Page 45 of Ruthless Roses
“Love the food, iffy on the men.”
“They can be a lot to handle,” I admit with my mind fondly on Salvatore.
“Speaking of Italian men that are a lot to handle—did you know Medjine’s secret date to the Pink Hearts Gala was Stitches?” Sasha asks in a tone that’s cloaked in ambiguity.
Both of my brows jump high. “Medjine andStitches?!”
“I found out by accident. She was tagged in some of the gala’s photos on social media. I swore up and down I was seeing things when I noticed whose arm she was on.”
“Unexpected.”
“Very. But… good for them, I guess.”
Sasha says no more on the matter, though I suspect she’s less than enthused about it. I’m half tempted to repeat there are other attractive and available men in Salvatore’s crew we could set her up with when my eyes pick someone out of the park setting. The man’s jogging down the runner’s trail we’ve just come down with bluetooth headphones and his bare chest gleaming with sweat on display. He looks at me at the same time I’m looking over at him.
“Delphine!” Chadwick cries out, slowing up. He pivots from the trail to jog over.
I sigh and wish I could evaporate into thin air. My brain comes up blank on any quick excuses we could use to flee the scene. A blunt ‘I don’t want to talk to you. Goodbye’ seems rude even given who it is.
Chadwick has become an increasing nuisance over the years. I’d once considered him a friend… who clearly had more-than-platonic feelings for me. So long as he respected my choice in romantic partners and didn’t come on too strong, I had ignored how he felt.
It wasn’t until Salvatore was involved that he became insufferable. He refused to accept that I wasn’t interested in him and that he didn’t have a right to judge my relationship with Salvatore.
Our friendship has never recovered.
He stops in front of the two of us, puffing out breaths and running in place.
I quirk a brow. “Since when do you go for runs in the park?”
“What can I say?” he says. “You’ve inspired me. I saw you earlier with your stroller…”
The three of us glance at my jogger stroller, where Dominic lays comfortably strapped inside. Chadwick tries to keep his disapproval from his face, but it bleeds through anyway in between his pants for air.
“You’re really committed,” he says.
“Iama married woman. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Right,” he says, running in place. “I guess I just figured you’d want your father’s blessing. He’s been struggling with his health complications, and he’s always had high hopes—”
“What health complications?” I interrupt, frowning. “Chadwick, what are you talking about?”
He clamps his mouth shut and finally stops jogging. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I was supposed to say anything.”
“Well you did. What did you mean by health complications? Do you mean from his gunshot wounds?”
“Uhh… I didn’t realize he hasn’t told you about his medical condition. He’s probably still trying to deal with such a serious diagnosis.”
“What diagnosis?” I rise from the bench and take a few steps toward him.
“You’ll have to ask him. I have to go. It was nice seeing you, Delphine.”
He takes off without another word, cutting through the others walking the trails, and disappearing out of sight.
Sasha frowns. “What was that about? What diagnosis?”
“I’m not sure…”
* * *