Chapter 19

Nineteen

Harper

I think they would have preferred I not date you.

Would it ever hurt less? Would it stop stinging as if someone stabbed me in the chest with a knife? I rubbed the ache in my chest as I got off the phone with Leo.

He wanted to talk, but I wasn’t sure how much more there was to say. He was contrite, but we couldn’t escape the truth. His parents didn’t want him to date me. I couldn’t be more than a family friend.

Aria had been in a similar situation with Finn. She wanted a relationship, but he didn’t because of his parents’ history of numerous divorces. They’d engaged in a casual relationship, and when the truth came out, his sister and Aria’s best friend, Ireland, was mad they’d kept it from her.

Wondering how they worked through their issues, I texted Aria and asked if we could meet up to talk. I kept it vague because asking someone if you could talk about how they dated their best friend’s brother wasn’t a good starting-off point.

I spent the next few days working hard and trying not to think about the moment when Evie told everyone Leo was kissing her mommy. My stomach dropped out repeatedly as I replayed the shock on his parents’ faces and the betrayal on Gia’s.

I didn’t think things could ever be the same again.

If Evie hadn’t said anything, would we still be dating? I couldn’t help but think we would have been happy.

Evie kept asking where Leo was, and I kept her at bay by saying he was busy at the restaurant since his parents were out of town. But that excuse would only work for so long. Even when he was busy, Leo spent time with us.

Gia and I met with a few clients virtually, using the slideshow presentation I’d prepared. The clients seemed impressed with what we had to offer, but we were still waiting for one of them to sign a contract.

On Wednesday morning, Gia came into my office. “The Forrest couple wants to speak with us again.”

“They’re the ones from Ohio?” I asked as I looked up from my computer, my heart rate picking up. If they wanted to talk, it meant they were considering it.

“That’s right.”

“What do you think is holding them back?” I asked her, needing to prepare for the meeting.

“They mentioned how most destination weddings are at all-inclusive resorts. I think they want reassurance that we’ll handle all the moving pieces, even though the wedding hall and reception hall will be separate locations.”

I tipped my head slightly, thinking it over. “Maybe that’s our angle. We can offer multiple options and locations with the ease of an all-inclusive resort.”

Gia grinned. “I like that.”

I was pleased that what happened between Leo and me hadn’t leaked into the workplace. Gia was professional, distant but receptive to my ideas. Our friendship was strained, but I could continue to work for her. For now, at least. At some point, it might be too awkward because our usual ease and friendship were missing.

Gia wanted to maintain a professional working relationship, and I respected that, but I missed our friendship and the ease and lightness with which we worked. I wondered if that ease filtered through to the clients.

I wasn’t sure how long this arrangement could go on. And if Gia decided I needed to leave, I wasn’t sure what I’d do or where I’d work. There weren’t a lot of openings for someone who held a catch-all job in a small business, and most small businesses wouldn’t or couldn’t afford to pay me what Gia was.

But I couldn’t think about finding a new job. I needed to keep the one I had.

I followed Gia into her office where she set up the virtual call on her laptop and connected with them. When the couple popped onto the screen, we both smiled like nothing had changed, even though everything had. There was a stiffness to our interaction now.

“Ian and Seyona. It’s so nice to see you two again.”

“Same here.” Seyona smiled brightly.

“Do you have some questions for us?” I asked, keeping my tone light.

“We just want to make sure that if we sign with you, it will be as seamless as possible for us. We don’t want to be the ones coordinating vendors and the hall. We want to enjoy the day without any administrative details.” Ian relayed the information, but I had a feeling he was referring to his bride.

“We can handle everything. We help you choose the location of the ceremony, the reception, your colors, linens, and music. Then we follow up with the vendors and make sure everything is ready for the big day so you can relax.”

The bride’s troubled gaze eased as Gia went over how things would work.

“Thank you for easing our minds about this. We’d like to move forward with you,” Ian said, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

We set up several meetings for them to pick their ideal location, decorations, and other items, then we’d handle everything else.

Seyona leaned forward. “What about the dress? Should I order it here or there?”

“That’s up to you. If you pick one near you, just make sure it will come in time for you to travel here. I have a seamstress on call if you have any issues at the ceremony.”

“That’s convenient,” Seyona said.

“I assure you, there’s no complication or issue that we haven’t already handled. Our job is to take care of everything so that you can relax and enjoy your day.”

“That sounds amazing,” Seyona said to us and then focused on her fiancé. “I feel so much better after talking to you. And we’ve had a chance to look over the contract. We’d like to get started as soon as possible.”

We went over a few more details before hanging up with them.

“That’s a relief. One destination wedding under contract.” Now we just needed a few more to ensure that we could weather the leaner months.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” Gia said softly.

“I think you would have figured out something. You’re so smart,” I said to her, a little uncomfortable with her praise.

“I don’t know that I would have. I was so stressed and preoccupied with what Silas was doing; I couldn’t see the big picture. It’s like I couldn’t see the possibilities.”

“I’m glad I could help.” She was worried about her business, and I was sleeping with her brother. She hadn’t said that, and she was genuinely appreciative, so I wasn’t sure why I was thinking about Leo.

“I wanted to let you know that whatever’s going on between you and Leo won’t affect your job here. I’m not that kind of person. I hire people because they’re qualified, and I don’t want to lose you. Your working here has nothing to do with our friendship. You’ve more than proven yourself.”

“I have always wondered if you didn’t give me the job as a favor to me or a handout,” I said, voicing my biggest fear out loud.

“I wouldn’t do that. You deserve it,” Gia said firmly.

“Thank you.” It meant a lot to me that I’d earned this job on my own merit. I might have become known to Gia because we were friends, but she saw something in me. She hadn’t given me the job because we were friends.

I was almost to the door when Gia said my name.

“Yes?” I asked as I turned to face her.

“You deserve Leo too. If you love each other.”

I smiled sadly. “I do love him. But he hasn’t told me how he feels.” He said he was falling for me, but I wasn’t sure if he had.

“He wouldn’t have pursued anything with you if you weren’t important to him,” Gia said confidently.

“He didn’t want to risk hurting anyone in his family. I know your parents would never approve of us.” I couldn’t get Leo’s words out of my head.

Gia frowned. “I’m not sure that’s true. I mean, Mamma can be vocal about what she wants, but that doesn’t mean she won’t accept someone else if it’s who Leo wants.”

“We haven’t really discussed it, so I’m not sure what’s going on. We’re supposed to talk tomorrow night.”

“Hear him out. Give him a chance to explain what he was thinking. Guys can be out of touch with their emotions.”

“Would you be okay if we dated?” I wasn’t even sure that was what Leo wanted, but I had to be sure.

Gia smiled sadly. “It doesn’t matter what I think, and I wouldn’t come between you two if it’s what you wanted. I’m not saying I wasn’t hurt that it happened, and you kept it a secret—”

“I’m sorry, Gia. I didn’t want to hurt you, but that’s exactly what happened.” The worst part was that we both knew this would happen, and we did it anyway.

“I don’t think things are that black and white. We can’t help who we like.” Then her eyes clouded over.

Did Gia like someone she shouldn’t? Was she in a similar situation where she wanted someone she couldn’t have? I couldn’t help but think of Silas. There was something there, even if it was purely physical, but he was her brother's best friend. Was she sympathetic to my situation because she liked Silas?

As soon as the idea entered my head, I dismissed it. Gia wouldn’t sleep with a man she saw as her main competitor. She always spoke of him as if he were her enemy. There was no way she’d give in to the physical attraction.

“I love Leo, but I’m not sure he feels the same way or that it’s worth hurting everyone he loves to be with me.”

“You won’t know if you don’t talk to him.”

I finally nodded and left the room, wondering what had just happened. I wished I'd have clarified things a bit further because it almost sounded like Gia was okay with me dating her brother. She was hurt by my betrayal, and it would take her some time to get over it, but she wanted her brother to be happy.

Was a future with Leo possible? Hope soared in my chest before I pulled back because I wasn’t sure what Leo was thinking or how he felt. For all I knew, I might be in this alone. He might not feel the same or, even worse, he loved my daughter but not me.

I spent the afternoon corresponding via email with Seyona regarding the contract and the next steps to plan her wedding. By the time I was supposed to meet with Aria, my head was throbbing.

She’d responded to my text, saying she could meet me at Max’s. She was already sitting on a barstool when I arrived. I sat on the empty one next to her. “Thanks for meeting me here.”

She turned slightly on her seat. “Of course. I haven’t been out with friends in a while.”

We ordered drinks and then I said, “I wanted to talk to you because Ireland is your best friend, and you’re dating her brother.”

Aria laughed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t make light of it because it wasn’t funny when Finn and I were hooking up. We were worried about what Ireland and Gia would think and what would happen at work. In the end, it was fine. But you don’t know when you’re in the middle of it.” Then she frowned. “Why? Are you in a similar situation?”

“I’ve been seeing Gia’s brother, Leo.”

She whistled. “Whew. You’re brave. Is that her oldest brother?”

I nodded. “The one who manages the pizzeria.”

She tipped her head to the side. “Does Gia know?”

“She does now. Evie said something in front of her and the family.”

Aria took a gulp of her mixed drink. “Yikes. I bet that was awkward.”

“It was, and I don’t know how his parents feel—other than Leo saying they don’t want him to date someone like me.”

Aria frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean? Someone like you .”

“I’m not Italian or Catholic. I don’t come from a good family.” It hurt even more saying it out loud. None of it should matter, but it did.

“Finn’s parents had been divorced so many times they didn’t have any opinion on our relationship. I was concerned about my job because there was that no-fraternization policy, and I worried I’d lose my friendship with Ireland. We were roommates at that point.”

“I remember.”

“Ireland was mad that I thought I wasn’t good enough for Finn.” Aria played with the straw in her drink.

“I didn’t know you felt that way,” I said, surprised she’d felt the same.

Aria nodded. “Oh yeah. I grew up in a trailer park, and Finn had a trust fund. We were from two different worlds.”

“How did you get past that?” My heart rate picked up slightly.

“I had to realize that I am good enough. I'm more than enough, just as I am. I didn’t need a college degree or a certain income to feel good about myself. That changed everything.”

“I feel like a charity case. I live in the Giovannis’ apartment over the pizzeria. I worked at the restaurant, and then Gia gave me a job.”

“You know you more than deserve that job. You’re invaluable around there.”

I smiled. “I’m starting to get that.”

“Gia may have hired you initially because you were friends, but you’re great at your job. We couldn’t do it without you. There are a lot of moving parts, and you keep everything and everyone moving smoothly.”

“It was hard to see at first.”

“That’s because you revert to your old way of thinking—that you’re not good enough. That you never will be. But you have to tap into who you are now, and you’re a badass.”

I laughed with her. “You think?”

“Oh yeah. You’re raising Evie on your own and doing an amazing job at Happily Ever Afters. You’re doing it. It’s not because of handouts or friendships. You’re not a charity case. You’ve worked hard for everything you have.”

A sense of pride flowed through me. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

Aria tapped her finger on her chin. “Ireland said something else to me. You can only love someone else once you learn to love and appreciate yourself.”

It had taken some time, but I was starting to see what everyone else did. I was successful in my own right, and people needed me. People weren’t handing me things. I was doing it on my own.

“Where do you and Leo stand now?”

I sipped my drink. “We are going to talk tomorrow. I’m not sure what he’s going to say.”

“You go in there with your head held high, and you tell him how you feel. If he doesn’t feel the same way, then walk away. You’re stronger than that,” Aria said confidently.

“I don’t need him, but I want him. I love him.” So much it physically hurt to be in this state of not knowing how he felt and where he stood.

“If he doesn’t feel the same way about you, you’ll move on and be stronger for it.”

“Hell yes, I will.” We cheered and clinked glasses, and I felt relaxed in a way I hadn’t in a long time. No matter what happened with Leo, I’d be okay.

He’d still be in our lives. The Giovannis would always be like a second family to me, even if Leo decided I wasn’t what he wanted. It might look a little different in the future. I might spend less time at their house and working at the pizzeria. But I was already planning on moving out of their apartment. I would always be appreciative of their support, but it was time for me to be more independent.

As Aria and Gia said, I was a strong, independent woman. I didn’t need Leo Giovanni in my life, but I sure as hell wanted him.