Page 15 of Unworthy Ties
“Mhm,” I mumbled, taking another bite of the croissant. The buttery pastry helped to cope with the bitter taste of my own lie in my mouth. I had adored Felix as a child, and if I was honest with myself, I still did.
The question I had been dying to ask was stuck in the back of my throat, like a lump that wouldn’t go away. I looked at him, his tousled hair, green eyes that always had a hint of mischief, his crooked smirk that had always made my heart flutter.
I knew I shouldn’t, but I had to ask. “Why did they choose Rocco?” I blurted out.
Felix’s smile faded, replaced by a serious look that made him seem older, more mature. “He’s more serious and dependable than I am. And he will be a far better husband for you than I ever could be.”
“But—”
He didn’t let me finish, instead choosing to change the subject. “How’d you manage that?” he asked, pointing at my ankle.
Disappointment swept over me as he skillfully deflected my question. But I went along with the change in topic.
“Oh…” I told him the story of how I had rolled out of bed and Rocco helped me wrap it. The part where I used Rocco as a pillow was left out, of course.
“Oh yeah?” he responded, an amused look on his face. “Y’know, Rocco is really a good person. He doesn’t look it, and he certainly doesn’t sound like it with all the gruff growling, but he’s got a good heart.”
“Tch,” I said, not managing to keep the sound of discontent to myself.
Felix’s lips twitched at the corners, a hint of a smile threatening to break free. “What? You don’t agree with me?”
“No,” I pouted, stubbornly crossing my arms while trying to avoid his gaze.
“Well, you’ll see in time,” he responded, waving his hand as if he was waving off my opinion.
We spent the next couple of hours talking about everything and nothing. The conversation ebbed and flowed like the tide, delving into old memories, shared experiences, and the people we knew. He told me stories of travel he had to do for work—leaving out the gritty mafia parts—and I found myself lost in his tales of new places and eccentric characters.
He was in the middle of telling me how he was caught in a snowstorm in Oregon when the front door swung open. Rocco strode in, looking every bit the serious and no-nonsense as I knew him to be. His dark hair was dripping rainwater onto the hardwood floor, and there was a tension in his shoulders that told me he had not had a good day.
Felix’s tale about the snowstorm promptly died on his lips, replaced by a look of concern. “Rough day, Rocco?”
Rocco ran a hand through his soaked hair, sending droplets flying. He grunted in response, making his way towards the kitchen without so much as acknowledging me.
Felix sighed, watching as Rocco disappeared from view. I felt my heart sink slightly, wondering what could’ve gone wrong in his day.
“Maybe he just needs some time to cool off,” Felix suggested, trying to keep the atmosphere light.
“Maybe,” I murmured, my gaze fixed on the now empty doorway.
The conversation Felix and I had been having fell silent as we heard Rocco rummaging through the kitchen, the clatter of pots and pans echoing through the house. The familiar sound of the coffee maker brewing brought a semblance of normalcy back to the atmosphere.
After a few moments, Rocco reappeared in the living room, a steaming mug of coffee in hand. To my surprise, he sat down right next to me and wrapped his arm around my lower waist, drawing me into him. My face burned red at the sudden and unexpected display of affection from my cold husband.
“Are you… okay?” I asked, tilting my head to look at him. I wondered if he had gotten hit on the head, because he certainly wasn’t acting sane right now. He was willingly showing me affection, something that was out of character for him.
“Uh huh. Thanks for keeping Gabriella company, Felix. You can head out now.”
Felix seemed as taken aback by Rocco’s behavior as I was but nodded nonetheless. “Alright. Call me if you need anything.” He gave me a warm smile before heading out, leaving Rocco and me alone in the quiet house.
I was surprised when Rocco’s hand remained draped around my waist even after Felix left. It was a comforting yet possessive gesture, his grip firm yet gentle.
“What were you and my brother up to?”
My heart skipped a beat, swallowed by the ominous tone of his voice. “We were just talking.”
“That’s all?” His tone was still piercing, the intensity of his gaze never wavering.
“Yes,” I responded, staring at him like he was insane. “Hang on… are you jealous?”
