“What is your problem with him, Theo? Seriously. This is so weird.”
“You are too close to him, Carmen.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not. And even if I was, it should not be a big deal. I’m with you. I’m in a relationship with you. I’m happy with you. And mebeing close to someone else shouldn’t change that. Do you really think so little of me that I’d be persuaded by every man I come in contact with? Is that what we are now?”
“You not getting that it’s them I don’t trust!” he shouted. “They want you, and you’re too naive to see when they do. Just like with Vince. You don’t know how to stay clear of the bullshit, Carmen. And you’re going to be too far away from me, so I can’t watch out for you.”
I paused, staring at him.
“So,” I said quietly. “What was the last three years? If I’m so fucking naive that I can’t keep all the sex-crazy men around me away, what was I doing the last three years we were apart? ‘Cause obviously it wasn’t building trust.”
We held each other’s eyes for what felt like hours.
“We were living in a fantasy,” Theo said at last. “But now it’s time to wake up. There is no way forward for us unless we live together, Carmen. I’m not changing my mind on this.”
No compromise. No solutions. Just finality.
“I’m leaving, Theodore. Whether you like it or not.”
“You’re not going anywhere.”
I looked over his face, trying—and failing—to find the eyes of the man I’d known since college and fallen in love with. But he was long gone. Replaced by someone I didn’t know anymore.
I turned and walked away.
“Carmen!” he called after me. “Come back here! We aren’t done talking about this!”
I didn’t even look back. I walked to the nearest guest room, slammed the door, and locked it. My skin still stung from the hot water, but my chest felt ice-cold. Everything inside me was collapsing in on itself.
I stared at the ceiling as he banged against the door, shouting my name in hopes I’d open it.
I don’t know how long I sat there staring, but eventually, the banging stopped, and I saw a shadow pause just beneath the crack of the door.
Something slid across the floor, and then footsteps retreated.
When I opened the door, I found fresh clothes and my phone.
I clutched them to my chest, closed the door again, and quickly unlocked my phone. My hand brushed the engagement ring as I pressed the phone to my ear.
It rang once.
“Hey, kiddo,” Marcus answered, voice low and calm. I must have woken him up.
“Hi.” My voice cracked. “Look. I don’t know what Theo told you, but I’m not staying in Italy.”
“I told him this would happen.” He sighed. “Carmen. I don’t want to be involved in your relationship drama.”
“I know this is so unprofessional,” I rushed out. “And I swear it would never be like this when I start—”
“Carmen,” he cut in, firm. “How do I know that?”
I paused. My thumb rubbed over the curve of my fiancé’s ring.
“Because I’ll get him under control,” I said softly.
