Page 118 of Things We Fake
“You hurt me in ways you’ll never understand, Neil Langley. But you know what? I’m grateful. Because if you hadn’t, I might have actually married you. I mighthave wasted my life with someone who never deserved me. I would never have had the chance to meet and fall in love with a real man, a man who is kind, honorable, and everything you never were.”
His jaw tensed. “So you’re in love with that guy? Even though he dumped you when he thought you were a perverted sex maniac?”
I thought about Cam, about the ridiculous sex swing incident. That was an unfortunate misunderstanding I needed to warn him about. But Neil had no idea how wrong he was.
“He didn’t dump me. He never believed any of the crap you tried to set up. And if you think all of this was some romantic gesture, then you’re even more delusional than I thought.” I let out a short, humorless laugh. “I’m glad you came here today, Neil. Because now I get to look you in the eye and tell you exactly what I should have said years ago—I would never, ever take you back. Not in this lifetime, not in the next, not even if you were the last man on earth. There is no way in heaven or hell that you will ever come back into my life.”
His expression shifted, something mean and ugly surfacing, but I cut him off before he could speak.
“Go find your next victim,” I said coldly. “I’m not it, not anymore, never again. And if you don’t want to test just how protective an Italian family can be, I suggest you get the hell out of here and never set foot on this land again. You don’t have to be part of the Cosa Nostra to know how to make a man disappear.”
He gulped audibly. His lips parted as though he wanted to argue, but then he took one look at myfather—who was standing in the open door with his arms crossed, staring him down as though he was nothing more than a weed in his vineyard—and thought better of it. Without another word, Neil turned on his heel and stalked off down the driveway, his footsteps crunching against the gravel.
I took the deepest breath I’d had in a long time, then turned and walked back inside, closing the door with firm finality.
My family was waiting for me, a wall of quiet support.
“Thank you, guys, for letting me do that,” I murmured.
My mother was the first to move. She stood, wrapping her arms around me. I sank into the warmth of her embrace, inhaling the scent of Italian perfume, home-cooked food, and the safety I had spent so many years running from.
“I’m proud of you, honey,” she whispered.
My father stepped forward next, placing a heavy, calloused hand on my shoulder. “Go and rest,bambina. It’s been a hard day. You did well.”
Something in my chest unclenched. His voice, his rough and steady touch felt like a refuge in the middle of an emotional storm. I turned and hugged him tightly.
Then Michelle pushed her huge belly against mine in a bear hug, and even Paul gave me a nod of approval before pulling me in for a quick, brotherly squeeze.
“Good job, Sis,” he muttered. “I’m still pissed at you for not telling me sooner. I spent years thinking he was my friend.”
I winced. “I didn’t want to ruin your friendship.”
“You shouldn’t have protected him.” His jaw tightened. “But at least now he knows exactly where he stands—with all of us.”
My gaze dropped slightly. “Yeah. Thank you. All of you.”
Paul studied me for a beat, then crossed his arms. “So… what’s your plan with Cam?”
I froze in the middle of crossing my arms.
My mother arched an eyebrow, suddenly far too interested in the answer.
I forced a tight smile. “I don’t know yet.”
Which wasn’t a lie. I needed time to process, to think. To gather the courage to face the feelings I had spent days trying to suppress. To be more honest with myself than I had ever been.
“I’m going to rest for a bit,” I said instead. “Thank you for lunch, Mom. It was amazing, as always.”
She waved me off, but her eyes were soft and shiny.
I dragged myself up the stairs, exhaustion weighing down on me with every step. It was strange how emotional battles could leave you feeling as though you’d physically run a marathon. One day I had to ask Lily all about this phenomenon. Or Helen—if I ever saw her again.
Collapsing onto my childhood bed, I let out a slow breath. The past forty-eight hours had been a whirlwind. I had fought two of the most important battles of my life—against my mother and against my past. And somehow, miraculously, I had won both.
But one battle still remained. For the first time, I knew exactly what I had to do. I just needed the courageto do it. After everything I had faced, I now felt that courage was finallywithin my grasp.
Chapter Thirty-Five
