Page 91 of When She Tempts (The Fallen)
I recognize my brother’s sigh on the other end of the line. “It’s hard to say, Mari. But everyone is interested in concluding this as soon as possible.”
“Are we talking about days or weeks? Or longer?”
“Weeks. And actually, while I have you, I wanted to raise—”
Vale cuts him off, “Not now, Dem. Let Mari relax on her birthday.”
My brows twitch toward each other. “What is it?”
“Ah, Vale’s right. It’s nothing that can’t wait,” Dem says. “Well, enjoy your—”
I still have to ask him about Giorgio. “Wait. Do you know where Giorgio is? He disappeared yesterday, and he’s still not back. He doesn’t usually leave me here alone for long, so I was just wondering if he’s okay.”
“Yes, we spoke just this morning. He’s fine.”
Some tension leaves my shoulders. “Oh, good.”
“We’ll talk soon, all right?” Dem says.
“Okay. Love you. Bye.”
I languish around all day, keeping myself busy with some reading, but mostly keeping an eye on the clock as the hours tick by and it gets closer and closer to the evening. The desire to see Giorgio morphs into need.
Sophia comes to see me a few times during the day. When I hear her nails against the hardwood floor, I tear off a piece of ham from the half-eaten sandwich I had for lunch and offer it to her. She pads closer, her nose working overtime, as if she can’t believe her luck.
“It’s my birthday, girl. You get a birthday treat.”
She snorts and swallows the entire thing in one go. I giggle. You’d think she was starving based on that move, but I see the big bowl of dog food Tommaso serves her twice a day.
She lets me pet her forehead for a little while before getting back up on her feet and trotting out of the room.
The sun’s reduced to a bright sliver on the horizon. I watch the sunset and then leave the library.
Dinner’s significantly less joyful than breakfast, despite all the flowers still looking beautiful. Tommaso and Allegra sit down, but Polo is missing.
As is Giorgio.
I know he’s likely doing something important, but his absence has awakened my selfish streak today. I want to see him.
I want to finish what we started.
The meal concludes, and when Tommaso isn’t looking, I steal a wine glass and bottle of rose from the fridge and take it to my room.
For the first time since I got my phone back, I pull up my messages with Imogen and start to type.
Do you remember how we celebrated my birthday last year, Imogen? We went to that beach club in Cala Nova with the others from our class. I lost my flip-flops in the water, and you guys wouldn’t stop making fun of me. Then Seb tried to kiss me when we were getting beers at the bar inside. I felt bad for turning my head, but I didn’t want to give him my first kiss. You know I never liked him like that. I never liked anyone like that until now. This birthday, I want someone else to kiss me, but he’s not around.
After I send the message, I toss the phone aside and pour myself a glass of wine. I took a book from the library earlier, so I crack it open and start to read.
Three glasses later, and I’m struggling to follow the text. I’m not drunk, just a little tipsy. Tipsy enough to spill wine down my chin and onto my dress when I take the next sip.
“Shit.”
Until now, some part of me still hoped Giorgio would return and see me in this dress, but this has to be a sign it’s time to give up. I place the glass down on the night table and unzip the back. My chest glistens with the spilled wine. Better take a shower.
I rinse myself off and spend an extra long time just standing under the hot water. When my muscles start to feel like jelly from the heat, I turn the shower off, dry myself, and slip on my robe.
Just as I step into my bedroom, I hear a sound coming from outside. I run to the window to see what it is. Giorgio’s Ferrari pulls into the courtyard, its bright lights illuminating the castello for a few seconds until he turns the car off.
