Blessing in Disguise (MM)

Chapter Forty Nine

ARIS' POV

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I convince Luca to let me stay late at the cafe to help him close up. It's better than going home and doing nothing. Tomorrow I agreed that I'd take some time off and give my body a rest.

When we get home I flop down onto the sofa and hold the piece of paper Nick gave me at Luca's birthday this past weekend. Luca spots me playing with it and furrows his brows. "What is that?"

"A letter." I murmur.

Luca smiles. "I gathered but from who?"

"Nick," I rest the paper on my lap. "He gave it to me on Friday but I haven't opened it."

"Why?"

I shrug. "Not sure. I'm worried about what it says."

"Good or bad?" Luca frowns.

"Neither..." I glance at him. "I know it's going to make me emotional. I miss him and I don't trust myself to be strong enough to know what's good for me."

Luca nods in understanding. "There is no rush. Open it when you feel like it." He encourages. "I'm going to hop in the shower and then dinner and a movie?"

I force a smile. "Yeah, sure."

The apartment is silent when he goes to the bathroom and once the shower is on, I head to my room for some privacy. I look down at the letter a hundred times. "Come on, Aris," I murmur to myself. "Just read it."

I flick my thumb beneath the paper and pause for a moment. My lungs inhale a large breath and I push it open. My eyes roam the page before settling on the top.

Aris,

The first thing I want to say is that I am sorry. I am sorry for all the pain I've caused you when I should have been there for you. I'm disappointed in myself for letting you down when you needed my love. I will never be able to forgive myself for the suffering I've caused you.

I know you won't agree with me doing this but I've paid for your father's care for the foreseeable. I know you didn't want me to help when I asked before but this is different and I refuse to let your health suffer. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and I've paid it off to stop you from worrying. That way you can focus on your health and not stress about working crazy hours and pushing your limits. I already know that you're going to be angry but I can't sit here and do nothing. I don't ever want to hear that you had another heart attack again.

I blink at the page. Declan let me borrow some money to pay for the next month after my heart attack for my fathers care. Now Nick has paid for it? My breathing increases.

I also had your car repaired and it's being delivered next week. I know the doctors cleared you for driving and I thought you could do with the freedom again. I'm not sorry for helping you out. I had to do this because it is honestly the least I can do. You'll probably hate me for overstepping but I had to do something. Even if you don't agree with my choices.

When I say that I miss you, I truly, deeply, painfully miss you. The house isn't the same without you. I can barely call it a home because you're not there. Elodie knows it too. You're our family. You're in my heart, Elodie's heart. You always will be.

But I broke your trust. I hurt you. I'll hate myself forever for knowing that I was the one that landed you in that hospital when I should have been holding you.

The first day that you showed up at my front door I remember thinking there is no way this guy can tame Elodie. She'll eat him alive. But you proved me wrong by becoming friends so quickly, you love her boldly and wildly. I see the way you look at her. The light that shines so brightly in your eyes. You want the best for my little girl and I adore seeing you together. It makes me feel so fulfilled like all the questions to my loneliness have been answered.