AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why didn’t you tell us?” I asked. “If this was all in the past, it wouldn’t have mattered. But you left it all out.”
“To be honest, when I saw you again, I thought you knew who I was. And then, when it was clear you didn’t, I just…” Xavier shrugged, obviously struggling. “It was addictive. You and Sof, you’re addictive. You both looked at me, and I was only Xavi again. Even when you were mad. Even when I fucked up. I hadn’t had that in years. I didn’t want to lose it because of some title that doesn’t mean shit.”
We stared at each other for a long time, green eyes meeting blue, an ocean between us.
“Do I have to call you ‘Your Grace’ now?” I wondered, almost laughing at the idea. The day I’d bow to Xavier Parker was the day I’d fly over the moon.
“Fuck no,” Xavier replied. “For all intents and purposes, that’s my uncle in everything other than name. He runs the estate. He lives there. Kendal belongs to him.”
He picked up my hands and gripped them tight in front of his chest. For a moment, I had a feeling like he was going to propose. Nonsense, of course. But there it was, nonetheless.
“To you, and anyone else who matters, I’m Xavi,” he said. “Maybe, if Sofia’s ready, I can be Dad too. That’s all that matters to me now. That’s all that will ever matter. Ces, please. Tell me you believe me.”
“I want to…but I just…Xavi, it’s a lot to take in. I need some time.”
“Time?” he repeated incredulously. “Time? Fuck time, Francesca. You’ve had five years with her and the last four months to get used to me again. This bullshit—history, titles, whatever—it’s just details. So what do you really need here? Get down on my knees? Pray for your forgiveness? Atone for my sins?”
I perked up. Actually, that wasn’t a bad idea. “You know what? Yes.”
Xavier frowned. “Yes?”
I nodded. “You want to be in her life? I think it’s time to do it for real. Sofia asked for you to come to Sunday Mass. Come sit through the service, and then we can tell Sofia the truth afterward at the park or something. And then you can meet the rest of my family. You’re right. It’s time.”
I smiled at the scenario I’d been dreading for months. If Nina’s appearance was any indicator, my family was all but guaranteed to jump into battle mode the moment they met Xavier. And right now, I was sort of eager to watch him wage that particular war.
But to my surprise, Xavier straightened, looked at me directly, and nodded.
“Tell me when and where. I’ll show up.”
