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“What did you do to her?” Devin pressed.
“I’m tired, Flynn. Can’t this wait until morning?”
“No, it can’t.”
Rafe groaned in displeasure. “She made a scene at the party.”
I was about to protest, but Devin spoke first.
“Why do I find that hard to believe?”
“You know what, you two deserve each other. You’re both nuts.”
Devin’s face blotched red with anger. “I thought you were smarter, but you can’t even come up with a cohesive scheme. I don’t know what you, Carlton, and Riedl have going on, but if you don’t stop it, I will.”
Rafe rolled his eyes. “You know everything was fine until you came along. My sister was happy.”
I choked out a disbelieving laugh, and Devin clenched his fists. “What pathetic little world do you live in?”
“Can I go to bed now?”
“Yes, you can, but I want you out of my house in the morning.”
I retreated to our bedroom, too, curling into Devin’s arms and letting him hold me for the last few hours of the night. I stayed in bed until Rafe and his family were gone early the next day. I should have said goodbye to the kids, but I feared what I might say and do to my brother. Instead, I listened from the top of the stairs as Eva apologized to Devin for Rafe’s behavior. Devin kindly accepted the apology and walked her to the door. Once they were gone, I came down the stairs, and Devin put his arms around me, kissing my forehead.
“I don’t even want to know what the papers and gossip sites said this morning.”
“You’re right, you don’t want to know, but I left a couple of papers on the kitchen table for when curiosity gets the better of you.”
I walked into the kitchen with Devin close behind. He made coffee while I scanned the headlines. Thankfully there was nothing, and I was even happier to learn that no one had managed to get any photos. There were articles in both of the Italian language newspapers, and I couldn’t help but reach for my phone to pull up some more headlines. I cringed each time it was implied I was going out of my mind. For those who didn’t know me, I did look and sound unhinged.
“So, do you want to tell me what happened at this stupid party that I’m glad I didn’t attend?” Devin asked, handing me an espresso.
I sighed. “Erich Riedl was there, acting like he owned the place. Like … like he belonged and you didn’t.” I thought again of Blake’s parties and the deliberate exclusion of poorer drivers like Devin. “I think Rafe did it on purpose, asked Erich to make himself unavailable for Rome so they would have to send you instead. Of course, I couldn’t get Rafe to admit to that. I became frustrated, and I let him get the better of me.”
“But why would they do that?” Devin asked, somewhat skeptical. “Did he think I’d make a scene about Carlton joining Perez?”
My first instinct was to agree to that theory and let it lie, but we’d had too many secrets between us. I was going to be honest, even if it jeopardized what I had with Devin. “Eva and I were chatting, and she started asking me about an ‘American’ I might be seeing. I got the impression Rafe had been telling her that I was the one afterhim. Maybe that’s what Rafe wants: Carlton on the team, me with him, ensuring he stays with us?”
“I don’t know what to think,” Devin said. “I can’t believe I let that bastard stay in my home.”
I ate some breakfast before going upstairs to take a long, hot shower. After, I found Devin in the bedroom, changing.
“Where are you off to?” I said, drying my hair with a towel.
“The airport. Tony just called. Your mother should be arriving any minute.”
“My mother!”
“I guess she’s read the papers.”
I had little time to clean the house from top to bottom, always my first instinct before a visit from my mother. I tried to stay on top of things, but cleaning up after Devin’s mess was a losing battle. The kitchen was my first destination. I washed and dried the dishes as quickly as I could before racing to the rooms Rafe’s family had occupied. Thankfully, Eva was neat and tidy, and the rooms needed little work.
Devin came through the door just as I’d changed into fresh clothes. He smiled wearily as he carried in Mom’s small luggage and set it down near the door. I felt for him. I knew it would have been an interesting journey from the airport.
“Hello, Mom,” I said, kissing each of her cheeks.
“This is a charming little home,” Mom said, glancing over the house before turning her attention to me.
