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He smiles. He’s a handsome man, around mid-thirties if I had to guess. I smile thinking about how possessive Theo would get if he knew my therapist was good looking. I bet he would demand that he join me at my appointments.
“Good, I will see you on Friday?” he asks it as a question but knows full well I will be at my appointment.
“Yes, I’ll be here.” He nods before leaving the room so I can change back into my sweats.
Sliding off the bed, I make quick work of getting dressed and exiting the room. I find Greg waiting for me outside, a silent question on his face. I know what he’s asking. “Good as new,” I joke.
He rolls his eyes and I laugh at him doing something so simple. “I would take a guess and say you have a few more sessions to go before it’s as good as new, Thalia. It will get there though.”
I smile at him as we make our way out of the building and to the SUV waiting at valet. Climbing inside, I pull out my cell and shoot Theo and then my father a quick message. I called Theo when I woke in pain and told him about my knee and the swelling. I was in tears as he soothed me with comforting words and eventually calmed me down. It’s the first night in almost two weeks he hasn’t stayed at my apartment and that’s only because he had a dinner meeting with his silent investor. Although he wanted me to join him, we decided against it. It was safer for me to stay away. Soon I’ll be by his side for every dinner and business meeting.
* * *
The next day, I’m lounging on the couch, playing on my iPad when there’s a knock on the door. My sister pulls it open, revealing my parents. They greet and hug my sister who’s still staying with me but will be flying back with my parents in a few days. I’m beginning to think her being here is more to do with the fact that she can openly be with Bishop and less to do with spending time with me. I don’t mind; in fact, I understand it completely, being in the same sort of situation. She doesn’t have the luxury of being with Bishop out in the open when they’re in New York. Too many people know us, too many prying eyes, whereas I don’t have that as much in Wellington.
“Bambina, you look fabulous,” my mama coos to Aria as she holds her.
“Thank you, mama. I’ve missed you,” Aria says softly in a rare moment of what sounds like vulnerability. My sister has never really been one for emotion, but I have seen it more since her relationship with Bishop started. He brings that side of her out, the emotional side, and that can only be a good thing.
My father crosses the room, leaning down when he reaches me and pressing a kiss to my head. “Hello, sweetheart, how is your knee?” he asks with concern laced in his voice. After telling him about the swelling, he immediately got on the phone with Dr. Rolof and shot off question after question. Apparently, the good doctor took it all in stride and answered every single one putting my father at ease.
“Daddy, I’m fine. Really. Between Dr. Rolof and my physical therapist, they sorted it out for me.”
He ruffles my hair before my mama knocks him out of the way and bends to hug me. “Hey, mama,” I giggle.
“Hey, bambina.” She pulls back to look at me, her eyes so like mine, searching my face. “You look good,” she states but I know she’s only trying to make me feel better. I look like shit in my sweats and unkempt hair. I grin only for it to drop when her face turns serious. She glances over her shoulder. I follow her line of site to where my father is in the kitchen talking to Aria. Her gaze comes back to mine. “Are you sure about this? I mean, I don’t want to keep things from your father but is now really the time when you have so much to deal with right now?” she whispers only for me to hear. Yesterday I called my mama and told her of mine and Theo’s plans to talk with my dad and tell him about our relationship. My mother was apprehensive, but she knows it’s something that needs to be done. My parents don’t keep secrets from each other and the fact she’s keeping my secret from him doesn’t sit right with me.
“Yes, mama. He needs to know before I go to Europe.”
She nods, her lips in a tight line. “Okay, bambina.”
“What are you two whispering about over there?” my father’s voice has me jerking back. My mama turns, smiling at him.
“Nothing that concerns you... yet,” she adds, making me grimace.
He looks between us, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Come on then. Let’s go to the barn. Theo said he had something to talk with me about.” My stomach dips with anxiety. This is it.
My father is about to learn of our relationship.
