Santi's Downfall

Chapter 31: The Wedding Guest

An invitation to a wedding invokes more trouble than a summons to a police court.

William Feather

Santi Marchesi POV

I looked at the woman sitting in front of me as we traveled to Los Angeles on my private plane. Watching her right now as her attention was fixed on her plane window I had the chance to study her.

Sitting here right now brings me back to the time when I first brought her back to Sicily after practically kidnapping her in the university parking lot. I smiled to myself remembering those moments that now feel like an eternity.

I shifted in my position in my seat as I remember our conversation where she told me that she preferred to stay in LA and that she wanted out of our relationship. At first, I got mad at her decision to call it quits because I thought it was my pride that she had hurt but then I gradually realized that it was not only my pride that had been wounded but something else too that I was not ready to name.

Watching her now, I could perceive that she didn't regret a thing. She was firm with her decision to stay away from me so she could evaluate her real feelings for me because according to her whenever I am around her I clouded her judgment by my mere presence.

I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or not. But this separation is paining me more than I should care to admit. The thought of not seeing her smile, her lovely eyes, and her bright hair every day brings despair through my whole being.

I never realized that I would get used to her presence around me when in reality I only lived with her for a few weeks. This was what I hated about living with a woman on the same roof. The sense of familiarity and the hollow mark it would leave on your chest when she's gone was too much for a man.

I know that I love her and care for her but I am not in love with her. Because being in love with someone seems to be impractical and just a waste of time. Why would you want to let someone have powers over you? Why would you let yourself open up to someone and then things will not end well in the end? Why would you subject yourself to a messy situation when you can avoid it in the first place?

Loving someone means depending on them and depending on someone means you are weak. And I am not a weak person I don't need to depend on anyone for anything.

But...

Why does it pain me to think that I wouldn't be able to see her again which is absurd if you think about it?

I eyed her curiously. I couldn't help but wonder what was going on inside that head of hers. Was she excited to return to her old life? I cleared my throat to get her attention. I feasted my eyes on her beauty when she finally focused her attention on me. "Yes?"

I swallowed hard and suddenly felt nervous about the whole thing. "Since we're here I'd like to invite you to be my date at the wedding of my acquaintance in North Carolina. Remember the engagement party I attended when you sprained your ankle?"

She automatically shook her head and was about to refuse my invitation. "I don't think that's a good idea—"

"Per favore. Can you accept this invitation as a favor for me?" I pleaded like an idiot. Never in my life, that I, Santi Marchesi begged anyone in my lifetime. This woman was making me crazy with each passing second. "I just don't want to attend this wedding on my own. Will you accept my offer?"

She gave me a teasing smile. Like a man who was thirsting for everything about her. I savored the smile she'd finally given to me in a while. "For a man who claimed that this group of people aren't your friends, you certainly spend a lot of time with them as I notice."