AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You are well, Maria?”, I ask. This makes my father smile. He glances at mother, and they struggle to keep their childish snickering silent but can be easily spotted by anyone miles away.
“Yes, yes I am.” Maria responds, caught off guard by my interest. There were hardly any words exchanged between us at the forced dinner back at the Villa.
“Good.” I nod my head and move to walk off on them.
My father stops me with his firm hold on my hands. “Do not disgrace me, Antonio,” he hisses.
“Come on, Manuele, no need to cause a scene here, no…”
“Oh, shut up, Bianca,” he yells at his wife. “Antonio, you come back home tonight. We'll talk. I can't have this with you anymore, do you understand? You have lived fifteen fruitless years living in America, and I expect you to know better.”
“America has given me more than you ever gave me. I will remind you that you gave me the freedom to leave if I didn’t want to be betrothed. Also, it would help if you watched the way you speak to my mother. She is your wife, not a dummy.” I lookat their faces one last time. “The night is young. Let’s not ruin it for Sergio and Grace. We don't wanna get on his father’s bad graces either.” I nod and walk off.
“Antonio!” He yells much louder than he intends. Even with the music and noise, the mention of my name causes several questioning eyes my way. My father notices this, too. He puts on a show when he takes a deep breath, smiles widely, and waves. “You make a fine best man, my son!” He waves again and the party resumes.
Before I turn away from them, I notice Maria’s eyes crowding with tears. A part of me wishes to call her and let her out of this mess. But instead, I decide that I need some alcohol in my system. Anything to get away from my parents’ spying eyes.
Chapter 7
Antonio and Ella
“Another round for my best man!” Sergio says aloud, slapping my back as he spirals in laughter. He has moved to join us at the wine table where most of our childhood friends have gathered. We have all turned into men with businesses and big dreams ahead of us. We were no longer the little boys that ran through the fields of Tuscany, singing Italian songs, and picking up fruits along the way.
Sergio stands in our midst, reminding us of all the silly games we played as children. I took shot after shot of alcohol, hoping to be in the moment like the rest of time without constantly searching the crowd for Ella Miller or worrying about Maria Parisi, who was feverish and heartbroken from the episode that had played out before her eyes. My father must have left the reception because I can’t perceive his presence anymore or hear my mother’s shaky giggles.
“Well, Antonio has been doing pretty well for himself too,” said one of the men in our gathering. It took me some minutes before I recognized him as Luciene, the little one in our crew who Sergio had to give piggyback rides to all the time when we were children.
“Yes, Wealth Sage! The investment firm that is driving the world insane. I heard you finally bagged a deal with theWestleys,” Andrea said. He is this short, bald man that spoke in a high-pitched voice.
“Not a deal yet, but the Westley's have us in mind. Yes…” my speech is cut off when I see the brunette hair and blue silk dress weaving in and out of the crowd. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” I say quickly, handing Lucien my drink.
Sergio laughs and begins to say something to the rest, but I don't hear him. I finally found her, and there was no chance in hell I was letting her off the hook tonight. I have not had the chance to taunt her or tease her. I want to mold my hands around her, hold her close to me, and watch her shiver beneath my words and touch. My hands are itching to keep her in place for me, but she escapes further away from my reach with each ticking second.
“Antonio?”
Someone says my name in the crowd, and I hear whistles and chants. This distracts me for a moment as I turn my attention away from Ella’s back. The bride and the groom are about to leave the room. It is time for them to head into the car that will return them to the hotel. Sergio’s father is giving a speech. Afterward, Grace goes ahead to throw her flower while the girls turn wild to get a grip of it—I have little interest in the celebration anymore.
I have to find Ella. I want her. It's not the alcohol speaking. I crave only to see her one last time. When morning comes, I would be on my way to Seattle, ready to sit behind the table to address my staff and work my ass off. When morning comes, I will be far away from Italy, from the home where my father has plagued me for most of his life. There will be no Maria Parisi to worry about, nor will there be Ella Miller to make my heart race in this promising but also in a disappointing way.
“There you are. I have been looking all over for you,” instead of finding Ella, Grace’s sister, finds me. She wraps her hands around my neck and tries to guide me to the dance floor. I have little patience for this vain woman before me.
“No, not you,” I say and place my hands on hers. She gasps, and her eyes widen in victory. Quickly she realizes what I said, and she sighs in disappointment when I apply pressure to my hold and pull her hands to her sides.
“You are looking for her, aren't you?” She rolls her eyeballs in distain, “Ella?”
“That shouldn't be your concern.”
“Oh, but it is yours? You know, she kept asking around for you before she left.”
I frown, “When was this?”
“Don't look at me that way. I only told her you went off with some girl. Poor Ella couldn't stand it. Left the wedding right after Grace and Sergio drove into the sunlight!” As her eyes sparkle and she claps her hands she carries on, “Perfect wedding, isn't it?”
***
He looks good. Too good.I want to rip the goodness off his body. Curse the universe, for making my day hell.
“Ella?”
