RUSSO EL MASSIMO
"Care to actually give me some details?" Diego asked, dropping his glass of beer.
"There are no details I would love to get into. It is just over" I replied and gulped down more of the beer in my glass.
"You don't look good. You clearly didn't want it to be over yet... Or maybe you didn't want it to ever be over" Diego leaned back into his seat and I raised mt gaze from my glass to him.
"Don't look at me that way, Russo. It's quite clear that you have some sort of feelings for Caramia, you liked her a lot, maybe love in fact..."
"Just shut the fuck up" I groaned and drank more. I could recall her eyes on me while we were in the meeting room.
I had not even wanted to be in the meeting room hug I had gone there for her, just to see her face. Fuck!
The self control it took not to stare back at her, the self control it took not to bring the meeting to an abrupt end and pull her close to mine.
"That bastard"
"There's a bastard behind this?" Diego asked.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore." I brought the conversation to an end.
"Who is the bastard? I would do the favour of getting rid of him anyhow you want."
"Cara wants him alive"
"Wow, so you are sparing someone who is troubling you because she wants him alive? Surprising, it is clear that...."
"Don't say one more thing about love" I cut him off and he sighed.
"I am not good at talking to people who are in denial, Russo. I guess I should just leave"
"Yeah, just leave" I waved him off. I had had enough of hearing the word love.
What would it mean even if I was in love with her? She had ended things between us already and that was the fucking end of every damn thing.
Nothing mattered anymore. Liking her, adoring her, worshipping her or even maybe loving her. Nothing mattered anymore.
ROSALINE
"Don't drink so much" Rick held my hand as I was about to drink more from the glass.
"I haven't had a lot to drink. I am fine, I can handle a few more glasses" I assured him. Rick looked after me hesitantly before letting go of my hand and letting me gulp down more of the alcohol.
"You are starting to drink more than I intended for us to drink " He sighed and I gave him a small smile.
"I am sorry. I am slowly turning into an alcoholic, right?" I asked with a light chuckle and he laughed for a short while before his gaze turned thoughtful.
I could feel him staring at me but I didn't stare back at him. I kept my gaze on the TV show even though I had no idea what the fuck was going on in the movie.
"You are still bothered about what happened?" He asked and I just smiled a little.
"You still are." He said the statement conclusively.
"I have told you I won't tell anyone about it. It will be a secret between us, you don't have to worry about it" he draped an arm over me and I nodded gently.
I missed Russo already. I missed him like he was the bane of my existence. Sitting here after work with Rick just made me miss him more.
Right now, I should be at home with Russo.
"It's okay" Rick said comfortingly, patting my hair gently as he pulled me into his arms.
I tried hard not to break down and keeping a black expression on my face seemed to work quite well in keeping me from breaking down.
"Do you miss him?" Rick asked the question quietly.
I couldn't give a quick response to that question even though the answer was definite.
"You miss him. You do miss him but that's all because of the manipulation you faced from him, Rosa. You just have to take the necessary steps quickly and you will forget all about him."
I signed softly and snuggled closer to Rick. He patted my hair gently.
"When do you want to leave home? You have homes of your own in this city, why not move there soon? Maybe tomorrow? Or in two days?" Rick asked.
"Rick, I... I can't yet. I don't want to do anything for now. I will be right where I am and maybe later when my head is settled, I can think about getting out."
"That's fine too. Just come to my place after work everyday and spend time here before going home" Rick said and I nodded.
I honestly just wanted him to stop talking. I wanted him to leave me to my thoughts and to my alcohol.
I focused my gaze on the movie once more and my mind wandered off to where Russo would be right now and what he would be going.
Was he already hitting it off with another woman? After all, he was no longer mine. Was he enjoying another woman's company and loving her body so much more than he loved mine? Was he enjoying it so much that he was now wondering why he had ever tried to stop me from ending our relationship?
"Rosa" Rick's voice was gentle.
"Yes?"
"Whenever you want to pack your things up, I will be there with you" he said comfortingly but I shook my head.
"Russo might get violent on seeing you."
"We can choose a time he won't be home, then."
"That's true"
Rick held my chin lightly and made me look at his face.
"I will always be there for you, Rosaline. No matter what happens, I will stand by you and be the man you need me to be." His thumb gently caressed my chin.
"I know you have made mistakes but I don't want you to punish yourself for the mistakes anymore than you already have."
"Rosaline" he looked deeply into my eyes.
"I am offering myself to you. Use me to forget Russo El Massimo."
"Use you?" I asked even though I quite understood what he meant.
"Yes, Rosaline. Use me." He inched his face closer to mine, clearly wanting a kiss.
I felt my heart hurt. How much did Rick love me for him to still be interested in me after what he found out about me?
But still, I could not reciprocate his feelings. I didn't love Rick and that was a fact as clear as day. Rick had been a good friend to me all these while and I wasn't going to use him, toy with him and his feelings in an attempt to forget Russo.
If I was going to forget Russo, I was going to do so myself, without hurting Rick.
I leaned away from his kiss, placing my hands on Rick's chest to stop him from coming even closer.
"I am sorry, Rick" I shook my head.
"But I can't do this. I can't use you the way you want me to use you."
"Rosaline, you..."
"I am really sorry, Rick" I pulled myself up to my feet.
"I have had a good amount of drinks with you so guess I should get going home now. Goodnight Rick."