clenched.
“Aurora,” I call to draw her attention.
She doesn’t look toward me.
“You lied to me,” she says, her voice cold.
I let out a soft sigh. “I didn’t lie to you.”
“You said you’d let me go.”
My heart aches at the expression on her face.
“I will, if you want me to, Aurora.”
She finally looks toward me, brown eyes filled with anger. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I take a seat on one of the sofas facing her.
