[Dawn]
At first, I thought I was crazy, like I’d imagined the whole thing. One minute Aldo and I are in the pantry, getting hot and sweaty, tasting each other’s forbidden fruit, next minute, he’s fleeing the house, leaving me aching for him.
I want to finish what we’ve started, but now that it’s been almost a week since the hook up. And a week since I’ve barely had a proper conversation with Aldo, serious doubts are in my head. I know how desperate it sounds; a week is a long time to get ghosted by a guy. But since I’ve been waiting my whole life, I keep justifying the silence.
His phone’s been broken. He’s having cell issues. Then Andre returns out of the blue and that puts a spanner in all the works.
I grunt and see that I’ve ripped the fabric apart. I’m trying to mend a small Teddy for Michael. He’s a cute little thing, with a button nose and numb hands and feet. It’s been his cuddle toy since he was a baby. Sophie says he can’t sleep without it. But he also refused to teeth on anything else. Hence the leg being ripped off.
“See, that’s what kept happening to me,” Sophie says, leaning over from her pool seat. “Let’s just take it to a repair shop.”
“No, no, I can do this,” I say. We’re sitting by the pool of the mansion. Michael is currently at daycare, and it’s Sophie’s free day.
She wanted to tan and only remembered the bear once we were out here. I’m trying to stitch this thing up in two pieces. And as I’m struggling with it, I feel like an idiot. “It’s just that the thread of the fabric, or, you know, the threads have frayed, so to get a grip on it, we’ll have to go further back.”
“Or further up the drive and give it to a lady?”
I sigh and sit back. “Fine,” I utter.
Sophie snorts and then grabs the cocktails that have been sitting there for the last ten minutes while I work. The condensation on the glass has made the glasses slippery, and we hold them delicately.
“To my free day,” Sophie says.
“To your free day,” I repeat. We clink glasses and sip at the margherita. “I must say you make a fine drink.”
Sophie giggles. “I hide it the fruit. You wouldn’t suspect that there’s half a bottle of rum in it.”
I almost drop the glass. “Serious?”
“No…” But Sophie winks.
We laugh, and I lie back, letting the sun bathe me in warmth and trying to wash the anxieties free from my mind. I was half hoping that Aldo would be here at the house when I came. I haven’t seen him since the party, and, well, I haven’t seen him since then.
I feel like there’s unfinished business. I have unfinished business at least.
As if on cue, I hear him and Luca coming down the drive and around the house. Their shoes crunch in the gravel driveway, and they emerge carrying boxes and talking seriously. When they see us, though, Luca lights up. Aldo after a wide eyed moment.
“Ladies, you’re looking fabulous,” he leans down and kisses Sophie.
Aldo and I remain staring at each other in a game of acknowledgement chicken. Who’s gonna break?
“What’re you two carrying?” Sophie asks, lifting her sunglasses up.
“Just records,” Aldo says. “Fun.”
Luca laughs and sets his box down on the table. “Looks like you’ve got something sweet.”
“There’s some left over if you’re thirsty?”
“I’m always thirsty,” Luca says, leaning down and kissing her again.
Aldo and I avoid watching them, but not before I notice a stab of embarrassment come to Aldo’s face. It’s not the kissing that makes both of us uncomfortable, it’s what it reminds us of.
“I’m gonna take these in,” Aldo says.
“Sure,” Luca straightens up. “Want a drink too?” he asks, heading for the kitchen.
Aldo nods. “When I get back.” He slides the second box off of the table onto his parcel, and his arms bulge. The already heavy boxes make him pop, and my own eyes bulge too.
“Why don’t I help?” I ask, getting up.
“Well, I’ve already got them stacked…”
“Maybe moral support then?” I offer, winking at Sophie, who laughs. Aldo and I head inside the house, but at a different door. We’re taking these through to Luca’s office. The house is cool, a breeze is rolling through from the open windows. After a week of wet heat and humidity, the hot air is cooling with the slight sweat that’s forming on my body.
I can see Aldo hunching over, steeling himself for the conversation. We enter the office, and he places the boxes lightly on the table and then turns back to close the door.
I intercept him and crawl into his arms, planting a kiss on his lips.
He hesitates for a few seconds. I feel him wanting to kiss me back.
But ultimately doesn’t.
My worst fears are confirmed.
“Dawn, about the party…”
I turn to leave, already feeling the tears in my eyes.
“Wait,” he says, holding me in place. “Please?”
The pain in his voice makes me freeze. It’s like he knows how to control me.
“What?” I finally utter.
“It’s not what you think.”
“Then what is it?” I turn and look into his eyes. The ones that enchanted me before as sparkling emeralds now make me think of broken glass.
Aldo sighs and looks about; he scratches his arm in nervousness. “Look, I don’t regret what we were doing. I don’t-” he looks me up and down, and I cover up.
“I don’t at all. In fact, it was damn hot. It was-” he shuts himself up. “But that’s not the point. I’m just, I’m not in a good mindset. I was confused, jealous, and angry-”
“At who?” I cut in. “You broke up with Lindsey. She’s moved on. It’s been a while.” I’m trying to find excuses to keep my dream alive.
“I know, I know. And you’re completely right. I just, it’s hard because I’ve known you for so long… and you’re Andre’ sister.”
“Really? Because I’m the sibling of someone, I’m out of bounds? Is that what it’s always been?” I feel like I’m being overly dramatic. I’ve never been like this after a casual fling. But then this wasn’t a casual fling for me. This felt like fate.
“No, don’t be like that.”
“Like what? Hurt?”
“Come on, that’s not fair,” Aldo says, gripping my arms with his warm hands.
I know it’s not fair, but it’s not stopping me from using it. “Was I just another hookup?”