Page 169 of Ricardo

“You love her.” His face drains of color.

The room goes still.

I do not answer quickly enough.

Dante staggers back half a step as if the silence shoved him.

“Oh, my God.”

“Dante.”

“You love her.”

“It is early,” I explain.

He laughs bitterly. “It is early. Listen to you. You sound like you are trying to convince yourself.”

“I care for her very deeply.”

“Lie.”

Dante’s eyes burn.

“Lie to yourself all you want,” he says. “But have the decency not to lie to my face.”

I hold his stare.

“Very well.” My voice lowers. “I love her.”

For a moment, there is nothing.

No sound.

No movement.

Then Dante’s face crumples with rage.

“You bastard.”

I accept that too.

“You absolute bastard.”

“I never intended to hurt you.”

“That makes me feel so much better.”

“I know it does not.”

“Stop being calm!” he shouts. “Stop standing there like I’m a problem you can wait out.”

“You are my son.”

“And she was my best friend!”

His voice breaks on the last word.

I take one step toward him before I can stop myself.