How do you comfort someone in this type of situation? I’m sorry that I was married to your best friend and didn’t know it? I’m sorry she abandoned you, may have betrayed you, and hurt you? I’m sorry that I loved her?
I’m sorry that I’m falling for you too?
Shit, it was messed up. And for the first time since Andi’s death, I felt anger toward her, actual anger.
I hated it.
Phoenix walked over to the sound system and popped in a DVD then grabbed the remote and pressed play.
The screen was black.
And then it was filled with Andi.
I bit out a curse as she smiled, her body so frail and worn from the cancer that she was almost unrecognizable. She had put on makeup, but the dark circles under her eyes were still noticeable, the glassy expression that she wore during her last two weeks, one where you could almost swear they were caught between heaven and hell. It was an expression of sadness and waiting, but it was also an expression of peace.
“Surprise!” she said in a loud voice as she spread her arms wide. “And don’t be mad,” she coughed out. “Sergio.”
And God I wanted to be mad, but she made it damn near impossible.
“First…” She shrugged. “I need to explain myself.” She bit down on her lip and frowned. “I was sent to New York first. I worked for your dad, Val.” Tears filled her eyes. “He saved me. I know you didn’t know that, but he saved me from my father. He used to work for the FBI, but my real dad was Russian Mob. Sergio can fill you in. Those details aren’t really important. What’s important is that you know, the moment I met you, I was jealous. Insanely, out of this world jealous. I knew who you were, and I knew who you were going to end up with. It was the perfect setup for the families, and while I worked for your father, I was supposed to be gaining intel on Xavier, who, newsflash, is bat shit crazy, so you guys better shut down whatever he’s brewing over there. Anyways, I was under cover, but as things started brewing between my family and the Italians, I was sent to Eagle Elite to start school, with the goal of infiltrating, so basically I’m like a bad ass double agent. That was around the time I found out my leukemia was back, and I knew it was kind of like one of those missions you go on where you know you’ll never make it back.” A tear escaped, sliding down her cheek.
She wiped it away and shrugged. “I didn’t want you to remember me like this.” She pointed down at herself. “Frail and diseased. You were and still are my best friend. The plan was never for me to end up with Sergio, I’m sure you know that by now. But my father was coming after me, and it was the only way. And I’m so sorry.” More tears fell. “I’m sorry that I stole his kisses.”
My heart clenched in my chest.
“I’m sorry I stole those moments from you, moments you should have had first.” She smiled. “But I can’t be sorry I had him. And I know you well enough to know, you probably feel the same way. If I was in that room right now, you’d slap me then hug me, then slap me again. I know you. You’re good. So maybe you’d just shove me or something, since good girls don’t slap.” She winked. I scooted closer to Val and wrapped my arm around her as she started to sob into her hands. “Please don’t be mad, Val. You were one of the best friends I’ve ever had. I wish I could have stayed in touch, but Luca made me swear to keep your identity a secret, and once he died, everything kind of… came to the surface. I did write you, just so you know. The letters were supposed to be delivered right before your first meeting with the beast.” She laughed. “Oh, by the way, Sergio, that’s you, both beast and prince, because if I know you well, and I’d like to think I do, you were all bark with very little bite. You had moments of tenderness and then regret. A process I’m sure you’re still struggling not to repeat over and over again.”
I squeezed Val’s shoulder as shame washed over me.
“So, the letters. There’s one more for you to read, Val. Phoenix will give it to you, and by then, I think you’ll know what you need to do. Please don’t be mad. This was the only way… the only way I could think of to give you guys a chance.”