Page 139 of Unraveled

“Cara,” he murmured.

She still didn’t move.

Not when he spoke, or when he turned completely to face her, and certainly not when her heart ached to go to him.

She didn’t realize how hard this was going to be.

Not being angry, or even knowing what she had to do, but actually doing it. Saying this would be final—the end of them, whatever they were. That was the hard part.

“I’m sorry,” Gian said.

“I wish that made a difference, Gian.”

“I know that I should have told you, dolcezza, there’s no reason why I didn’t, except that I was being selfish.”

“You’re right, you should have told me, and you are selfish.” Cara shifted from one foot to the other, restlessness settling into her heart. “Aren’t you going to ask how I found out?”

“It doesn’t matter, really. You know, and that’s the important part.”

She was going to tell him anyway.

“Pictures,” Cara said quietly, “of your wedding. She looked beautiful, like a proper bride should.”

“Can I explain a few things about Elena and the marriage? Her and I, we’re not together in that sort of way. We haven’t been for years, we don’t even speak on a regular basis. Just let me—”

Cara shook her head, cutting him off with a quick, “No.”

“Cara, please.” He took one step forward, and Cara moved one step back accordingly. “You might understand—or shit, maybe not, but I need you to know why and how this happened, please.”

“No, Gian. I don’t care, because you didn’t care enough to tell me the truth from the start. You’ve lied to me. Maybe not in your words, but in your omissions, and the things you kept from me. You didn’t let me have a choice, you made them for me. You made me look stupid—like your foolish little whore, constantly running back to your bed whenever you snapped your fingers.”

He flinched. “That’s not what I meant to do, amore.”

“You didn’t have to mean to, your actions did it for you!”

“I’m sorry, Cara.”

“Sorry won’t fix this, Gian. It’s not a fucking time machine.”

“I know, I just—” His words cut off as he looked away, his strong jaw working as he chewed over his next words. “I want to explain, but it won’t help, will it?”

“No.”

Honesty was the best policy.

He should have followed that rule, too.

Gian rubbed a hand over his lower jaw, bringing Cara’s attention to the glint of jewelry on his ring finger. Never had she seen him wear the wedding band before, and in that moment, it felt like nothing more than a slap to her face.

He caught her stare, and dropped his hand when he realized that’s where she was looking.

“I have to wear it, given how things have changed, for appearances and—”

“Stop,” Cara whispered. “You don’t have to explain. It’s a little late for that, anyway, and I’m not in any position to need an explanation. Not like your wife would need one, you know?”

Pain colored Gian’s brown gaze, darkening them briefly.

“That was low,” he said.