AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Uncle Sebastian doesn’t comment but focuses on Ryan. “So spill the beans.”
“Um,” Dylan hedges. “Ask Jaxon.”
“Someone at college then?” Aunt Carla mumbles. “I’ll ask Dylan, he can’t resist his mother when I want to know something.” She frowns. “In fact, isn’t he a friend of Dylan’s? I’m sure I’ve met a Seth when we’ve visited Dylan at college.”
This conversation is going to annoy Paige when she finds out, which she will because Ryan has to know everything going on. “Instead of speculating,” I say, “why don’t we talk about something else.”
“Good idea,” Aunt Sabrina agrees. “Why don’t you tell us about your Italian trip? It’s been moved forward from what Ramon was telling me.”
My heart sinks and I feel Alexander still beside me.
The family know that I’m intending on going to Europe for a few weeks, but I haven’t had chance to tell anyone other than my fathers that it’s been moved forward. Now though, I don’t want to go anywhere unless Alexander is with me. But I can’t say that with a table full of witnesses.
“Um, yeah. I’m heading to Florence in a few weeks for a month.” I shrug. “It’s part of my study program. A lot of the students opted for the semester abroad, but I don’t want to be away that long.” I nervously glance at Alexander and realize he’s forcing himself to eat while ignoring me.
“We’ve been to Italy,” Aunt Carla says. “It’s a romantic place to visit, and the food is amazing.”
“Perhaps you’ll meet an Italian hottie, and spend the rest of your life in Italy,” Ryan suggests wiggling his brows.
The others laugh, mine is forced, and Alexander’s is none existent.
“That isn’t funny,” Alexander growls, throwing his napkin on his plate. He shoves away from the table and leaves without a backward glance.
My first thought is to run after him—to tell him that he’s the only man I’ll ever want—that I want him to spend as much of the month I’m in Florence with me, except his father, Uncle Lucien, goes after him. I don’t miss the tired glance he gives me before he goes after Alexander.
11
Alexander
I knew she was going to Italy, it was just a shock hearing that it would be happening sooner than originally planned. I thought I had myself under control, but that went to hell with Ryan’s comment. He meant well, and teased as he usually would, and I don’t really blame him. He has no clue that I’m in love with Rachel. I suspect some of our family are aware of our feelings, but not in the sense that we’re actually together.
The cold mountain air takes my breath away as I walk out on the veranda with a view of the ski slopes as they’re well lit for the nighttime skiers.
“You’re my son, and I love you,” Dad utters the words directly behind me. “You’ve no idea how much it hurts because I can’t take away your pain.”
He moves beside me and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Does anyone else know how you feel about Rachel?”
I dip my head and look over the railing to the road below. “Others suspect.”
He nods. “It’s not going to be easy, but you have to move on, and perhaps Rachel being overseas will help you do just that.”
I have to look away, blinking rapidly as tears come to my eyes. The thought of losing Rachel hurts. It hurts so much that my face ends up damp from the tears that fall.
“Uncle Lucien?” Rachel says, her footfalls moving closer.
Turning, I find her face as damp as mine. My father sighs heavily as he too, turns to look at her.
Rachel opens her mouth to say something but instead great big wracking sobs shake her body, and I do the only thing I can, and catch her up in my arms. We hold each other tightly and as I cradle her head against my neck, I meet my father’s worried gaze. “I love her Dad. She’s the only woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
“I want the same thing, Uncle Lucien.” Rachel sniffles and hiccups. “I love him. Only him. That’s the reason why Paige and I aren’t talking. She wants me away from him, but I can’t do that.” She nuzzles into my neck. “Alexander is my whole world.”
“I can see that,” Dad says, sighing heavily. “I’m not sure—”
“We’re together Dad.” I kiss Rachel on the forehead. “After this weekend we don’t intend hiding anything from anyone. I’m proud to call Rachel mine, and I’m not going to let family come between us. I love her.”
Dad offers a wry smile. “Believe it or not, I actually admire you for taking control of your life in this way. It’s not going to be easy, and I’ve no idea how my brother is going to react, but it is what it is.”
“You’ll keep it to yourself this weekend?” Rachel asks, looking at my dad.
