Page 110 of Someone Exactly Like Me (Wounded Hearts 1)
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Destiny
Fueled by a night of sensual dreams, succumbing to his seductions and my unbridled desires, I wake up excited to write. It’s early, and I’m the only one up. I throw on leggings and my big sweatshirt, grab my laptop, and snuggle in to one of the chaise lounges by the pool. The sun’s just breaking through the ocean, painting the sky in radiant hues of orange and yellow.
Before I begin writing, I take a deep breath of crisp morning air into my lungs, absorbing the beauty surrounding me. We’re high enough above the ocean that the crashing waves pacify into a soft hum. A bird visits me, sitting on the glass wall of the pool, tilting its head as it tweets a greeting of good morning.
Another deep breath as my bird friend flies away and I open my laptop. Words fly out my fingers through the keyboard and onto the page. As I write, I fall more and more in love with my characters and their story. Engrossed in my writing, I have no idea how much time passes. Around eight, Nicco comes out to let me know Angelina has made breakfast.
The four of us eat together, then I get showered and ready for my day with Nicco. I take the red dress he bought me out of the closet and put it on. When I look in the mirror, turning to view each angle, I can’t help but smile. I feel pretty and I do love the dress.
The smile spreading across Nicco’s face when I meet him in the kitchen tells me he’s happy to see the dress he liked on me.
We spend the day exploring the village below their villa. Large stones pave the paths through the village and many of the shop’s wares are sprinkled outside the entrance of each shop. Clothing hangs from thatched makeshift walls and baskets billow over with bags and shoes. Brightly painted façades bring the village to life. A group of men stand on the sidewalk, playing delightful, folksy, Italian music. The jolly accordion player wears a broad smile, filling the air with nostalgia.
Nicco takes me into every little shop, knowing we have nothing to buy, but just giving me a feel for the local culture.
Food is a very big thing on the island. As we stroll through the village, everything from fresh pasta, to fish, to spices floats in the air. It’s impossible not to be hungry surrounded by the delicious aromas. For lunch, he takes me to Osteria which oozes of Italian charm. Greenery and richly-colored flowers crawl up stone walls and around archways. Dim lanterns cast romantic shadows through the small eatery. Cozy two-person tables are adorned with candles and small vases of flowers.
After we eat, we get gelatos and he takes me down a side street that leads to an opening overlooking the ocean. Bistro sets provide a spot to sit and enjoy the view. We sit down at one.
“How long were you and your fiancé together?” he asks.
I’m caught off guard by his question. I wouldn’t have thought he’d be interested in knowing anything about my relationship with Kevin. He’s been so open with me about his life, I don’t mind sharing a little about my own.
“We dated for ten months before he asked me to marry him. Looking back, I probably should never have said yes.”
“Really, why?”
“It’s kind of hard to explain. I guess I didn’t feel the way I thought I’d feel when someone finally asked me to marry them. I mean, I liked him and he was a good enough guy, but there was always something missing. A deeper connection. When he asked me, I honestly wasn’t excited and didn’t even cry, and I’m a crier with stuff like that. That should’ve been my biggest clue.”
“But you said yes.”
“I did.” I pause, taking a scoop of my chocolate gelato, the best I’ve ever tasted. “This is going to sound so stupid.” I shake my head, embarrassed by what I’m about to admit. “I think I worried that if I didn’t get married soon, then I’d never get married. Ugh. That’s not a good reason marry someone. I guess, I just didn’t want to be an old maid. I told you, stupid.” I lift my shoulders toward my ears.
“No, not stupid. We all make mistakes, have regrets.”
“I should’ve broken up with him long before he ever asked me to marry him. Outside of my suspicions about him and Tessa, I wasn’t a priority for him. In a relationship, you show up. You pay attention to what your partner needs. He was never there for me.”
“Relationships aren’t easy. Sometimes we want so badly for the person to be the one, that we’re blind to the things that are missing.”
Knowing about Ana, I get the feeling his statement comes from experience.
“Exactly. I think I lost sight of myself, who I was, what I wanted. I was so focused on how old I was and how much time and energy I’d invested in the relationship. I’d given up on the idea of soul mate love and settled for what I thought was good enough.”
He stops eating his gelato and looks at me with an intense seriousness I haven’t seen before. He leans his body toward me, holding my gaze captive. “Never settle, Destiny. You’re worth more than that.”
My entire body tingles as the words spill out of his mouth.
Sitting back in his chair, he takes another scoop of gelato. “What do you want in a relationship?”
The night we met, we talked briefly about soul mates. I was tipsy and he was in full-on Mr. Playboy persona. Right now, he seems genuinely interested.
“I suppose I want what most people want. A relationship built on mutual respect and open communication. Someone who’s my best friend and I can be totally myself around, who loves me even with my faults and awkwardness. I want someone who shares similar values and life goals as me. Someone who has at least some common interests as me and actually wants to spend time with me. I want for us to challenge each other and push each other forward. To bring out the best in each other and be each other’s biggest fans. I want to feel his pain along with his passion. For me, a soul mate isn’t someone who completes me, but someone who inspires me to be complete, in and of myself.”
As I speak, a lump grows in my throat at the thought that I’ve never had these things in a relationship and maybe I want too much. I swallow, holding back the tears I know he can see welling in my eyes. “I want someone who I can rely on and trust with my life. Someone who will always be there.” I swallow again. “Someone who will fight for our relationship because they believe in our love.”
A tear escapes, trailing down my cheek. Before I can turn my face away from him, he reaches out and catches the tear with his thumb, his hand cradling my jaw.
