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I hugged her close to me. “You’re right for me. We just have to wait for the right time to tell my parents.”
She let out a breath. “Yeah, okay.”
“You’re willing to wait?” I asked, hopeful but worried it was too much to ask of her.
“For a little while. I won’t wait forever.”
“Of course not.” But my stomach twisted. I had a feeling Matteo and Carlo didn’t ever want me to bring it up. They didn’t want anything to get in the way of this expansion, and I couldn’t blame them. I wasn’t sure how my parents would react, and Mamma was on our side for the business things, but in this, she wouldn’t be. She had a vision of the right girl for me, and Harper wasn’t it. At the same time, I didn’t want Harper to think she wasn’t right for me.
“Evie and I will leave first so they won’t know we’ve been spending time together.”
“I appreciate it.”
“If Evie understands what’s going on, I won’t put up with it. If she feels slighted or less than, I’m out.”
Did that mean I’d made Harper feel that way? But Harper was already gathering up her things. I helped her get everything packed and ensured Evie was strapped into her seat.
Would Evie say something and give us away? That was something I couldn’t help. She’d always been affectionate with me, so if she didn’t say anything about us dating, we’d be okay. I couldn’t imagine why that would even come up.
Harper seemed a little distant when she got into the driver’s seat and said she’d see me soon. I tried not to think about whether I’d screwed things up for good. We’d be okay. We had to be. I wanted the second restaurant, my parents’ approval, and Harper and Evie. Surely, I could have it all.
But there was this feeling in my stomach I couldn’t get rid of, an unease that wouldn’t go away.
Seventeen
HARPER
Icouldn’t believe that Leo asked me to keep our relationship a secret. We had been doing that, but I thought we were almost to the point where we could tell his parents. How could we have a relationship if we always had to keep it quiet?
I didn’t like the look on Leo’s face. I had a bad feeling that his brothers didn’t want us together at all. It would be easier for the expansion if we weren’t dating.
When we entered the house, Evie ran to Mr. G. and gave him a hug. I kissed Mr. G.’s cheek and carried her into the family room to play a game. When Leo arrived, I stayed away from him. I didn’t want Evie to say anything to give us away, and I was upset about the conversation. I didn’t like the implication that I wasn’t good enough—and might not ever be—for this family.
Maybe we needed to create some distance between me and his family. I’d try harder to find a new apartment, and maybe even a babysitter. I didn’t want to come between Leo and his brothers. I didn’t want to be the reason why he wasn’t happy and successful.
The restaurant was a family business, and it was clear I wasn’t part of it. No matter how much time I’d spent with them over the years, I wasn’t wanted here. I wasn’t good enough for one of their sons.
It was something I always suspected, but to hear it laid out like Leo had hurt. It hurt a lot. It played on every one of my insecurities. That I wasn’t good enough. That I didn’t come from the right kind of family. It affected my daughter too. She’d always be less than because of her circumstances.
Tears threatened during dinner, but I held myself together. For the first time, I felt separate from the family. I wasn’t one of them, and I couldn’t forget that. It was weird to not be able to touch or talk to Leo like I’d become accustomed to.
I excused myself early, saying that Evie was tired. I wasn’t even sure it was a good idea to come to Sunday dinner anymore.
“Why didn’t Leo play with me?” Evie asked on the way home, breaking my heart.
“I think he was busy with his brothers. They’re planning something big for the restaurant, and Mr. and Mrs. G. are getting ready for vacation.”
Evie pouted in her seat. “He usually does.”
“I’m sorry, bug.” I hadn’t called her bug in a long time, probably since she was three, but I was feeling especially protective of her. If Leo didn’t think we were good enough for him, maybe I needed to be more careful moving forward.
Evie wouldn’t be able to handle him withholding affection and attention. When I got home, I had a text from Leo asking if Evie was okay, and I responded, saying she was tired and going to bed early.
I didn’t expect to hear from him the rest of the night. Family dinner nights could go late, especially if there was business stuff going on.
After Evie was asleep, there was a soft knock on the door. I got up to answer it, a little surprised to see Leo. “What are you doing here?”
Leo stepped inside, his expression excited and energy pouring off him in waves. “I wanted to tell you what my parents decided.”
