Snatched Two Husbands, But They Both Remember the Fire Chapter 14

Snatched Two Husbands, But They Both Remember the Fire Chapter 14

The cold war ended on day twenty-one.

No talk. No apology. Just-there. On my table. Morning.

Two breakfasts. Luca’s-eggs. Toast. Juice.

Rocco’s-tacos from the corner store. In foil. Still hot.

Two men. At the table. Not looking at each other.

“You both-‘

“Eat,” Luca said.

“Both,” Rocco said.

I did.

On the way to meet Luca’s dad. Luca driving. Rocco in front. Me in back.

“Twenty-one days,” Luca said.

“What?” Rocco.

“Your record. Mine was twenty.

“How do you know—”

“You fight the same every time. Start of the month. End on the twentieth. Like a clock.”

I laughed. Rocco’s ears went red.

“I don’t,” he said.

“You do. Then you buy tacos. Put them on the table. Pretend it’s not you.”

Silence.

Sir William in the garden. Grey coat. Blue scarf. Cane in his hand.

He nodded at me. We went inside.

I walked slow. Next to Rocco.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Last time-if you’d just said something earlier-”

“I wasn’t wrong. I just couldn’t say I cared.”

“You’re still pretending.”

“I’m not.”

“Then admit it. You love her. You can’t leave. But you’re scared to say it because she might not say it back.”

He didn’t move.

“I’m here, Rocco. I was here last time. I’m here now.”

The sun on his face. Something cracked.

Not tears. But his eyes went red.

Sir William gave us everything. Names. Numbers. Who to trust. Who not.

“This is thirty years,” he said. “Take care of it.”

I took the paper. Heavy.

“Thank you.”

He looked at the window.

“Just take care of my son.”

Luca didn’t look at anyone. But his mouth went up a little.

On the way back. Sun orange. Sea orange.

“Catalina,” Rocco said.

“Yeah.”

“What you said. About staying. You mean it?”

“I said a lot.”

“All of it.”

“All of it.”

He put his seat back. Closed his eyes.