Page 45 of The Breaker
I was downstairs with Medusa on the couch when Aurelia came home from work. She was in a much better mood than when she’d left that morning, so Isabella obviously hadn’t stopped by after I’d yelled at her.
She put her purse on the counter. “Hey.”
Medusa walked down the ramp off the couch and headed over to her, just the way she did with me. Aurelia had been a stranger to her just a few months ago, but she accepted her as part of the family unconditionally. And Medusa didn’t like just anybody. She had great instincts when it came to people.
Aurelia smothered her in affection and attention before she turned to me. “How was your day?”
I came over to her in nothing but my sweatpants, ready for bed when it wasn’t even four in the afternoon yet. “Pretty shitty.” My arm circled her lower back, and I pulled her in for a quick kiss.
“How’d it go with Isabella?”
“I screamed at her ...a lot.”
“Con . . .”
“Probably took it too far, honestly. But I don’t feel bad about it. She had it coming.”
“I don’t know if that’s actually productive.”
“I think calling someone on their bullshit is more productive than you realize. The effects may not be immediate, but they’re like seeds that slowly grow after they’ve been planted. Told her that if the bullshit continues, then I’m not afraid to cut her out of my life. I think she got the message.”
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I told her the reason I couldn’t forgive her was because I resented her for everything that happened with my brother. Told her it was wrong, and that’s on me. But it was nice to get it off my chest.”
“I thought you said that to her already?”
“Not quite as explicitly, though. We didn’t leave on a good note or a bad note. And maybe that neutrality is a good thing.”
She started to rub my arm, the touch of her fingertips so subtle but loving at the same time. “Why don’t you go out with your friends tonight? Get some drinks and blow off some steam?”
“Why would I want to do that when I can be home with you?”
Her eyes deepened in affection before a gentle smile shone through. “That’s sweet. But I can tell you’ve had a long day. Might be nice to do something fun.”
“Then come with us.”
“It’s okay, Constantine. We don’t have to do everything together.”
“I know we don’t. But I’d like to.”
She moved past me and pressed a kiss to my chest on the way. “I’ll be fine. It’s not like I can drink anyway.”
I sent a group text to the boys to meet me at Daiquiri, and Antonio was the first one to arrive. I’d already had two drinks since I got there, needing the booze to take the edge off the shit day I’d had.
Antonio clapped my hand in his when he got there and took a seat. “Still drunk from the wedding?” he teased.
“That hangover was the worst, man.”
He chuckled before he looked at the menu. “Aurelia still around?”
“Yeah. Good thing I didn’t throw up.”
“That you remember ...” He waved for the waiter’s attention and ordered his drink. “Why isn’t Aurelia here?”
“She told me to go out without her. She can’t drink anymore, so I kinda feel bad doing it around her.”
“Yeah, I get that.”
