SILENT DESIRES

Now he had brought Savannah to the island and now they’d all be forced to face the inevitable confrontation. A part of him dreaded it, but the other part of him knew he’d never be able to move forward unless this was fully resolved. But it would be done when he decided and not before. He and Savannah had too much to work out between them before they tackled the issue of Enzo and her infidelity.

“This isn’t a good time, man,” he said in a low voice when he reached his brother.

Unease flickered across Enzo’s face, and he glanced nervously over Matt’s shoulder toward Savannah. “I can see that.” he said. “I didn’t know you would be here honestly.”

Matt turned and saw Savannah tremble and then her fingers flexed and curled into fists. She was as pale as death, her eyes large and haunted. “It’s okay” he prompted when Enzo made no move to leave. “The island is big enough for all of us anyways”

“No. No” Enzo replied. “I will give you some privacy. I…. urmmm.. I was planning to give you a call anyways. Mom has been saying she wants us to have dinner sometime and I suggested we all come here for some family time. I decided to come a little early…. You know.. Have sometime to myself. I thought it was a good idea and I was going to call and let you know of our plans… I haven’t seen you in a while. I know you’ve been busy with a lot of work lately, and I hoped this would be an opportunity for us to get together like old times.”

Matt sighed. He and Enzo had always been close. Until Savannah. He hated this. Hated it all. Hated that a woman had come between him and the brother he’d all but raised after their father died.

“I’ll call Mom later, okay? And we’ll get together. Just not right now.” Matt said.

“Yeah, I understand.” Enzo said. “I guess I will see you later. It seems like you guys would prefer being alone, so I will just find some place to stay on the mainland” He backed toward the door, and Matt followed.

As Matt gripped the doorknob to close it after Enzo, his brother whispered, “Are you taking her back after what happened?” he asked Matt.

Matt drew his brows together. “I don’t want to discuss that right now” he replied.

Enzo flinched and his cheeks lost color. “I’m just concerned. Do you think this is a good idea?”

Matt studied him for a moment, his brows drawing together as he observed Enzo’s reaction to seeing Savannah. “No…. I mean… I don’t know… I’m still trying to figure out some things.”

“Uh-uh, can’t be a good idea.. Whatever you are trying to figure out. Believe me” Enzo said, shaking his head emphatically.

“So you say.” Matt replied.

Enzo stepped into the hall and then shoved his hands into his pockets as he stared back at Matt.

But he didn’t quite meet Matt’s gaze. “Look, I’m sorry. I know this is a bad situation. But I’m your brother, and I only want what is best for you. I know how you felt when you guys broke up and I don’t want to see you hurt that way again.”

Matt said nothing and watched him walk toward the door and leave, the same frustrated helplessness clutching his throat. He stepped back and shut the door, angry. Angry at Savannah, angry at Enzo and angry with himself all over again. He couldn’t help but wonder if Savannah had other partners besides him and Enzo.

He wouldn’t even give that consideration. It made him sick just considering it. When he returned to the couch he wasn’t prepared for the absolute hatred and revulsion in Savannah’s expression.

Before he could say anything she fixed him with a look that froze him to the bone.

“I don’t know why he’s here and I know this place belongs to your family but If I ever see him here again, I’m out of here. I won’t be in the same room with him.” She said.

Matt was taken aback. “You know he might come back.” he said. “I can’t stop him from coming if he wants to”

Her teeth were clenched and her knuckles white. “Fine. Then I won’t stay here if he does.” She said.

Why the hell was she so angry with Enzo? Matt thought. If anyone deserved to be angry it was Enzo, after Savannah had accused him of trying to rape her. Nothing about this entire situation made sense. And he was tired of trying to figure it out.

“Enzo is just trying to put this behind him” he said, gauging her reaction. “He’s trying to let this go”

Pain rippled across her face. Not the reaction he’d imagined. “And of course you believe him,” she said in a voice that sounded like she was dangerously close to tears.

“Are you saying he lied? Are you saying nothing happened between the both of you?” He had no idea how badly he wanted to put all this behind him till now. He had no idea how badly he wanted this to not be true. His eyes pleaded with her to confirm it.

The indecipherable mask was back on her face again. “I don’t have to tell you anything,” she said, frost dripping from her voice.

Frustration hit him like a ton of bricks. She had shut herself off again and nothing was going to open her to him. He wanted to put his fist through the wall.

“I’m going out for a while, I need to take a walk” he finally ground out. “We can have lunch together when I get back.”

He turned and stalked out before he said things he’d only regret.

As he made his way slowly around the island, his phone rang, rudely intruding on his thoughts. “What?” he barked into the receiver.

“Matt?” His mom’s voice bled through his dour mood.

“Sorry, Mom, didn’t mean to snap.” He said. He slid into one of the seats by the swimming pool, settling back, not knowing what to do or think.

“Matt, what’s wrong?” his mother asked.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

“Nothing, Mom, just a busy day. What’s up?”

“I was hoping to spend some time with you and Enzo. Enzo suggested we all go spend some time together at the island and I think it’s a great idea.”