Secret (Betrothed 9)

Her father was quiet for a while. “Sweetheart, I’m glad you’re a dancer because I can’t imagine you doing anything else, not when you’re so talented, but it’ll never earn you enough money to be comfortable. Your brother has enough money to share with you.”

“Dad, just let it go, okay?” she said gently. “I’m only twenty-five. I’ve got time to worry about that stuff later.”

“Alright,” he said. “I just want to make sure my little girl is taken care of.”

I sighed to myself, hated listening to this conversation, listening to the bond they shared. He was a sweet old man who loved his daughter so much, wore his heart on his sleeve, and after what I did… I was fucking evil.

They all chatted together on the couch for another fifteen minutes before they decided to leave. It was getting late, so I was surprised they’d stuck around so long. The front door opened, and they said their goodbyes.

“Goodnight, sweetheart. Come over tomorrow so we can play a round.”

“Alright, Dad.” She kissed him, probably on the cheek. “I’ll see you at lunchtime.”

“I love you, sweetheart.”

“Love you too, Daddy.”

I pushed my fingers through my short hair and down the back of my neck, sighing to myself.

Anna said goodbye next. “Let me know when you want to go out to lunch. Sofia is having her baby any day now, so I won’t have long lunches anymore.”

“Alright, girl,” she said.

Footsteps sounded as they stepped into the hallway.

That meant Damien was the only one who stayed behind.

“Oh no…” Catalina sighed. “Not you too.”

“Let me buy you a place,” he insisted. “It doesn’t have to be fancy.”

“I don’t need you to buy me anything, Damien.”

“Then move in with me. Come on, there’s plenty of space for all of us.”

She released a sarcastic laugh. “God, I’d rather be homeless than live with you, Damien.”

He chuckled slightly in return. “It wouldn’t be that bad. We’d set some ground rules to make it work.”

“Yeah?” she asked sarcastically. “What about when I want to bring…” She faltered for a moment, choosing her words carefully before blurting them out. “My guys over?”

He sighed loudly. “We’re both adults, Catalina. I understand you have a personal life. I wouldn’t say a word.”

“You would hate it, and you know it.”

“But I would keep my mouth shut.”

She turned quiet. “I appreciate you looking out for me, but I’m fine. Really. Don’t worry about me.”

“You’re my little sister. Hard not to.”

“I’m not little, Damien.”

He chuckled. “Let me know if you change your mind. Offer is always on the table.”

“I know.”

Their voices shifted like they shared an embrace.

“And you were amazing tonight, by the way.”

“Thank you.”

He walked out and shut the door behind him.

I stared out the window and listened to their footsteps fade down the hallway. Catalina didn’t move, probably staring at the door to make sure they were really gone before she turned all the bolts into place.

Then her footsteps came my way.

I turned to the door, expecting to see her any second.

She came inside and looked at me, not the least bit surprised to see me lying on her bed. Her eyes scanned me over, noticing my nakedness. “What if they’d walked in here?”

I shrugged. “If they saw me in your bedroom, they would know we’re fucking, so I didn’t see why it mattered.”

“You could have closed the door.”

“Would have made it obvious you were hiding something.”

She didn’t lean down to kiss me, probably because she was still anxious about the whole thing. “Want some wine?”

“Sure.”

She walked back into the kitchen.

It gave me time to clear my thoughts, to stop thinking about what I’d just heard, to stop thinking about the future and just live in the moment. I got out of bed and followed her, seeing her stand at the kitchen island and pour an extra glass.

I stood across from her at the kitchen island and grabbed it, taking a deep drink.

She did the same, swirling it when she was finished then taking another sip. When she set it down, her eyes moved to her glass, her thick lashes covering a small part of her cheeks.

“You’re close with your father.” I’d never wondered about her relationship with her family. When I was with her, I only saw her, not the people she was connected to. She was just mine…and that was all that mattered.

“Yes. I’m his favorite.”

“No surprise there.”

She smiled slightly and lifted her gaze. “It’s not because I’m better than Damien.”

“I disagree.”

She ignored the jab. “It’s because I look just like my mother.” She swirled her glass again and took a drink. “He says I keep her spirit alive, that all he has to do is look at me when he misses her…and it feels like she’s still here.”

I watched her face, mesmerized by all the subtle expressions she made, how beautiful she was when she was sad. “Then she must have been gorgeous.”