The Italian restaurant for Enzo's Wake is a lovely place, and the atmosphere smells amazing with the food being served in large trays buffet style. Yet, I have zero appetite. My family went home, but my friends stayed with me, and Anika served me a plate, but I'm just moving the food around. I'm sure it tastes amazing. However, on my tongue, it has no flavor. In fact, nothing has felt more bland than the reality of falling in love with my soulmate, only to lose him as tragically as I did. 

Perhaps love isn't meant for me, and my purpose is to go through life alone.

Whether it's my fate or not, I don't think I'll ever love someone else the way I love Enzo. Our relationship is the shortest one I've had, yet its impact will be with me forever. There are infinite what-ifs that I will ask for years. I might even be on my deathbed, still wondering what could have been done differently. One thing is for sure, I will never regret falling for him.

"How are you holding up?" Anika asks.

"Barely." I push a ravioli around. "Like I'm dangling from a cliff and gripping the edge with my fingertips."

"Have some wine." Delilah pushes a full glass toward me. "No one will judge you for getting shit-faced."

"I'll end up puking."

"And I'll hold your hair back if you do." Delilah shrugs. "Go on. Have a sip."

"It's ok." I shake my head and push the glass back to her.

"Hi..." someone says, and it takes a moment to register the face of the person who has just dragged a chair up to our booth. 

"Kyle?"

"Hey." He half smiles, rubbing the back of his neck. "I wasn't sure if I should come, but I wanted to pay my respects, and I didn't get a chance to talk to you at the funeral."

"Oh."

"Yeah..." He half smiles again, then nods at my friends, acknowledging them. "Anika, Delilah, Keira."

The girls say hi, then return to their food as if giving us privacy. 

"I didn't know Enzo that well, obviously, but I'm sorry about what happened. I heard he passed away trying to protect you, and for what it's worth, I'm glad you're ok." Kyle strokes my cheek, but I look away, and he retracts his hand. 

"I'm not, ok."

"I know. I just mean, I'm glad you're still alive. That alone speaks volumes about how much Enzo cared about you. He put his life on the line for you. That says a lot about his character."

"I... don't want to talk about that night." I shake my head.

"Right." Kyle nods. "I just hate seeing you sad." He rubs my knee. "But you're strong, and you'll rise like a phoenix. I just know it." 

"Thanks." I pat his hand, then move my knee. 

Kyle gets the hint and then stands. "Anyway. I just wanted a chance to tell you how sorry I am, and that I'm moving."

"Moving?" I dart my gaze back to him.

"Yeah. My old man is giving me my very own hotel. It's a great opportunity to prove myself to him, and I'm excited for a fresh start. So, I guess I came here to also say goodbye, Mara." He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. "You'll always be the one who got away."

"Ah, Kyle..." 

My heart sinks. I should have been kinder with his feelings. I led him on, and it was wrong.

He smiles. "Maybe one day we'll meet again, but until then, take care of yourself."

"Wait." I stand from the booth, look him in the eyes, and squeeze his hands. "Best of luck with the hotel. You deserve this tremendous opportunity, and I'm happy for you."

Kyle leans in and kisses my cheek. "Bye, Mara."

"Goodbye, Kyle Cameron."

When he leaves, the girls turn their attention back to me with eyes wide. They don't have to say anything for me to know that a thousand thoughts are firing in their brains. Delilah doesn't waste any time diving in.

"Oh em gee!" She sets her phone down. "I can't believe he showed up. Mar, that's gotta mean something."

"Like what?"

"Like it was really sweet for him to come and pay his respects. Maybe there's a second chance for the two of you," Delilah says.

"You do realize we're here because Enzo was killed, right?" I glare. "So I'm not interested in starting a new relationship."

"I know, and I'm not rushing you to move on, just... it was really nice of him to come and he did step up when your dad went missing. That's all I'm saying."

"It's too soon." Anika places her hand over my clenched fist and caresses my knuckles. "But I do think Del has a point. Kyles seems different. Maybe in a year or two, sparks could fly again. Who knows." She tucks a curl behind my ear. "We don't want you to give up on love. That's all Del is trying to say."

"Exactly." Delilah nods.

"Whatever," Keira scoffs, cutting into her lasagna like it owes her money. "Kyle is a dick."

That snatches my attention. "What do you mean? I thought you liked him?"

She rolls her eyes. "You say that as if I had a crush."

"That's not what I meant." I crook my brows. "You just seemed more team Kyle than Enzo. So I'm surprised."

"Well, I'm not. Thinking back on everything, he was a dick. You deserve better." 

She flashes me a smile that barely curls her lips, then reaches for her wine and takes a sip. It creates a birth of awkward silence and I don't miss the confused exchange of expressions between Anika and Delilah, which means I'm not the only one who finds Keira's reaction strange considering she rooted for Kyle. 

"I hope I'm not interrupting." Sammy approaches the table. "Mara, do you have a moment to talk with Enzo's lawyer?"

"Yeah, sure." I scoot out of the booth, desperate to get away.

He places his hand on my back and guides me through guests like a bodyguard pushing through paparazzi to a private room on the other side of the restaurant. People nod, give shoulder pats, or pause to give condolences, but Sammy utters, excuse us, the entire way and doesn't stop for them. He shuts the door behind us when we enter the private room and a man in a slick suit greets me before motioning to the chair in front of him. I take a seat and fold my hands over my lap. Sammy does the same. The lawyer clears his throat, then opens his briefcase and pulls out a folder. 

"Alright, Ms. Santiago. You are the last person I need to speak with about Enzo's will. He made changes recently, and added you to it..." He flips through the pages and clears his throat. "Enzo instructed that if he were to pass, he wanted to divide portions of his wealth between various family members and charity organizations and to give what remains to you, which is..."

My jaw drops when the lawyer proceeds to list everything that I am inheriting from Enzo. Aside from the charities and his family's cut, I basically get everything. From his apartment down to miscellaneous items like jewelry, and millions of dollars. 

"Wha... what?" I finally say.

"See what I mean, Mara," Sammy says. "My nephew wanted to take care of you. He saw a future he wanted to build with you."

I shake my head. "I can't accept this. It's too much!"

"You will accept it," Sammy insists.

"Actually," the lawyer pipes up. "It says here that Mara can refu—"

"I don't give a damn what it says!" Sammy barks. "Enzo wanted to make sure Mara could live a comfortable life if something happened to him, and if you knew my nephew, you would know he doesn't make impulsive decisions. He thought long and hard about this. So, there is no way I will allow anyone to dishonor his last wishes." Sammy faces me. "Mara, sign the papers. This is what Enzo wanted."

"I..."

"Sign the papers."

I shake my head and look down. "People are going to think I seduced Enzo into leaving me his money."

"Fuck what others think. This inheritance is rightfully yours because it's what he wanted. If anyone tries to say otherwise, just let me know and I'll take care of it. Now don't make me repeat myself. Sign the papers, Mara."

I blow out a breath and pluck the ballpoint pen from the lawyer's fingers; my hand hovers over the dotted line for a signature, my heart racing. This is so much money, and I don't deserve it...

"If you don't take it, greedy vultures like his ex-wife, Evelyn, will fight for a cut, which is the last thing my nephew wanted," Sammy says, and my eyes dart to him, remembering her smug face on the cathedral steps.

"Evelyn can do that?"

"Knowing her, she would use her rich husband's money to hire damn good lawyers to fight for it. Don't let her win. Not after everything she put him through."

Inhaling a deep breath, I finally scrawl my name across the page with a trembling hand and accept what is left of my beloved Enzo.

But now, I truly feel lost.

What am I supposed to do with all of this money and live in a world without him to enjoy it with? I rush into the nearest bathroom, fling myself into one of the stalls, lock the door, and sink to the floor to cry, but vomit comes up instead.

I don't know how to do life without him.