Page 128 of Someone Exactly Like Me (Wounded Hearts 1)
Thank you for your generosity of time these last few weeks. I appreciate you showing me around Rome and Ponza Island. I have everything I need for my book. I’m changing the direction of my story so please consider that you’ve fulfilled your side of our deal. There’s no need for you to share my book with your following.
I also want to thank you for the kindness you’ve shown me. I enjoyed our time together. You helped me more than you’ll ever know.
I’m glad you and Giovanna figured out your feelings for one another and I wish you both all the happiness. You’re a good man and you’re going to be an incredible husband and father.
Good luck in your career. You’re really on your way.
I hope all your dreams come true.
Destiny
A teardrop smears her name. My heart rips open.Fuck. She saw Gigi kiss me, now she thinks I’m with her. How do I explain this? Would she believe me? How can I fix it? I have to fix this. At this point, I’ve probably lost her trust, her respect,her.
Unknowingly, she gathered the shattered pieces of my heart and mended them back together with her love. She’s left an indelible mark on my soul. All I want is to be with her. And now she’s gone.
I can’t let her go like this. I won’t.
I grab the keys and go to the boat. Taking the it to top speed, I slice through the choppy waves.
I have to find her.
Destiny
Marco kindly dropped me off in Naples. I hugged him goodbye and thanked him for his hospitality and for making the trip to bring me here. With my suitcase in one hand, my carryon in the other, I stand on the sidewalk, frozen as the world buzzes around me. I’m a confused ball of anger, sadness, and emptiness.
I take a deep breath. What’s done is done. It’s time to go home and get back to reality.
Finding a café, I open my laptop and look for the first flight I can get back home. I’m out of luck for anything flying out today, but manage to switch my original Sunday flight to Saturday. Next up, I find a hotel room in Rome for the night and figure out transportation from Naples to Rome. By the time I get to my hotel room, my head is dizzy and my body moves at a lethargic pace.
Though I have time to write, I’mnotin the right headspace — at all. I get room service and watch a movie, ignoring the texts and calls from Nicco. I can’t imagine what he could possibly want from me. If I forgot something, I don’t really care.
Before getting ready for bed, I check my emails and send an email to Candi to see if she’ll be around when I get home. I’m in desperate need of my best friend.
Hmm, an email from Bev. She doesn’t email me very often. I open it.
Hi Destiny,
Tom and I hope you’re doing well and having a good summer.
I’m reaching out to let you know that, after a lot of thought, we’ve decided to sell the house. As we’re getting older, we’re going to be releasing some of our properties and downsizing from all the things we have our hands in.
Since you’ve been such an amazing tenant for so long, we’d first like to consider a negotiation with you before listing the property with a Realtor. Please give it some thought and get back to me to let me know if you’re interested.
Take care,
Bev
I can’t believe this. This day is turning out to be one big, bad omen. I close my laptop and go to the bathroom to get ready for bed.
Looking in the mirror, I see the locket around my neck and hold it between my fingers. In the chaos of the day, I’d forgotten I put it on this morning. A strange mixture of comfort, confusion, and melancholy spreads around my heart.
Comfort from the sentiment behind it and Nicco’s thoughtfulness. Confusion because I don’t know why he’d give me something like this when his heart is with Giovanna. Melancholy because it meant so much to me when he gave it to me, but it clearly didn’t mean anything to him.
Neither do I.
