Catarina
I pause, rifling through my dresser for clean pajamas for both of us. “I’m not sure about that…”
“Why not? It’s perfect,” Tatiana says, flopping onto the bed after clearing away some hangers.
Our bed. The thought makes me wince. I need to stop fixating on him and what was lost. The questions swirling in my mind—how long he was cheating, whether he ever brought someone else here—are overwhelming. I’m on the verge of being sick.
Tatiana continues, her excitement evident. “You’d have the whole wing to yourself. My dad’s usually tied up with work, so he won’t mind. It would give you time to find a new place without rushing. Plus, you could even stay long-term if you wanted. The house is huge; we could stay in our separate wings and be roommates.”
On one hand, it seems like an ideal solution. I’d have a place to stay without the immediate pressure of finding a new home while settling into my job. On the other hand, even with the alcohol making things feel lighter, I’m wary. Living with Gianni without Tatiana there is a risky idea. What was once a harmless attraction could become something more complicated now that I’m single.
I chew on my bottom lip, torn between the practical benefits and the potential pitfalls. The weight of the decision feels heavy, making it hard to breathe.
Did he see me? Did he know I was watching him on the patio with that woman?
I try to convince myself that he didn’t actually notice me. That it was all in my head. That to him, I’m still just his daughter’s friend, a kid—nothing more. But what if he did see me? Why hasn’t he confronted me? If he knows I don’t just see him as my best friend’s dad… If he knows I want to give myself to him?
The other issue is living so close to the man I’ve admired for years. It might add a bit of excitement and thrill to my otherwise mundane days. Plus, I’d rather not spend all my time dwelling on my breakup with Luciano.
“It’s better than moving back in with my dad,” I admit. I love him, but he’s been different since my mother died—not in a grieving way, but in a way that’s left him angry and bitter. The unresolved murder of my mother haunts him deeply.
As a police officer, he’s obsessed with solving every crime, and I can’t imagine the toll it takes on him. I’ve come to terms with my mother’s death and accepted that I can’t change the past. What matters now is the future. My father, however, remains stuck in his grief.
Staying with Tatiana is looking more appealing by the minute.
“We’ll need to check with your dad first,” I suggest.
“Please.” Tatiana scoffs as she heads to the bathroom. “I doubt he’ll even notice you’re there.”
My throat tightens, recalling the intense look in Gianni’s eyes when he was with that woman—the lust and desire.
This idea feels risky. Because deep down, I want him to notice me. I want him to feel the same longing I do. I want him to see me as more than just Caterina, his daughter’s friend.