Reckless With Their Hearts (24 page)

When the iPhone was back on the bedside table she turned her full attention on the older girl. “So…”

“Stop stalling, Lee-Lee.” Gabriella sighed. “Tell me what has been happening with you.”

So she mentally pulled up her big girl panties and
dived head first into telling her about the accident and the agonizing months that had followed. Alexis told her about the multiple surgeries that she had to have to repair her spine and pelvis; the agonizing months of physical therapy that had followed, and a few other things that she hadn’t really let herself think about for so long. By the time she was finished Gabriella was pale and tears were rolling down her face.

“Oh God, Lee-Lee!”
She sobbed. “They should have called me. That fucking tour was not more important than you. I’m so mad at Aunt Carina and Nonno right now! You needed me.”

Alexis let her cry it all out, knowing that the hardest part was yet to come. All of her own tears had already been shed for the most part, but seeing Gabriella so upset still caused an emotional lump fill her throat and her eyes to sting.

When her sobbing had quieted to soft hiccups Alexis reached for her hands and gave them a firm squeeze. “Gabs, I have no memories of the months leading up to the accident. It wasn’t until last week that I even knew about Jared. And I’m not sure that I can trust him to tell me the truth about our relationship. Can you help me fill in the missing pieces?”

Scrubbing a hand over her damp face she sucked in a deep breath. “I didn’t see you much after you two got together. He kept you to himself.” She smirked a little. “More like he kept you locked in some room with a bed. You two could make the air around you sizzle with the heat of your attraction. But maybe I can help fill in some things for you. You called me…” Her eyes closed and she shook her head. “I wish I had saved some of those voice mails that you left after everything had gone sour with your two.”

“Why?”

Gabriella grimaced. “You were in a dark place, Lee-Lee. Some of those voice mails…I should have realized that you weren’t taking the breakup well. But I thought that with all the publicity of his engagement to Monica so soon after you two ended…”

Alexis took a few deep breaths, trying to prepare herself for what she was about to hear. “I need you to start at the beginning, Gabs. You are the only person who knows that I can trust to tell me the truth about what went on. Don’t leave out anything. Not one little detail. Please?”

“Are you sure, Lee-Lee?”

No… “I have to know.” She whispered.

“Okay, darling.”
She reached for her bottle of water and took a long sip. When she turned the full force of those gold eyes on her cousin she began the not so happily ever after story of what was the love story of Jared and Alexis…

~

You talked me into the concert for GreenPlanet. So when I introduced you to Jared Giordano I was surprised that the two of you had never met before. He’s a big freak on saving the world…Well except for those stupid over the top expensive cars he likes so much. But still, he likes to make the world a better place for the next generation. Just like you, Lee-Lee.

I knew right away that you two had hit it off. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of you. And for the first time you were struck with the lust bug. But don’t think that you turned into a raging slut or anything!
No, not at all. He had to work hard getting you, darling.

By the next week you were practically living with him. I could see that already you had given him your heart. And at the time I thought maybe he had feelings for you that went beyond his lust. He was possessive, but then again, he is Italian. We went out a few times and he couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off of you.

One night at a club while you and I were dancing and he was keeping our table safe he nearly got arrested when some guy came up and put his hands on your hips. I have never seen a man the size of Giordano move so quickly. But he was across that club in a heartbeat, and the guy with wondering hands was on his ass before you had even realized what was going on. It was scary and hot all at the same time. The next thing I know he has you out the door and I don’t see you again for a week.

He took you to Rome right before you were due to go back to Yale. You called me and texted
me every day, so I know that you guys didn’t do much more than explore your hotel room. By that time I was sure that he loved you.

When you got back you moved into his place in Connecticut. Nonno didn’t seem to notice as far as I could tell. And Aunt Carina was more often in Milan than not. So you didn’t introduce them to Jared. You started back to school and I started making plans for my tour, so we lost track for a few weeks.

The next time I talked to you…You told me that you had told him you loved him. I was excited for you Lee-Lee. I had thought that by Christmas you two might be engaged. But that didn’t turn out to be the case.

I’m sorry Lee-Lee.

A few weeks later you called me. Giordano was in Italy. He had business to take care of, is the excuse he gave you. But you confided that you thought he was trying to get away from you. You were scared that he was tired of you. Two days after he left…

I’m sorry Lee-Lee.

He started appearing in tabloids with Monica. Those two were friends as far as I knew. Just friends, supposedly. But one tabloid reported them in some club all over each other. She was all over him. I just thought it was some kind of misunderstanding. I tried to make excuses for him, and I’m so sorry about that.

A week after the club thing their engagement was announced and they were showing up everywhere in Italy and London together. The rock on her finger was over the top, trashy really if you ask me. But you were a mess. I was on tour already and I wanted to come home to console you, but you wouldn’t let me…I should have done it anyway!

The day his wedding announcements went out you seemed to shatter. You called me, but I had misplaced my phone and it took me two days to find it. There were five messages on there from you. Lee-Lee you were drunk and sobbing and I couldn’t make out half of what you said. But I should have left the tour as soon as I heard them…Maybe I could have helped you.

When I called you back after finding my phone and hearing those messages you talked me out of it though. You didn’t sound like my Lee-Lee. I thought you were drinking, but you assured me that you were alright.

I guess, from what you told me, your accident happened not long after that. I got caught up in the tour…In the bullshit of the headlining bands that I was touring with. Don’t ask. I’m not going to tell you about it right now. Not when we are talking about you and that bastard Giordano.

Where was I?

Okay, so Giordano and Monica were engaged for several months. It was almost as big a deal talking about their upcoming wedding as it was Prince William and Kate. I followed the stories about them in the classier papers, but only because it was hard not to. Everyone said they were so in love. A classic love story.

The story took a wild turn around Valentine’s Day. Overnight Monica was on Ricco Giordano’s arm and not Jared’s. By the end of February the ring on her dainty finger was replaced with a classier one. Everyone started calling her horrible names. Jared was played off as the heartbroken jilted fiancé. I thought he was just getting his comeuppance for breaking your heart, Lee-Lee!

I read that Monica and Ricco got married recently…

Alexis sat with her head in her hands long after Gabriella finished speaking. Her heart felt on the verge of shattering. Maybe it already was.

Jared had told her that she had dumped him. Lie! He had left her and started up a new relationship without even ending things between them first. She knew that he never would have told her about all of those things her cousin had just filled her in on.

She had been in love with him.
Had given him everything that she was. But he hadn’t loved her back. And now…Now he was on the rebound after having his heart broken by his ex-fiancé.

“Lee-Lee?”
Gabriella asked quietly.

Slowly she raised her head. The clock beside of her bed said that it was after two in the morning. She hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before because of Jared’s love making. She was exhausted. More mentally than physically, but her body was ready to shut down so that her emotions could take over.

Yet she still had to face Gabriella. There were still things that she had to tell her. “Gabs.” She cleared her throat and tried again. “I left some things out earlier. Some things that I have to tell you.”

Gabriella paled even more.
“Bad things?”

Alexis closed her eyes and nodded. “Yes.” She whispered.

--

Her phone was still off. The pounding on her bedroom door just after seven woke her followed by Vince sticking his head around to see if she was still sleeping. “You up? Melissa made breakfast.”

Alexis grimaced, her stomach not in the best shape for food. She and Gabriella hadn’t fallen asleep until after four. They had curled up and held each other while tears still dried on their faces. But now she was alone in bed.

“Where is Gabriella?” She asked around a yawn.

“Downstairs eating all the pancakes.” Vince told her with a grin. “For someone so little that girl can put some food away.”

She laughed. “Yeah, I know. Okay, I’ll be down in a few.” She reached for her crutches and headed for the bathroom as soon as the door was closed. After a quick trip to the bathroom to wash the sleep from her face and to change her clothes she made her way downstairs.

Melissa was seated at the kitchen table with Vince and Gabriella when she entered. Her stepmother gave her a warm welcoming smile as she took a seat between her brother and cousin and started piling a plate full of pancakes and bacon. “How about a trip to the salon today, Lex?”

She had been thinking about hair extensions for a while now. Perhaps she should get them so that she could at least look a little like her old self even if she didn’t feel like that girl anymore.
“Alright.” She wiped her mouth and reached for her juice. “Gabs?”

“I would love to, but unfortunately I have a few things to take care of. My manager wants me to meet him for lunch.” She grimaced. “He wants to talk me into recording a few songs on OtherWorld’s new album. I’m seriously thinking about it, and have a few songs I have been working on. But he doesn’t have to know that yet.”

“Do you need a ride?” Melissa offered as she began to clear away the table of empty platters.

“Take my car.” Alexis offered. “It’s just sitting out in the garage getting dusty.”

“Okay, thanks.” Gabriella grinned. “I promise not to take it to Mexico.”

She laughed, pushing her half eaten plate away. “It has OnStar so I can easily find you if you take off. I’m not sure where the keys are…Liss?”

Melissa pulled open a drawer and pulled out a set of keys. She tossed them to Gabriella who easily caught them. “Call if you need anything, Gabriella. But there is a GPS in case you get lost.”

“Thanks, Melissa.” Gabriella stood. “I have a few things that need my attention before I meet Craig. Can we have dinner together tonight Lee-Lee? Somewhere that has good dessert?”

“Sure.” Alexis blinked when her cousin hugged her tight before leaving the kitchen. It appeared that their late night talk had been rough on her. Alexis sighed, wondering if she should go see if Gabriella was alright.

“It takes some time to deal with.” Melissa murmured as she retook her seat at the table. “Let her have a little time to get it straight in her head, Lex.”

Alexis shook her head. “I think she might be blaming herself a little. Our talk last night wasn’t pretty.” It had been brutal actually. What she had learned about herself was not in any way flattering. If anything she had learned that she had become a weak person that had been broken by a man who obviously hadn’t loved her.

“I know, sweetheart.” Melissa reached over and squeezed her stepdaughter’s hand. “Just give her some time, okay?”

Vince jumped up from the table, having finished his overflowing plate of pancakes and bacon. “I have to get to class. Want to ride with me, Lex?”

She glanced at her watch and saw that it was just after eight. If she left now she would arrive early for her physical therapy, but she didn’t feel like waiting around at the house. “Yes, thanks.” She stood. “I’m having a massage today, Liss. So I won’t get out until twelve.” She reminded her stepmother as she followed her brother out.

“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll make an appointment for us so that we can get our hair done. First we can have lunch…Will Jared be joining us?”

Alexis stiffened as she reached the door her brother was holding open for her. “No…No, that’s over.”

Melissa frowned. “But…”

“See you at twelve.” Alexis told her, refusing to have that conversation right now.

“Lex, I thought you two were hitting it off really well.” Melissa followed them into the garage. “Did you two have an argument?”

She sighed. “It’s complicated, Liss. I don’t want to discuss Jared Giordano right now. Okay?”

The older woman’s frown only grew. “Is this about what your father said the other evening? He was just being a little over protective. He doesn’t really know what went on with Jared and Monica…”