Shit.
No.
Why now?
I’ll have to call him back.
Muting the phone, I let it ring out. I need to deal with the dickhead in my kitchen before I can deal with Luca.
“Rob.” Looking over at my former fiancé I wonder what the hell I ever saw in him. I mean he’s not ugly with his blond hair, sparkling green eyes, his height, he looks after himself, and he’s a doctor. Let’s face it, he’d be a catch for most women, just not for me.
He turns around, and I see hope flash across his face. “Can we have a proper talk? Cut out all the other bullshit.” I point to the two armchairs in the living room. He picks up his mug of coffee and joins me there.
“Were you ever happy with me?” I ask.
“Of course—”
I cut him off because I can see the bullshit ready to flow from his mouth. “Be honest, Rob. Please?”
He lets out a heavy sigh. “No.” Praise be, he is finally being truthful. “It’s not that I didn’t like you.” He looks over at me sheepishly. “I mean you’re beautiful and accomplished.” Okay so I think that’s the first time he has complimented me, ever. “It was easy to like you.”
“But not to love me?”
Shaking his head, he says, “I thought love would grow over time.” He looks apologetically at me and adds, “Like my parents.”
“Why did you never talk to me?”
“I thought you were in love with me already, and I didn’t want to rock the boat.” He shrugs.
“So, instead, you chose to sleep around with everyone and make a fool out of me instead?” My anger bubbles to the surface.
“Not on purpose.” He stares intently into his mug of coffee and sighs.
“Then why?”
“Because I wasn’t sexually attracted to you.”
Geez! That was a sucker punch to the stomach I wasn’t expecting. Tears begin to well in my eyes, but I somehow hold it together.
“Yet, you constantly tried to have sex with me?”
“I’m a male.” He shrugs his shoulders as if that reply answers everything.
“You do realize you never made me come, not once when we were together.” His eyes widen. “That once you were finished, I’d always have to finish myself off.”
“I doubt I never ever gave you an orgasm. I don’t see anyone else complaining.” Well damn, have I hurt his little ego now.
“Some women are used to faking it.”
Rob’s eyes narrow in on me, while his cheeks turn red. “Then why did they come back for seconds and thirds.”
“Maybe they ran out of batteries in their vibrator.”
“Or maybe it was because I wanted to fuck them,” he hurls his insult at me. The room falls silent. “Lilly…”
Tears well in my eyes, and the first one falls down my cheek. “I…”
Shaking my head, I get up and walk out of the living room. That man out there isn’t going to get the satisfaction of seeing me cry. Walking into my bathroom, I slam the door shut.
Fuck him!
Letting the tears fall fast now, and I know I made the right decision walking away from him in Africa. If my family can’t see that, then screw them all. I’d rather be alone.
Collecting myself, I walk back out into the living room where Rob is playing with my phone.
“What are you doing?” I question him.
“Checking the time.” My eyes narrow in on him. “Lilly, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say those things to you. You bruised my ego.”
“You and me… we should never have gotten together. We’re not right for each other.” Rob nods in agreement. “Our families pushed us together, but they don’t care that we aren’t the right fit, they just care about how they look to their friends.” His head sags. “But they are still our parents.”
“Yeah, and it’s my life.”
He nods his head in agreement. I think he understands now there’s no chance between us.
“What do we tell them?” He looks so confused at the prospect of telling his parents.
“Tell them whatever you want, Rob.” He frowns. “I think it’s best you leave.”
“For what it’s worth…” Rob stands and walks over to me. “I do think you’re a pretty special woman. I wish you all the best, Lilly.” He leans in to kiss me a kiss on the cheek, then heads on out the door, grabbing his jacket on the way. He gives me one a sad wave and disappears into the night.
Grabbing my phone, I dial Luca. I need to tell him I’ve made a gigantic mistake. I shouldn’t have let fear guide my decisions. He is a good man and a man who loves me. I’ve been a complete fool.
“The number you are calling is currently unavailable,” the telephone voice tells me.
I keep trying all night and then again in the morning.
Nothing.
I decide to send him an email instead, and it bounces back.
Luca has blocked me.
Fuck!
24
Luca
My phone beeps and a message from Lilly pops up.
Lilly: Please stop calling me. You were nothing more than a holiday fling.
Lilly’s words stab me in the heart. No, she…
I try to call her, but she hangs up on me.
Lilly: If you don’t stop harassing me, I will get a restraining order.
Wait! What?
I let the phone fall from my fingers. What just happened? Does she really mean it?
“I’ve brought ice-cream and The Notebook to help you get through your heartbreak.” Natalia walks in, takes one look at me and stills. “What happened?”
“Lilly and I are well and truly over.”
Natalie’s eyes widen in surprise. “No, I don’t believe it.”
Picking up my phone, I hand it to my sister, and she reads Lilly’s text messages. “Oh, Luca, I’m so sorry.” Pity falls across her face. “I thought she was the one.”
“So did I.” Anger bubbles to the surface. “Fuck this! I’m not going to stay home and wallow
