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“The light of my life. Grazia, I’d love to stay more, but I really have to go. I’m already late.”
“It’s ok.”
“I’m sorry again for walking into you. I parked too far away and I was rushing to the car.”
“Why are you on the run?”
“Ah, I have to go home and get ready for a party. My husband is opening a bar tonight. It’s his first venture on his own. Kind of a big deal.”
Well, that was… odd.
“That sounds amazing. I wish you both all the best. If it’s here in Palermo maybe I’ll have a chance to check it out.”
“It’s in Aspara. A beautiful wine bar on the coast with a very good selection. If you get the chance, make sure you let me know.”
Aspara… a bar… a party. That was where Ariana was headed.
“Umm, will your family be there? Tonight, I mean.”
“If you want to know how Salvatore’s doing, just ask.”
“I shouldn’t. It’s none of my business.”
“We both know it’s not that easy. Yes, he’ll be there tonight. It’s a shame you can’t join us.”
“Indeed.” I answered her, but my mind was already somewhere else. “I’m happy I got to see you, Chiara.”
“Oh, me too. I wish we could do this more often.”
She hugged me again, and I felt the warmth in her gesture. Chiara was always such an amazing girl. It was a shame that my brother didn’t try harder to find a way to be with her.
We said our goodbyes and I sat there while she walked away. Suddenly, my appetite disappeared and a huge knot formed in my throat. Ariana was going to the same party Salvatore would be at. Was that why she was looking for a dress that screamed sex from a mile away?
Pina had already admitted that Ariana has tried to get with him more than once so why would tonight would be any different? Just like the rest of us, Ariana was not allowed to get anywhere near the Fiori family, but no one could keep up with her partying schedule, so most of the time she just ended up doing whatever she wanted. I was sure her parents had no idea where she’d be tonight or with whom and she was sure there was no way I’d find out either, but here we were.
I couldn’t just pretend the dots were not connecting.
I didn’t realize someone was calling my name until Pina grabbed my arm.
“Grazia, are you ok?”
“Yes. I, umm, was just thinking about something. Is Ariana ready?”
“Yes. Do you want to go and grab something to eat.”
“I…” no! “can’t. Delfina just called and I’m needed home. I can take a taxi.”
“No way. We’ll take you. Let’s go.”
~~~
I walked up and down my bedroom so many times, there was a path on the marble floor. I just couldn’t stay still. With every hour that was passing, I became more restless.
I thought about calling Salvatore to ask him to stay away from Ariana tonight, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was sure that if I’d ask, he wouldn’t even look her way, but if I did that, I might end up crying myself to sleep. Plus, for the first time, I’ve actually got Sasa to listen to me and walk away. A phone call might be all that was needed for him to come running back and we’d end up right where we started.
My father’s face when I’d mentioned Adrian came into my mind. He wasn’t ready to forget the offense and he might never be. It didn’t matter how much I wished for things to be different, there was no hope. Nothing was going to change and thinking otherwise did nothing but hurt us both. I couldn’t risk going through this heart ache again, or worse.
No, I wouldn’t be calling him, but I also couldn’t stay here waiting for my friend to sleep withmy… with Salvatore. There had to be something I could do.
