Locked Hearts

Chapter Thirty Six

GRACE POV

I love you, cuore mio.

With my eyes closed, I listened to those words replay over and over in my head. That night I wanted to open my eyes, I wanted more than anything to return those sentiment but I couldn't. I knew if I actually saw her go, I'd beg her to stay with me. My heart couldn't bare seeing her walk away, but I knew she had to do what she did. So instead I kept my eyes closed and listened to her retreating footsteps.

Now everyday for the past year and a half, I regretted that decision. Everyday since the night she ended Milano, I wished I had opened my eyes and I told her I loved her too. Maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't have left.

>flashback<

"She won't be back for a while." Marcus informed us.

"What do you mean? Where'd she go?" I asked panicking.

He smiled sadly as he looked at us. "To get better."

"Take care of my daughter, Marcus." Was all her mother said before rolling herself inside.

I watched as Marcello and Lena followed with their heads down.

"She will be back." Marcus spoke again.

"When?"

"When she is ready."

"And the fall out from tonight?" I asked, worried about what will happen to her.

He sighed coming to lean against the opposite pillar that I leaned on. "The mayor, the commissioner, cops, lawyers. So much people failed so many. Kidnapped children, raped, abused, sold. Families torn apart by that man for years. It's a disgusting and heartbreaking thing." He looked at me. "She just stopped all of that. I," he pointed to himself. "Won't let anything happen to her. I have my ways." He winked.

A small smile tugged at my lips. "Is she atleast coming to say goodbye?" I asked quietly.

"She's already gone."

My heart shattered at his words.

>End of flashback<

The first five months I spent it crying myself to sleep. I missed her and all I needed was at least a phone call to let me know she would, in fact, come back. By month ten, I had thrown all sadness out the window. I focused on anger and hating her for leaving without so much as a goodbye. I mean, ten months and nothing! I had let myself fall apart over someone before and I didn't want to go down that road again. The circumstances were different sure, but I thought I still deserved more. I deserved more than her just leaving without a thought of me, without even knowing where she was. I knew Marcus said she needed time to get herself together but after eighteen months, I didn't know how to feel.

Yet here I am, eyes closed and thinking about her last words to me. Thinking about her smile and the way she held me at night, the warmth and protection. Thinking about her laugh and they way she sulked whenever she didn't get her way. God, I could almost feel her breath on my skin from that one time she let me hold her instead.

"Hey," a voice came from my doorway.

My eyes snapped open to see Henry, a writer that was hired a few months back. "Hey."

"Just wanted to let you know I already sent you a copy of my piece. Kelly said you'd go over it before she had the last say."

I nodded, immediately going to my email. "Got it, thanks." I raised a brow in question when he didn't leave.

"I ,uh, wanted to know if you had that answer to my question." He smiled nervously.

For the few months he'd been here, Henry was obviously into me. Last week he finally had the courage to ask me out but I told him I'd think about it. I couldn't say 'no' right off the bat. Yet still, looking at his hopeful eyes it was hard.

Clearing my throat I opened my mouth to answer but didn't get a chance. A certain blonde waltzed in, bumping her shoulder with Henry's.

"Oh fuck, didn't see you there. Alright buh bye, we have things to discuss." Lena shooed him away.

I watched amused as she all but pushed him out before turning to me. "That was rude." I chuckled.

"Were you going to say yes?" She scowled.

I sighed, running my hand through my red hair. It was still long and everyday I had the urge to chop it all off. "I don't know."

"What about Val?" She asked with a frown.

"Val's gone, sweetheart." I whispered.

"She's coming back." She argued. "I know it's been awhile but she is. She wouldn't just leave us."

"It's been eighteen fucking months. She already left us, a long time ago." I snapped. I immediately regretted my words when I saw the look on her face. "I'm sorry. I'm sure she'll probably come back to see you guys eventually."

"She is going to come back for you too." She told me quietly, looking at me with her big eyes.

"I'm not so sure about that anymore." I replied looking out the window.

"She loves you. She'll come back."

"Sometimes love isn't enough."

●●●

"Okay, let's get this party started." Kelly cheered, popping the bottle of champagne.

Today was her and Peter's anniversary. Twenty years together and they still looked at each other like they were completely inlove. Everyone came by, even Violetta and Marcello. Over the months I stayed in contact with them, having dinner together at least once a month.

I leaned against the wall in the corner, watching as everyone laughed and talked. I smiled seeing Peter dip his wife, planting a kiss on her while their guests cheered on. That gut wrenching feeling hit me again, making my heart sink to my stomach. There wasn't a day that went by where I didn't think about the dark haired woman. Wishing she would just come back and be with me.

"Time to move on." I mumbled, drinking the rest of my drink in one go. I spent the rest of the night drowning my sorrows in alcohol and avoiding everyone.

"Kel, I'm gonna go." I slurred to my best friend. Everyone else had left, Lena driving Violetta and Marcello to the small house they had in the city here.

"What, no. Stay here, you're too drunk." She slurred back.

"It's," hiccup. "You're anniversary." Hiccup. "I don't want to bother," hiccup. "You."

"I'm too drunk for sex, babe. I'm sure Peter can't even get it up." She giggled, pointing at her wasted husband.

I made my way to the guest room I always used when I stayed here. Stripping until I only wore my underwear and bar, I stumbled to the window. My drunken self stared at the night lights, as my forehead rested on the glass.

"Stupid woman with her nice eyes and charming smile. Stupid muscles and stupid tattoos and stupid abs and stupid pretty face. Stupid stupid stupid." I cried quietly.

When I was done feeling sorry for myself, I turned to go to bed but my eyes caught something. When I turned back, the figure had disappeared. Chalking it up to being drunk and lonely, I crawled into bed.

"I'm even seeing your stupid face now." I began to cry again.

-E