The Breakup (17 page)

Marco folded his arms and studied her. “That’s not how it is at all. I kissed you. Is that a crime?”

“It’s not that you kissed me, but that you expected it.” She turned away.

Marco grabbed her arm and she jerked it away. “Don’t you grab me.”

He started to say something, then shrugged. His eyes darted away from her, looking over her shoulder. She turned and was horrified to see Stephen heading their way.

“Oh my God.”

“What? Do you know him?”

“Oh my God.”

“Aja?” Marco pulled her to his side. Were all Italian men so protective of their women? It was nice, but then they seemed to think that entitled them to whatever they wanted in return.

She turned and started walking as quickly as she could back toward Julianna’s place. Marco followed. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Stephen was following, too.

What to do? She couldn’t lead them both back to Julianna’s. Aja ducked into the nearest alley, saw that it was a dead end, turned around and dashed across the street into another alley. It wasn’t a dead end. There was a bar at the other end. She hurried over and sat down at one of the tables. A few of the others were occupied. She hoped that Stephen wouldn’t make a scene. Then she thought of the scene in the restaurant the night before and knew it wouldn’t make a difference. At least he couldn’t hurt her in public, or with Marco looming over her.

Marco sat in the chair across from her and said, “You want to tell me what that was all about?”

“He’s my ex.”

“As in boyfriend or husband?”

“Boyfriend. I’ve never been married.”

“So what is he doing here?”

“He wants to sue me.”

Marco stared like he hadn’t heard correctly. “Well, that’s the last thing I expected you to say. For what? Breaking up with him?”

“No; for hurting him.”

Marco turned and looked at Stephen who was just sitting down at a table across the courtyard from them. Stephen gave Aja an evil smile and a shudder ran through her.

“He doesn’t look hurt.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay. So what do we talk about?”

“Nothing. I’m sure I’m keeping you from something.” She turned her gaze toward the opposite corner of the courtyard, trying to look like she didn’t care if he left.

“I’m not leaving you alone with that man. You’re terrified of him.”

“I am not!”

“Yes. Yes, you are. I saw the look on your face when he showed up.”

“I was just surprised, that’s all. I’ll be fine.”

Marco stood and held out his hand. “Come on, Aja. I’ll walk you back to Julianna’s.”

“How did you know where I was staying?”
Now he’s following me?

“I saw you come out of there this morning.”

So he is following me!
“What…”

“Before you go getting all turned inside out, listen. I wasn’t following you. I just saw you leaving there and then I ran into you later.”

“How do you know Julianna?”

Aja was surprised to see Marco’s face turn red. “I’ve lived in this town a long time, Aja.” He wouldn’t say any more, just took her arm.

Stephen came up behind them. “Is this your new boyfriend,
Aja
?” Her name came out with a sneer and she could feel Marco bristling beside her.

“Just ignore him Marco, he isn’t worth it.”

That pissed Stephen off, just like she intended. “You know you’re not her only lover, don’t you?” Stephen said to Marco. “She’s a black widow. Watch out for your cock. You might wake up in the morning to find it missing.” Stephen laughed an evil laugh and walked away.

As much as she tried fighting it, the tears came. Aja was angry that he could blame her when she had only been defending herself.

“Is that what you meant when you said you hurt him?”

If she wasn’t so upset, the look on Marco’s face would have made her laugh. She didn’t laugh, though. She burst into tears and ran the rest of the way to Julianna’s house.
 

Pietro rushed over when she flew into the kitchen crying. He held her close and murmured soothing words while Julianna handed her a tissue and patted her back.

“Aja, what happen?” Julianna asked.
 

She couldn’t answer and just kept sobbing into Pietro’s shirt.
 

They all looked up when the door flew open and Marco rushed in. “Aja! Are you okay?”

Everyone froze. Aja looked around in confusion, not understanding the look Julianna and Pietro gave each other. Marco didn’t even seem to notice them. He made a beeline for her. He pulled her out of Pietro’s arms and into his. Pietro didn’t appreciate this and he pulled her back.
 

After a couple of times back and forth Aja stomped her foot and yelled, “Stop it! I am not a toy you’re fighting over.” And then she started crying again while they both tried to soothe her.

“I’m sorry, I was just worried when you ran off after Stephen left,” Marco said.

“Stephen was there?” Pietro and Julianna said at the same time and Marco swung around. “You know about Stephen?”

“Yes, he attack her last night. I kick his ass,” Pietro said.

Aja nodded at Marco and wiped her face. Julianna handed her another tissue and commanded her to blow. “Pietro punch him in face,” she stated.

Pietro expanded his chest and Marco looked up at the ceiling.

“Okay, so what did he mean by his last statement?” Marco asked.

Aja dropped her head. The last thing she wanted to do was tell Marco about the fiasco with Stephen. Telling Pietro and Julianna the night before was easy. She wasn’t worried they would judge her. She had been right, and was happy to have gotten it off her chest.

Before she could say anything, Julianna broke in. “She not want tell you. She embarrass.”

“Thanks, Juli. You hit the nail on the head. Now, can we talk about something else, or how about we just finish breakfast. Don’t you have to open the
ristorante
soon?”

“No. I close today.”

“But your sign says… ”

“My friend need me. I close.”

Aja smiled through her tears. “Thanks.”

“
Prego
.” She pulled her into a big hug and kissed her on each cheek. “You best friend now.”

“Yes. We’re best friends now.”

She looked up to see Marco watching them with a strange look on his face, one she couldn’t interpret. She remembered how he’d blushed when she asked how he knew Julianna.

“Come, time eat. Food get cold.” Julianna ushered them to the largest table. She’d set it with beautiful dishes.

Marco protested that he needed to go, but she gave him that look of hers. Julianna got what she wanted when she wanted. Aja thought she was going to have to take lessons, as Julianna was a pro. Marco immediately shut his mouth, and sat where she indicated. He was beside Aja, Pietro on the other side, and Julianna sat across from her.
 

“Eat,” Julianna said.

They ate.

It didn’t take long, eating Julianna’s food, before everyone loosened up a little. Marco started sharing stories of mishaps and near disasters from the winery, and they laughed until their stomachs hurt. He was a good storyteller. Pietro joined in with his recollections, since he’d worked at the winery for years.

Their laughter woke Bella. She stumbled down the stairs rubbing her eyes and dragging a teddy bear. She was a perfect little angel. Aja longed to wrap Bella up in her arms. Bella stopped at the bottom of the stairs, then her eyes opened wide and she shouted, “Papa!”

Aja’s stomach dropped when she realized she was talking to Marco.

Everyone froze. Marco put down his fork and opened his arms to Bella. She ran to him and climbed onto his lap, patting his face and chattering away in Italian. Aja sat there stunned, wondering how she’d missed the fact that her new best friend was the mother of Marco’s child.
Oh yeah. No one told me!

“Marco is Bella’s father,” Pietro said.

“Really? What a surprise. When was someone going to tell me this?”

Marco turned to her with a sardonic smile. “Why? It doesn’t change anything.”

“Oh, doesn’t it? You two have a child and you’ve been trying to kiss me and you think this doesn’t change anything?”

“He’s been trying to kiss you?” Pietro shot out of his chair, nearly knocking it over.

Aja grabbed his arm. “It’s okay, I didn’t let him.”

“Didn’t you?” Marco asked.

Pietro sat down with a thump and turned to her. “You let him kiss you?”

Aja glared at Marco. “No I didn’t. And stop changing the subject you two. Are you and Julianna together?”

Julianna shook her head vehemently. “No, not with Marco. Long time ago.”

“Actually, I tried to get her to marry me, but she refused.” Marco pinned Julianna with his glare, but she shrugged it off, and started clearing the table.

Pietro shook his head sadly. “My sister stubborn woman. Not do what right for her and daughter.”

“Pietro,
stai zitto
.” Julianna said, and Pietro didn’t say another word. He just kept shaking his head and muttering to himself.

When Julianna left the room, Aja quietly asked Marco, “Do you still love her?”

“No. I never did. We were friends.”

“With benefits?”

He arched a brow at her. “I’ve never heard that before, but yes, I guess so.” He turned back to Bella, who was asking him a question.

Julianna came back into the room and gave Bella her marching orders. Bella reluctantly got up from Marco’s lap, ran over to give Aja a hug, and then went upstairs.

“Bella have school.” Julianna said.

Marco turned to me. “So what are we going to do about Stephen?”

“We?”

“Yes, we,” Pietro piped up, not wanting to be left out.

She looked back and forth between the two men.
How the hell did I get myself into this situation?
“I don’t know what to do about him. He’s just trying to make me upset because he can’t get his lawsuit going.”

“About that,” Marco said. “Does he have a case against you?”

“No. I was cleared by the police.”

“You mean there was an investigation? You really hurt him?”

“I cut his penis, yes,” Aja said and blushed to the roots of her hair. “I’m a ‘castrating bitch’, okay. That’s what Stephen told everyone. And then the media wouldn’t leave me alone and it was just awful.” She said it in a rush, realizing there was no way to keep it hidden now.

“You didn’t cut it off, though, did you?” Marco asked, his eyes wide.

“No. I’m sure he’s perfectly fine, sadly. He doesn’t deserve to have a penis if he’s going to use it that way.”

“He attacked you?”

“Yes. We were living together. He came home drunk one night and tried to rape me. I fought him off. We ended up in the kitchen and I grabbed a knife. I didn’t purposely try to cut him, but as we were fighting it just happened. It was an accident, and the police said it was self-defense. So he doesn’t have a case.”

Both men shuddered.

“Come on you guys. You’re making me feel bad.”

Pietro took her hand. “I’m sorry, Aja. It just… his…
pene..
.” And he shuddered again. “But he shouldn’t have force it on you. You not do something wrong.” He smiled at her.

“Gee thanks. I feel so much better.”

Marco sat quietly, thinking.

“Are you afraid of me now?” Aja asked.

He looked up, surprised. “Of course not. I don’t put my penis where it’s not welcome.”

She looked toward the stairs. “Apparently.”

Marco got to his feet and went into the kitchen without a word. Aja felt guilty that she’d said anything. Obviously he’d tried to do the right thing, but Julianna didn’t want to marry him. He wasn’t a bad guy in spite of her earlier conclusions. What she didn’t know, however, was how he felt about her. Was she just a convenient person to fool around with or did he feel more for her than that? Why was she even thinking about him?
Why do I need constant reminding that I’m not interested in dating right now?

“I’m going to the hotel to check if I have any messages. Do you want to come with me?” she asked Pietro.

“Sure. What message?”

“My family. They’re probably having conniptions that I haven’t called.”

“Your family? What a conniption?”

She laughed. “Yes, my family. I wasn’t born in a vegetable patch. And a conniption is a fit. They’re probably worried that I’ve gotten myself into trouble without them to pull me out of it.”