Turn Towards the Sun (23 page)

I pay our bill in spite
of my
friend’s
protest. We
rise to leave, realizing we are both drunk.

“We should call a cab.” Gabby slurs her words.

“I have an idea.” I pull out my phone and decide to call Grayson. Brilliant!

“This is Grayson.”

“Hi Grayson, it’s
Ava.” I try
hard not to s
ound as drunk as I feel
.

“Miss Bradshaw?” He sounds surprised.

“I could really use a ride home. Can you help me?”

“Where are you?”

I look out onto the street searching for signs. “I’m at Moreno’s on Scottsdale and 74th
S
treet.”

“Stay put. I’ll be right there.”

I hang up satisfied with myself.

“Who is Grayson?”

“He’s Enzo’s driver.”
Duh.

“He has a driver?”

I nod
,
steadying myself on a column.

She narrows her eyes at me. “What kind of work does Enzo do that he needs a driver?”

I look back at her and start laughing. Moments later, Grayson roars into the parking lot in his black Mercedes
.
He steps out of the car surveying
Gabby and me
closely.

“Are you hurt Miss Bradshaw?”

“Not at all Grayson but I’m drunk as hell.” I pat his hard chest.

“We accidentally had a little too much to drink.” Shit. The words
just fall
out of my mouth in drunken honesty.

“I’m glad you called.” He says, professionally. We climb in the back of the car and sit
against
the cool comfort of the leather seats.

“Whe
re should I take you miss?” He addresses
Gabby.

“6700 East Greenway, apartment 106.” He looks at us in the
rear-view mirror.

“Isn’t that your address Miss Bradshaw?”

I turn and look at
Gabby,
and we fall into a fit of laughter.

“I live in apartment 126!”

I see a faint smile cross Grayson’s lips. He pulls up to Gabby’s place to drop her off.

“Just call Miss Bradshaw when you are ready to get your
car,
and I’ll take you back.”

“Thank you and thanks Ava.”

She disappears in her apartment. We drive to my apartment. Grayson steps out and opens my door then walks me up to my apartment.

“Thank you Grayson. I’m sorry to bother
you,
but you were the first person I thought of.” This is the second time Grayson rescued me because of alcohol. God only knows what he must think of me.

“You did the right thing calling ma’am.”

“Do you have to tell Enzo?” I ask, like a scared child. He nods. I figured that would be the case.

“Well thank you again Grayson. I’ll call you later.”

“Goodbye ma’am.”

I walk into my apartment and stand around taking in the beauty. I need to tuck my tail between my legs and accept that I’m not the
bad ass
I think I am. Right
now,
I’m a drunken fool
who
had to rely on someone else to get home. I strip down and throw on shorts and a tank top. I plop onto my couch wondering how I’m going to broach this topic with Enzo. My phone vibrates.

Hot and Bossy: I’m in Boston now. Heard you had an eventful morning.

Me: Yes. Eventful. You could say that.

I hurt him. He wants to give me the
world,
but I won’t take it.

Now I don’t even have a job. This is even worse. Now it will look like I’m accepting his offer because of the layoff. Shit. I have no idea what to
do,
but I feel a cupcake fueled crying jag coming on.

Time to call Cassie.

“Ava! Hey girl, what’s going on?”

I immediately burst into tears at the sound of her voice. I miss her.

“Why are you crying?”

I tearfully tell her what has happened up to this point. She’s silent on the other end of the phone.

“What should I do now Cassie?” I’m bracing for the verbal smack down.

“What do you want to do Ava?” Her tone is surprisingly soft.

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.” 

“
S
top crying. Listen to your heart. What is it telling you?”

I calm down for a moment. “I want to be with him.”

“So tell him.”

“It’s not that simple Cass.”

“Yes it is.”

She’s right. I should just tell him I was
wrong,
and I want to be with him.

“Now hang up and call him right now.”

“Okay Cassie.”

“And then call me
back,
or I’ll hunt you down and beat you with a stick.” She cackles.

I hang up with Ca
ssie and try to compose myself. I splash
cool water on my face. The effect of the alcohol is thankfully wearing
off,
and I feel like I can handle speaking to Enzo. I dial his phone nervously.

“This is Enzo. Leave a message.”

Voicemail. I hang up and send a text instead.

Me: Please call when you have a moment.

Hours go by with no response. I remind myself that he’s working, not hanging out by the pool. Give him time.
Besides,
if the situation was
reversed,
I would avoid me too.

I try to busy myself around the apartment. It’s nine o
’
clock my time
,
well past midnight in Boston,
with no
response from Enzo
. I send another text.

Me: Are you angry with me?

Hot and Bossy: No I am not. Very busy.

Hmm,
his tone is cold. What happened to bella and amore? You know what happened. You dropped all your shit on him.

Me: Can we talk?

Hot and Bossy: Later. Good night.

Shit. He’s either pissed or hurt. Or both. I didn’t even get a buona notte. I fucked up. I climb into bed and try to relax.

I get up and immediately check my phone for a message from Enzo. None.
I slept like shit and wish I could just will him to be here.
I call Grayson to see if I can get my car and then call Gabby.

“Grayson can pick us up at ten.”

“Thanks Ava. I’ll be ready.”

I put on a pair of wh
ite shorts and a black tank top,
wrap
my hair in a bun on top of my head
,
and
wait for Grayson. Maybe I can talk Gabby into a little retail therapy today. I don’t want to be alone. I try Enzo’s phone again.

“This is Enzo. Leave a message.” Shit.

Grayson
arrives promptly at ten and
dutifully drops us back at the restaurant where our cars sit.

“You’ll be okay today ma’am?”

“Yes Grayson. I promise no excessive drinking.”

He smiles and pulls away.

“Let’s go to the mall.”

“Okay!” Gabby exclaims.

We bo
th climb in my car and head over
to Scottsdale Fashion Square. It has every high end store a girl could want. We stop in my favori
te department store, Northland
, and try on shoes
. As much as it pains me, I
leav
e
with nothing. I can’t risk blowing through my savings with my future so unsure.

“Is there somewhere we can get cupcakes in this mall?” I ask. I know it’s going to be a long night.

“Oh yea, in the food court. There’s a gourmet bakery.” 

We walk down towards the food court when I catch a glimpse of a television playing inside a store. I’m startled to see Enzo in all his glory on the screen.

“We’re here with prominent architect and developer, Enzo Milano.” A perky blond reporter beams from the screen.

I stop
,
frozen in my tracks. He’s so breathtakingly handsome. And he’s mine. Or is he? Maybe he doesn’t want your drama anymore Ava. Maybe you’ve ruined everything.

“Mr. Milano, now that you’ve
sold
all your Boston
properties,
what are your upcoming plans?”

“Well first I’d like to say that I have enjoyed my time in Boston
immensely,
and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Now, my plans are to start building resorts internationally, and specifically in Italy
,
where I’m from.”

The interviewer asks him about his eligible bachelor status and refers to the brunette
he has
recently been seen with. My picture fills the screen and Gabby gasps in surprise.

“Ava!”

I wave my hand
to silence
her
,
not wanting to miss the interview.

Enzo responds. “I don’t like to discuss my private life.” Paging Mr. Stoic.

“Isn’t there a hint you can give all the ladies Mr. Milano? Should they give up hope?” The female interviewer grins and pushes for information.

Okay Ava. Here’s your answer. Should the other women give up hope and should you keep yours.

A soft, sweet smile fills his face. “I’m afraid I’m terribly
smitten.
My heart has been captured by an amazing young
woman,
and I am completely in love.”

I
can’t believe my ears. Gabby stares
at me, her mouth gaped open.

“And is the lucky lady
who
stole your heart the woman in the recent pictures?” The reporter presses.

“It
is,” is
his simple response. I’m giddy.

I cannot contain my smile. The interview is
over,
so we walk on.

“
I knew it!
You’re dating
the
Enzo Milano.
Why didn’t you tell me?”

“He’s so private, I wasn’t sure I could. I really wanted to. I didn’t even know who he was when we met.”

“That would make sense since you’re not from Phoenix. He’s in our local newspaper and Phoenix magazine all the time. He’s been on the Most Eligible Bachelor list the past five years.”

“I know about the list.”

“How did you snatch him up?”

I tell her the story of the plane and how we hit it off.

“
Sounds like
a
fairy
tale.
”

I nod my head. That’s exactly what it feels like, a fairy tale. With a prince
who
won’t return my calls.

My feet hurt after traversing the massive mall. I come home empty
handed,
but my spirits are somewhat lifted after seeing the interview. I look at my phone and see I missed a text from Enzo. Damn!

Hot and Bossy: I think you need space to decide what you want. I’ll see you in a week.

What? A week. That’s it? No discussion. He’s giving me space that I don’t want.

Me: I don’t need space Enzo. I know what I want. You.

No response. Two hours pass.

Hot and Bossy: All of this has happened quickly. You need time to sort through it all without my pressure.

Pressure? I have so much to tell
him,
and he won’t talk to me.

Me: Can’t we talk
?

Hot and Bossy: No. It’s better this way. I can’t do the right thing if I hear your voice.

Me: Enzo I love you.

God this is so frustrating waiting for his responses.

You’re the one making him wait Ava. You started this.

I want to call my brain a
bitch,
but that would just be weird. An hour passes before he responds.

Hot and Bossy: I love you too Ava. I will still love you in a week.

So that’s it then
.
No talking for a week. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I really do need this space. Something doesn’t feel right though. His tone is still aloof. He’s holding back. Tears roll down my face. Too much has happened too quickly. I can’t stop the tears from coming as I roll into a ball on my couch.

The sound of my ringing phone startles me awake. I realize I slept on my couch fully dressed.
Enzo! I
grab my
phone. It’s Francesca.