He called over yesterday to ask me what kind of ring you would word.” Tatarie at her, horrified,
“And he’s going to go all mit will a grand proposal, and I just want you to be excited when he does it, you know? The walls begin to
Russel is a great guy, Aria.” She takes my hand across the tabla,
My eyes well with tears. Why would he want to get married?”
Because he loves you and you’ve been together for two years now. You guys are great together:”
“And you told me because.
Because I knew you would react like this w
to me and not him. He doesn’t deserve to to your face fall”
Sheer terror begins to tu rampant through my body. I don’t want to get married, Del
“Why not?
Her silhouette blurs and 1 get a lump in my throat, unable to articulate myself.
“Russel is a great guy,” she tells meve.
“I know he is
“And you two have great chemistry, and the sex is great.”
I know,”
“And he loves you and he’s great with the buds. Remember how incredible he was when Buddy died?” I put my head into my hands.
“You should be jumping from the rooftops in excitement,”
“I should”
“The only reason I told you is because deep down, I knew you wouldn’t be.”
“How? Task.
“What?”
“How did you know I wouldn’t be excited?
She stares at me for a beat. I watch the two of you together and it’s obvious that has affection is greater than yours. His commitment to the relationship is stronger than yours. He’s one hundred percent all in, and you’re just not.”
“I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me,” I whisper. “Russel is my dream guy, everything about him is perfect. But.” My voice trails off
“He’s not him.”
“This has nothing to do with Gabriel,” I snap, annoyed.
“Doesn’t it?” she snaps back. I think it does. I think you’re still hopelessly in love with Gabriel Ferrara, and no man, no matter how perfect ever live up to him.”
“That’s complete hullshit. I haven’t thought of Gabriel in years”
“Aria.” She squeezes my hand in hers. You need to learn to love what’s good for you.”
Her silhouette blirs.
“Russel is good for you.” She gives me a sad smile. “He loves you”
Chapter So
He called over yesterday to ask me what kind of ring you would want.” I stare at her, lintrified.
“And he’s going to
all out with a grand proposal, and I just want you to be excited when he does it, you know?“The walls begin ución “Tussel is a great guy, Aria.” She takes my hand cross the table.
My eyes well with tears. “Why would he want to get married?
“Because he loves you and you’ve been together for two years now. You guys are great together:
“And you told me because.
“Because I knew you would react like this and I wanted it to be to me and not him. He doesn’t deserve to see your face Exil.”
Sheer terror begins to rampant through my body. “I don’t want to get married, Del.“
“Why not?”
Her silhouette blurs and I get a hung in my throat, unable to articulate myself.
Russel is a g
a great guy,” she tells me
“I know be is”
“And you two have great chemistry, and the sex is great.”
Tknow.”
And he loves you and he’s great with the kids. Remember how incredible he was when Buddy died?” I put my head into my hands.
“You should be jumping from the rooftops in excitement.”
I should.”
“The only reason I told you is because deep down. I knew you wouldn’t be.”
“How?” I ask
“What?”
“How did you know I wouldn’t be excited?”
She stares at me for a beat. “I watch the two of you together and it’s obvious that has affection is greater than yours. His commitment to the relationship is stronger than yours. He’s one hundred percent all in, and you’re..just not.”
“I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me,” I whisper. “Russel is my dream guy, everything about him is perfect. But My voice trails off.
“He’s not him.
“This has nothing to do with Gabriel,” I snap, annoyed.
“Doesn’t it?” she snaps back. “I think it does. I think you’re still hopelessly in love with Gabriel Ferrara, and no man, no matter how perfecti ever live up to him.”
“That’s complete bullshit. I haven’t thought of Gabriel in years.”
nd in hers
“Aria” She squeezes my hand in hers. “You need to learn to love what’s good for you.”
Her silhouette blurs.
“Russel is good for you.” She gives me a sad smile. “The loves you.”
Tknow.”
“If you do love him enough to marry him, you need to stop being selfish and let him go so thar f
my face in tears. “I dont want in lose him
“Then dost.” She smiles. “Marry hôn, be happy. Because that’s what you deserve. A man thai
The thought of marrying Rossed rolls my stomach, in fart the of
Imarrying anyone tells my
Please, Aria. Think on this, don’t mess up a perfect relationship because you’re scared –
“I’m not soaped. Deb, that is it.“
“What is it, then?”
The reality is “dness fills me to say this out loud, “something is missing with Rosc”
“Like what?”
Tdon’t know. 11 kiss, I would fix M.”
Gabriel
Ishide the king into place. Checkmate, Mark rolls his eyes.
“Beating you is becoming boring.” I sigh.
“I only play with you because you pay me to,” he replies dryly.
I chuckle and sip my scotch.
“Why are we playing chess on a Saturday night, anyway?” he aski.
My eyes roam over to the wall of windows and the twinkling New York lights way down below. “I don’t know.” I sip my scotch. Do you ever get the feeling that there is something missing?”
“How so?”
“I don’t know, I have everything and yet “
“If you want something more when you live the life you do, then the rest of us mere mortals are screwed,” he replies.
Isip my drink again as I drift into deep thought. “Maybe I should get married.”
“Maybe “He shrugs. “Ariana is…..
He nods
Perfect.” I cut him off.
We start a new game of chess as we both fall into our own thoughts. “I always thought when I met the one, I would be chomping at the bit to make it legal” I say as I think out loud.
“Not sure if Ill ever get married, to be honest,” Mark replies,
want children
“You need children to pass all this crap down to He gestures around my apartment
“For the record, my eighty million dollar penthouse is not crap
He chuckles “But does it make you happy
“No.” My eyes roam around the penthouse. “Doesn’t appear to
“So are you going to marry Ariana?”
31.8%
“No”
“Who are you going to marry then, if not bei
“I don’t know. Al
- mw. Ariana is beautiful and adoring, Italian and everything I should want. We’ve been together for over a year and I de love her.
“But you’re not in love with her?
“Maybe I’m incapable of 11.”
Trobably.” He thinks for a moment. “You owe me five hundred backs:
Tor what?
“Tim not being your therapist for free, you know.”
“What solution have you given me, you just told me I’m incapable of love, I fire hack. “And since when did your price rise He chuckles. “The truth is costly.”
I walk into my apartment just on six and see ose petals scattered up the hall.
What the hell is this?
“Ariana?” I call, confused. As I keep walking, more rose petals, “Arima?” I turn the corner and see a huge love heart on the floor made of rose petals ⠀⠀with flickering candles and music and Ariana is on one knee.
What
“I love you.” She smiles up at me. I know you’re supposed to be the one to ask, but Lean’t wait any
Sweetheart I just”
“Will you marry me. Gabriel?” she asks hopefully as she looks up at me.
longer.” Na
My heart sinks. The very last thing I want to do is hurt this beautiful woman.
“I love you so much” she whispers through tears. “Make me the happiest woman alive and become my
husband”
And this is it, the moment where I have to choose what I know is good for me. I drop to my knees in front of her, torn between begging for forgiveness that she has to put up with me and the need to run as far away and physically can “Yes I softly kiss her lips.
“Yes what?”
⠀⠀ “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Seven years to the day after Aria left Ferrara Media.
I glance up at the sign hanging over the dour
ELEVEN
MADISONPARK
I push through the door and walk right on in. Good afternoon, Mr. Ferrara, your table is this way, sir.” The water nods with a smi
“Thank you” I follow him through t
the restaurant and see my brother Alessio sitting with my mother at her regular table by the window
She breaks into a broad smile as she sees me.
“Mama” ass her no cheeks.
“Ciao, não caro Gabriel” (“Hello, my darling Gabriel“) She smiles.
“Ales.” I pat my brother on the shoulder before sitting at the table.
Bubamische Wile!
Chapter 50
Alessio pours ime a glass of wine and i
I passes it nert. “Tilad you’re here, Mom can lecture you now.” The raises his wineglass before taking huge golp
My eyes flick up to my mother. The succede, mamma? Quadrosa non va?” (“What’s wrong. Mama?”)
The canceled lús date with Arabella.” She scowls.
Alessio looks over at me, deadpan and I chuckle.
“If you like Arabella so much, you should date her yourself,” he replies dryly.
She is the ultimate woman” de replies.
Tor Gabriel Alessio fires back.
Gabriel is married”
“Not yet.”
1 coll my eyes. “Talin down.”
In five weeks, so same thing.”
“There’s still time to run.” Alessio smirks as he raises his glass to me.
I smile and then drop my face immediately.
My mother’s main mission in life is to marry off her children, she’s being met with harsh resistance on all counts.
I open the menu peruse the choices and roll my eyes. “Why do we always come here, I hate vegan food.”
“And yet you always eat everything on your plate,” Mom replies.
Twant
meat.” I sigh.
“When you are married, you will want for nothing *
Ugh. 1 gulp my wine too, Alessin’s mood is rubbing off on me
Nagging is her favorite sport.
*Where is Carina?” Lask
“Your sister had an appointment.”
“What did you say to Arabella?” Mother asks Alessio,
D
I glance over and see a familiar face, what was his name I watch him for a mument as I try to place him Rodney.
He worked for me back when Gracie was here.
I wonder
