18. Raven

"Why'dEden change her mind on the final location?" Blair asks, eyes focused on the scenery flying by us out the window. "You never said."

I flip through the magazine I picked up at the train station. "The whims of the rich, I guess. Wanted to get out of Milan she said."

"Won't they have time to get out of Milan once the gala is over?"

I look at Blair across the small table in the train.

Even in the first class car, there's not that many guests here. It's nice to be able to talk and not worry about crowds of people around us. The rattling of the engine is hypnotic as we speed through the Italian countryside.

It's like the last two weeks with Blair, speeding by. With the final gala this weekend, that's it. We're done.

And the more I think about that, the harder my chest aches.

"Not if they're leaving Italy next week." I go back to the magazine on the table between us, trying to distract myself from my thoughts.

"Think we'll be able to go out on the water?" Blair drops a hand on top of mine, bringing my awareness solely on her. "Maybe see some famous people?"

"Water, yes. Famous people? No promises." I laugh.

"Damn. And here I thought your name would get us more places."

"I see how it is. Just using me for where I can get you."

"I would never."

"I know." I send a wink her way.

Blair leans back in her seat, kicking her feet up on the chair next to mine. "It's hard to believe that at this time next week, we'll be back in Seattle."

"What's waiting for you back at home?"

Sad blue eyes find mine. "Real life."

"What's so sad about that?"

Blair blows out a breath. "The whole reason I signed up for Elite is to try and earn some extra money to support me and my sister."

The one topic that is off-limits for her. I trace the lines in her palm, watching emotions roil over her face.

I don't press for more, but she gives it to me anyway.

"I'm her legal guardian now."

"You are?" That surprises me.

She nods. "I got kicked out when I was eighteen. My parents were conservative and didn't want me in the house around Avi. Said I would be a bad influence on her. I left for college and never looked back."

"Blair."

"History repeated itself six years later. Avi had a girlfriend at the time. They were at her girlfriend's house and got caught by her parents, and they called ours to tell them. Kicked her out the very next day."

"Fuck."

"Yup. I immediately brought her to live with me."

I cup her hand in mine. "You're kind of incredible, you know that?"

Blair shakes her head. "It's what anyone would have done."

"How old were you?"

"Twenty-four."

"Twenty-four?" I scoff. "I could barely raise myself at that point, and you took in your sister."

"The sad thing is after I got kicked out, I still went to law school. I thought that if maybe I could impress them, even all those years later, they'd welcome me back. Almost as if I could earn their love back."

Standing, I slide over into the seat next to her. "You never should have to earn your parents' love, Blair."

She nods, staring out at the passing countryside en route to Lake Como. There's a tightness in her shoulders that wasn't there before. No wonder she closed this line of questioning on the plane. I wouldn't want to open that old wound.

"Now it's just the two of us. I've moved past it, mostly, but I'm glad that Avi could come be with me. The part that I hate most? Avi having to go through it."

"I'm sorry that happened to you." I cup her cheek, dropping my forehead to hers. "They don't deserve someone as wonderful as you."

I want to do nothing but shower Blair in love. Having gone through so much and being the wonderful woman that she is, she deserves it.

"I hope you know how incredible you are," I whisper against her lips. She shakes her head, but I stop her. "No, you are. I'm in awe of you. I don't know if I would've been able to do what you're doing."

Everything clicks. Why she's in a job she hates trying to support her sister. I want to do everything I can to help her. Not that she'll let me. She has too much pride for that.

But I'll damn well try.

"Raising a teenage girl is not easy," Blair laughs, breaking the tension.

"God, I remember how I was at her age. I think I still had a boyfriend then."

"Was that the first boy you ever made cry?"

"Stop it." I poke her in the side. "But yes. When he tried to feel me up, I kicked him in the balls and realized I liked girls."

Blair pulls my arm around her shoulders and snuggles into my side. "Been making the boys cry ever since."

"And the women just as happy."

"That I can confirm."

Something I realize I want to do way past this trip.

I've gone and fallen for Blair Stevens.

Turns out all I needed was a shove from the universe to finally take Gram's advice.