“So, what did you want to talk about?” I start.
“Dante… I,” she begins then stops. “I think that I made a mistake. I mean I think that it was a mistake breaking up.”
Jesus… I don’t fucking need this now. Not now when I’m already so confused on what I’m doing with Rachel.
“What made you come to that conclusion? It’s almost been a year.”
“I’ve had time to think and I realized I was just jealous and being foolish. I was wrong to think that you had any kind of feelings for Rachel and it just got to me in the worse way. When you told me you loved me I should have believed it. I had no reason to be jealous of her.”
I just stare at her. How do I tell her she was right? How do I say that? And what the fuck did she think I’d do? just take her back because she realized her jealousy?
“Marie… you were right to break up with me.”
“No, I wasn’t. It was crazy and stupid and I still love you. I never stopped. I want another chance Dante. I want a chance to make it up to you and fix us.”
I sigh and look over to the long French windows. I hate being stuck in shit. I hate it. But it’s my fault. I always knew what I felt for Rachel and I thought the feeling would just stop one day. I hoped she’d meet someone and forget me. I hoped I would meet someone too. I did and I couldn’t forget her.
I look back to her and shake my head.
“Marie, you can’t fix us and I can’t fix us. I’m seeing someone.” It’s best to tell her that. “I’m in a relationship.”
Wow, I guess I just decided I’m really in a relationship with Rachel.
“Oh… I …didn’t realize you were seeing someone.”
“I’m sorry Marie. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
“I did and I lost it.” she brings her fingers to her cheeks and draws in a breath. “I better go.”
A tear slides down her cheek and she heads back out the door before I can answer.
I didn’t have an answer for her anyway.
I lower to sit on the sofa and pose the question to myself again.
What am I going to do?
I just told Marie I’m in a relationship. If I am then I need to work on it not being secret.
I just don’t want to lose my friendship with Peter. It’s the only end result I can see though. The end of our friendship.
Chapter Twelve
Rachel
I’m so happy I could burst.
Literally.
The CEO of Activate called Dad earlier today to thank him for all my hard work. Me specifically. Not Allen or anybody else. Me.
I just made them a total of one million dollars and they asked for me to work on another upcoming campaign they have in the works.
I was so proud of myself when Dad told me and it highlighted the fact that there’s very little I do here that’s recognized even when I do so much.
Because I work in projects with teams of people we tend to get recognition as a group, but nobody sees me. Nobody sees the work I can actually do on my own.
They didn’t see me before now and it’s all down to Dante’s efforts to utilize my ideas.