Chapter 18

Eighteen

Leo

W hen Harper left, I wanted to run after her. I wanted to tell her that everything was going to be okay, but I wasn’t positive about anything right now.

Gia was understandably upset, and she needed space when she was angry. She might come around, but it would take some time. And I wasn’t sure if her relationship with Harper would ever recover. Although I hoped it would.

After Harper left, Mamma took me aside to ask me what was going on, but then Papà reminded her of their flight time. They said their good-byes and left, so we didn’t get a chance to discuss it.

Everyone left after that. Only Matteo and Carlo remained behind.

“Well, that went as well as could be expected,” Carlo said dryly as we went into the house to grab a drink.

I ran a hand through my hair. “I can’t see how it could have gone any worse.”

Matteo smiled. “It was kind of cute how everyone found out. Evie saying you kissed her mommy.”

I shot him an incredulous look. “Yeah, it was adorable.”

Matteo chuckled. “I mean, if everything works out, it will be a nice story to tell your future kids. Remember that time when Evie said —”

I held up my hands. “It’s not funny.”

“Too soon,” Carlo said with a smirk.

“Gia was pissed,” I said, remembering how she’d flown off the handle when she realized what Evie said.

“She’ll get over it.” Matteo didn’t take anything or anyone too seriously.

I cleared my throat. “I don’t know about that.”

Carlo shook his head. “She’s always been sensitive to her friends liking us, as if we have any control over that.”

“I think she feels betrayed, and I can’t say I blame her. That one time her friend hooked up with Matteo was awkward for everyone.”

Matteo held up his hands. “I learned my lesson. Don’t hook up with your little sister's friends. But it seems like you didn’t.”

“I should have been able to control myself.” Now that I was on the other side, I couldn’t figure out why I hadn’t stopped myself from getting here. Why couldn’t I resist Harper? Why had I gone down this path that had the potential to ruin everything?

“Are you serious right now?” Matteo asked, grabbing a beer from my parents’ fridge.

I ran a hand through my hair. “I fucked everything up.”

He set the bottle in front of me with a loud clank. “So you’re saying that you don’t like Harper?”

“I like her.” But I didn’t feel the same lightness I usually did when I spoke of my feelings.

“You don’t love her?” Carlo asked.

When she left, I felt like my heart had been torn in two, leaving jagged edges. “I told her I was falling for her, but I think I was already there.” I was just feeling her out, seeing what she’d say, but she hadn’t responded. “What if she doesn’t feel the same way?”

“I think she does,” Carlo said.

“How do you know?” I asked him, curious if he had any inside knowledge or a way of seeing things differently.

“She was hurt when you said you didn’t want to tell us until it was serious. That’s why she left.”

“I said that?” The whole thing was a blur. I didn’t feel like I was in control of my mouth or my words. “Shit. That sounds horrible.”

“It was fucked-up,” Carlo agreed.

“You made it sound like it wasn’t serious when it obviously was,” Matteo agreed, tipping back his beer bottle.

“What is she thinking right now?” I asked, worst-case scenarios swirling in my head.

Matteo slapped my arm. “That you denounced her in front of your family.”

I braced my hands on the counter, needing to ground myself. “She’s been worried that our parents won’t accept her. That she’s not the right girl for me. That’s why we held back. It wasn’t worth the risk of her losing our family if it wasn’t the real deal.”

“Let’s be honest. You knew it was the real deal a long time ago. You were just scared to tell Gia and Mamma. Our request for you to keep it quiet was convenient for you.”

I felt sick to my stomach. “I was afraid of how they’d react. That Harper was right, and Mamma wanted someone else for me. That she’d never accept Harper, and then Harper wouldn’t feel comfortable being around us.”

We fell silent, all lost in our thoughts.

“What are you going to do now?” Matteo finally asked.

“I don’t know. I don’t know where anyone stands.”

Carlo crossed his arms over his chest. “What does it matter?”

“How can I move forward if our parents don’t approve?” Gia wasn’t as much of a concern for me as it was for Harper. I knew Gia would accept me and get over it, but Mamma? She was strong-willed, and she wanted what she thought was best for us. Not what we wanted.

Carlo hesitated, as if he was thinking of the right thing to say. “You can care what our parents think, but you shouldn’t change your life because of their beliefs, wants, and desires. Are you living the life they want or the one you do?”

I thought about that for a few seconds. “If I don’t take into account what anyone else thinks, I want Harper and Evie.” When I let myself imagine the perfect future, those two were living in my house, filling it with love and joy and purpose. Whether we had more kids or not, I’d be happy with them.

Carlo nodded. “Then they’re the only two people you should be concerned about. Not Gia or Mamma and Papà.”

I couldn’t wrap my mind around what he was saying. A part of me wanted to follow him down this path because it held everything I wanted, but it seemed too easy. “But how can I ignore their feelings?”

“You’re not ignoring them. You’re doing what’s right for you, and that’s the only thing that matters.”

“We’ve always bowed to what Mamma wants, but then, we haven’t truly wanted anything different. We haven’t met someone who we want to spend our future with. You have,” Matteo said.

“Besides, if you go first, then it will be easier for us,” Carlo joked.

“I’m the oldest. I always go first.” And smooth the path ahead for my younger brothers. For the moment, Mamma and Papà were at the airport and would be gone for weeks. Gia would talk to me when she was ready, and she knew she didn’t have any real control over my life. If Harper was who I wanted, she’d accept it. Eventually. Besides, she wasn’t losing a friend, she was gaining a sister. And if not, it was her choice not to want to see that I was happy.

“Now, what are you going to do about it?” Matteo repeated.

“I need to talk to Harper. I need to explain to her that she’s the one I want.”

“Good luck with that,” Matteo said.

I remembered the hurt on her face when she turned away from me and left. I’d caused that pain when I was trying to be diplomatic in front of my family. I should have protected our relationship instead. “You think she’ll forgive me?”

“If you’ve established yourself in a healthy relationship, then she should hear you out,” Carlo said.

I bowed my head. “That’s not the same as forgiveness.”

“Do you think you deserve Harper and Evie?” Carlo asked.

Lifting my head, I said, “They’re amazing. I’m so lucky to be with them.”

In a rare moment of seriousness, Matteo said, “Then show them what they mean to you.”

“How much time do you think I have to do that?” I asked, a million things running through my head while I pulled up a number on my phone.

“How much time do you need? Just talk to her.” Matteo chuckled, clearly puzzled.

“I need to show her that she means everything to me. I need to make space for her in my life. I’m going to ask her to move in with me.”

Matteo huffed out a breath. “No offense. But your house is kind of a dump right now.”

“Cade’s guys have started on my place, and I told him to start with the guest room, guest bath, and kitchen.”

“Why the guest room?” Carlo asked.

“It’s for Evie. I asked Cade to prepare it for her so she could stay with us. So she’d feel welcome, like it was her home.”

“Do you think Harper will be okay living in an unfinished master?” Matteo asked.

“I needed to show her she meant something to me before that confrontation with my parents. That she wasn’t some secret or someone to hide from my family. She is everything to me. Her and Evie.” I couldn’t lose her. Not when I just realized my feelings for her.

“You’ve got a solid plan. We’re rooting for you,” Carlo said.

Matteo’s face twisted. “It’s a little sappy, but I hear women like that.”

I slapped Matteo’s shoulder. “Thankfully, you’re not out there breaking everyone’s heart.”

“Who said I’m not?” Matteo asked with a cocky grin.

We groaned.

“You’re hopeless,” I said as I hugged Carlo. “Thanks for the advice. I hope to return the favor one day.”

Carlo shook his head. “I don’t want to be twisted up over a woman.”

“You say that now…” I grinned as I headed out with the phone to my ear. “Cade, what’s the status at home? I need that guest room done sooner than I thought.”

We went over the schedule and moved a few things around. I really needed the bathroom and the kitchen to be ready. He promised the bedroom and bathroom would be done, but the kitchen would be a few more weeks. It wasn’t something that could be accelerated, and I got that.

I hoped it would be enough for Harper to understand where she always stood in my life—front and center. I wouldn’t ask her to hide again. She deserved so much more.

Now I just had to prove it to her. I wanted to reveal a finished room to Evie, so I ordered furniture and toys, telling the store I’d pick it up from the warehouse with my truck instead of waiting for it to be delivered. Evie could always change the decorations later if she didn’t like it.

Then I texted Harper.

Leo: Can we talk?

The bubbles popped up and then disappeared.

Leo: Please.

Then the phone rang, and I fumbled it. I couldn’t believe she was calling me. “Harper.”

“Leo.” Pain filled her voice.

“Can we talk? What I said, it wasn’t how I feel. But I’d like to talk to you in person.”

The line was quiet and then she finally said, “I need some time.”

I swallowed over the lump in my throat and all the things I needed to say to her. “I can understand that.”

Harper sighed. “I talked to Gia, but it didn’t go well.”

At least Harper was talking to me. “You know she’ll come around.”

“I don’t know that. She’s known for holding a grudge.”

“It doesn’t matter what other people think.”

“Doesn’t it? I thought that was the point of keeping everything a secret. I should probably be apologizing to you for Evie revealing us.”

“That wasn’t your fault or hers. There’s no need to apologize. The truth was going to come out.”

“I can’t think of a worse time than right before your parents’ vacation. Did it mess anything up with the expansion?”

“I’m not worried about that right now.” I hadn’t even thought about it. The only thing that mattered was how Harper was feeling.

“I don’t want to do anything to screw things up for you. I know how much you want this. Are your brothers upset?”

“They’re worried about me and you, not the restaurant.”

“Why?” Harper asked.

“Because at the end of the day, they love me and want the best for me.” Despite their worries about the restaurant and my parents finding out, my brothers were one hundred percent behind me. They wanted me to work things out with Harper, and that felt good. “They also said I was paving the way for them, making it easier for them to date whomever they want.”

“Did you talk to your parents after I left?” Her voice was soft.

“They had to get to the airport. But they seemed disappointed. I think they would have preferred I not date you,” I said, without even thinking. It was just a feeling I’d gotten after Evie dropped her bombshell.

“I should go.”

I couldn’t believe I’d said those thoughts out loud. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it like that.”

“I need some time to process everything.” Her voice was tight.

“I’m sorry, Harper. I’ve made a mess of this. But I’d like a chance to tell you how I feel in person. Would you meet with me?”

She hesitated and then finally said, “Yeah, I can do that.”

We scheduled a time to meet at my house later in the week. I hoped she hadn’t made up her mind that I was a waste of her time before that. Every time I talked to her, I said something wrong. I needed to tell her how I felt and show her what she meant to me. I just hoped it wouldn’t be too late.