“This is simply amazing. Thank you.” I close the distance between us and give Gio a kiss I can only hope conveys how much all of this means to me.
We spend the rest of the evening mingling with other photographers and guests. When I run into some of my favorites for the second time, I thank them for their encouraging words and invitations. They laugh when they find out I had no idea my work was on display here, and congratulate Gio for pulling off such a thoughtful surprise.
When we get back to the hotel it’s late and I’m shocked to see Gio’s father, Salvatore, sitting in the living room, only a single light illuminating the room.
“We need to talk, Son.” Salvatore completely disregards my presence but Gio doesn’t.
“Aria, do me a favor and head to our room for a few minutes while I speak with my father.” He gives me a soft kiss and I do as he says, closing the door behind me. I slip out of my dress and heels and take a quick shower to rinse off my body and face before putting on a shirt and comfortable sweats.
I know I shouldn’t, but I open the door slightly to see if Gio and his dad are still talking. I see they’ve moved to the kitchen and are both drinking what looks like scotch.
“By killing the senator over that girl, you’ve practically pinned a bullseye on our foreheads!” Salvatore booms.
“I don’t give a shit. I did what needed to be done. I’ll deal with Sebastian just as I’ve been doing for the last year.”
“I don’t trust your judgement, Giovanni. You have continuously chosen her over your own family, your flesh and blood. It’s time to let her go.” Salvatore throws back what’s left of his drink and slams the glass on the counter.
“And what? Marry Cecilia? You can’t be serious!”
“It’s her or your family.”
Giovanni goes silent and my heart shatters. Gio’s life is his family and his dad making him choose has me wanting to attack him, to knock some sense into the man who has no idea what he’s doing to my heart, but I don’t. I do, however, slide on my flip-flops and slip out the front door without waiting to hear what Gio’s answer is. Needing some space and a bit of fresh air, I take the elevator down to the lobby and head out the back to go for a walk along the beach.
I kick off my flip-flops and toe the water. It’s warm to the touch from the summer heat beating down on it all day. After walking for what seems like miles, I sit in the sand and stare out into the Atlantic, the moon’s reflection hitting the soft waves as they come up and just barely hit my feet before rolling back. I think about Gio’s father’s ultimatum: me or his family. I would like to believe in Gio’s eyes and heart, they are one in the same—I know in mine they are. But it doesn’t matter how Gio or I feel because his father doesn’t share the same feelings we do.
I wasn’t able to see Gio’s face when his dad gave him the ultimatum, but I could feel it, deep in my gut, that those five words broke him. I think about how Weston came into my life and slowly destroyed mine and my mom’s relationship. For some reason, he was jealous of how close my mom and I were from the beginning. He wedged a rift between us that grew and grew until we were so far on opposite ends of the spectrum there was no healing the damage he created. I can’t do that to Gio. I can’t come between him and his family. I love him with every ounce of my being but the cliché quote I’ve read so many times comes to mind: sometimes you have to love someone enough to let them go.
I have the money to move. I have the means to start over, no matter how bad it’ll hurt. I can walk away and not make Gio choose. I can put him first, the same way he’s put me first every day since the day he saved me from that basement, from that nightmare that would still be my reality if it weren’t for him. The same way he believed in me enough to make my dreams a reality.
I’ve only just made the decision and my heart already feels like it’s been ripped out of my chest, but I stand and take in a deep cleansing breath, set on returning to the hotel room, having one last night with Gio, then putting him first and walking away. I wipe the sand from the back of my thighs and start the trek back to the hotel room.