This Isn't My Idea of Love

Chapter Ten: It's Not All about You

Lionel licked his lips as he picked up his mobile and dialled Viola’s number, he had done what Matías has suggested and waited until the next day before he attempted to contact his fiancée again.

The argentine waited patiently for Viola to answer, he didn't know what he was going to do to get her to forgive him; he knew that he had to make things up with her before their parents discovered that he had lost her.

“Hola,” said a voice that wasn’t Viola’s answered the phone; Lionel sat quietly for a moment as he tried to figure out who this was.

“Hola, is Viola there?” he asked cautiously wondering what to say if she wasn’t, it made him nervous that he didn't know who this was; he wondered if it was one of Viola’s new friends.

“She’s asleep… you really upset her yesterday,” the voice said making Lionel swallow as he realised that this was one of her new friends that she had made; the argentine had a feeling that Viola might have told them about him not wanting her to see them.

“I know, that’s why I’m calling so I can apologise,” Lionel said making the person on the other end of the phone sigh; he licked his lips wondering if the person would let him speak with Viola.

There was silence for a moment making the argentine wonder if the person was still there, he licked her lips nervously before he heard the person sigh.

“I’ll tell her that you called,” she said making Lionel panic as he realised that he wasn’t going to get the chance to speak with Viola; he cursed himself for making this happen.

“Por favor… I need to make things right, I feel horrible about this,” Lionel said making the person on the end of the phone scoff; the argentine looked confused wondering why they had done so.

“So you really do only think of yourself…” the person said before they disconnected the call, Lionel stared at his mobile; he had never been called selfish before and it stunned him that this person had done that.

Matías appeared moments later, looking at his brother, he tilted his head confused wondering why Lionel looked like he had been kicked in the stomach.

“Did you get hold of Viola?” Matías asked making Lionel shake his head, he was still shocked that he had been called selfish by someone that didn't even know him.

“Someone else answered her phone… they called me selfish for wanting to apologise to Viola because I felt bad,” Lionel said making Matías look at him while Florencia nodded her head; she could understand where this person was coming from.

The two brothers looked at Florencia wanting her to explain why she agreed with this person.

“You shouldn’t want to apologise because you feel bad… you should want to apologise because you hurt Viola, it makes you seem selfish that you only seem to care that you feel bad; imagine how Viola feels,” Florencia said making Lionel lick his lips; he hadn’t thought of it like that.

***

It was around an hour later that Lionel received an unexpected visitor, the woman pursed her lips at the argentine as if not happy to see that he was home; the argentine stared at her wondering how she had been able to let herself into his home.

“I’m just here for a couple of Viola’s things,” the woman said as she moved passed the footballer, who stilled when he recognised the voice from over the phone; he quickly followed after her, knowing that this was his chance to make things right.

“Listen I know I seemed selfish earlier and I haven’t been taking this engagement very well… but I don’t want Viola getting hurt,” Lionel said as the woman started to sort through Viola’s things and started to pack a bag; she glanced at Lionel wondering why he was talking to her.

The argentine licked his lips as he looked at the woman, who sighed and stopped what she was doing.

“I know bring up what happened to her in high school was a low blow… but I want to protect her from that happening again, I didn't mean it the way it came out,” Lionel said making the woman nod her head in agreement.

“Por favor… I just want a chance to apologise to her, I want to make things right. I was really worried when she disappeared and no one knew where she was,” Lionel said hoping that his concern would win the woman around; she ran a hand tiredly through her dark ebony hair and watched the argentine for a moment.

Deep down Naya could understand where he was coming from, he was famous and used to people trying to use those around him to get closer to him; he might have shown it wrong when the moment came but he did care for Viola in some way.

“You really care about her?” Naya asked as she sat down on the bed, Marley who had been asleep on it looked at her and allowed her to rub behind her ears.

“She’s my fiancée… I know I’ve been horrible to her the last few weeks and I know this isn’t the best situation for either of us,” Lionel said hopelessly, he really didn't know how to feel about the brunette that he was engaged to.

They had been intended for twenty odd years and he had promised to protect her as part of the arrangement.

“You have to remember… this whole thing isn’t just about you, you have to think of Viola,” Naya said making Lionel nod his head, he was ashamed to think that he hadn’t even considered her feelings over the last two weeks.

***

Viola nearly choked on her toast when Naya returned from Lionel’s villa with Lionel with her; the Puerto Rican ushered her wife out of the kitchen, leaving the two of them alone. Lionel looked down at his hands as he joined Viola at the kitchen table.

“I’m sorry… I’ve been so wrapped up in how I’ve been feeling about this that I never considered how you felt,” Lionel admitted as he sat down next to the brunette.

Viola licked her lips as she watched him; she had a feeling that this was the moment where they would be able to at least work out some compromise for their marriage. Lionel looked at her and offered her a small smile.

“I know things are difficult between us and that’s my fault… but I want to get to know you,” Lionel said making Viola nod her head.

Their parents had briefly explained while they were in Argentina that the reason, they hadn’t met before their official engagement was the fact that Lionel was in Spain playing football.

Viola sat quietly for a moment while Lionel shifted nervously, he wasn’t sure what more he could say to the woman that he was engaged; he flinched as Viola placed a hand on his, expecting her to slap him.

“We start a fresh from here… we can’t keep getting stuck on this engagement thing; we’ll have to marry soon and I’d rather not spend the rest of my life hating my husband,” Viola said softly making Lionel look at her gratefully, he had expected her to make him work for her forgiveness like Antonella used to.

The thought of his former girlfriend made him swallow as he wondered what she was doing now; he hoped that she would find happiness after the end of their relationship and his engagement to Viola.