Temporary Fix | 18+

38

My mind was in shambles yet I felt a clarity I'd never felt before. I felt betrayed and used. Used by my parents, the Chekovs, and even Niccolò. How I managed the last one was still lost on me.

It would of course happen to me. The one time I decided to indulge in something I wanted for myself, it backfired on me. My phone pinged again, for what seemed like the fiftieth time since I'd been in my apartment. Not long after, the knocking started on my door again.

It was a steady cycle. A phone call, then three or so threatening messages, before the pounding on my door. I was positive my neighbors hated me already. With my cheek pressed against the cool surface of the island, I listened to the impatient pounding from the man on the other side of the door.

It was useless for me to open the door. I knew I'd never get the answers I needed and I knew Niccolò would find some way to smooth things over. That wasn't what I wanted. There was a growing list of things I needed to figure out on my own before having a face-to-face conversation with Niccolò. The first being to talk to the lawyer my grandfather wanted me to, if I got anything from the card left for me.

It was pretty clear the situation I was in; my parents were liars for the better part of my entire life, always claiming that success was brought upon by hard work. I scoffed out loud, thinking about the guilty face of my mother as they confessed to knowingly leading me to a marriage I had no escape from to begin with. Not only that, but my best friend was a puppet and an aid in all the bad that had recently been happening to me.

Another string of messages reminded me further that even a man I thought could bring me temporary happiness only had me around because of a piece of land connected to my name.

The next round of banging forced me to my feet to march over to the door. "Stop. Banging!"

He paused for a moment, "open the door and I won't have to. Let me in shortcake."

Instinctively, I took a step from the door. "I don't want to talk right now."

He was quiet for a few moments before he spoke again. "I'm not one for explanations, but I'm trying here. I didn't know about it initially."

"Did you find out before or after you slept with me?" At least I could find some comfort in knowing his decision to sleep with me had nothing to do with what I could offer him. His silence made me think otherwise. "Nothing?"

"It doesn't matter."

I scoffed. He'd given me my answer and it was confirmed that once again I'd allowed myself to be taken for a fool.

"Go home Niccolò. Please."

"Let's go home together. Where we can have a proper conversation and I'll know you're safe beside me."

It was when he said things like that that my head started to spin. It was confusing how he could talk as if he truly cared for me only to drag me back to reality a few moments later.

It made me wonder if he even knew how hot and cold he was being. It didn't matter, because I wasn't going to stick around to find out how self-aware he was about his actions.

"Let's seriously stop doing this." He was silent on the other side and so I continued. "Thank you for everything, truly, but I think we should see this for what it really is."

"And what is this shortcake?" He was still using the silly nickname, but I could hear the irritation and impatience seeping in his tone.

It made it easier to ignore what I felt when he called me that.

"You've made it painstakingly clear what I am to you. And even though it took a while for me to understand, I finally do now." My trembling fingers raised to my lips to cover my chuckle at how pathetic I've been. "I get it. I really do. And I've decided I want no part of whatever game you're playing. It shouldn't be hard to find another woman willing to spread her legs for you." The words made my nose sting and my eyes burn.