Page 28 of Falling for my Family's Rival

“I don’t have any experience navigating the kind of family dynamic that you have going on,” Abby says. “But I’ve learned a lot from my grandparents’ relationship, and I’d say that, if you know you have a strong foundation, then you do. You just have to trust yourself and each other.”

Kaylee nods. “Sometimes, adversity helps strengthen you as a couple.”

“And if you work together to come up with solutions, that can bond you together as well,” Addie says.

“I still can’t believe you met the love of your life at my ball, and I didn’t even realize it,” Violet says.

Jackie shakes her head. “Oh, Violet. You were a little busy.”

“Yeah, but I should have seen it happening,” Violet says. “I knew that night was magical. I just didn’t realize how magical.”

“How do you guys think I should approach my family?” I ask.

“When the time is right, you should be honest with them,” Addie says. “But make sure that they know you are only telling them because you love them. Your relationship isn’t actually their business.”

“I’m scared they’re going to disown me or something,” I admit.

“They love you. They won’t disown you,” Jackie says. I look at her and she nods at me encouragingly. She knows my family the best of all my friends, so I definitely trust her opinion. It’s just so hard for me to admit that fear out loud.

“I don’t have any advice,” Ella says. “I just want to know when we get to meet him.”

We all laugh, but I have to admit that I don’t know what the answer to that is. Hearing all of my friends encourage and support me has made me feel even closer to them than I did before. I didn’t even know that this feeling was possible. They’ve always been there for me, but now I feel like they understand me that much better.

As the meeting winds down, I can’t help but think how differently Romeo and Juliet’s story might have turned out if they had the support that I have. I also start thinking about the fact that I don’t know what kind of support Luca has. I’ll have to ask him. I know that this is part of what my friends were talking about, when they were saying they don’t believe in love-at-first-sight. A big part of that is the fact that it is true that I don’t know everything about Luca. But, isn’t that true in a lot of relationships? There’s always more to learn and discover about your Beloved, right? I do know, though, that I know enough about him already to know that I love him.

While they’re planning the next Book Club meeting, I listen but don’t contribute. I find that I don’t have much to say. I’m afraid that if I open my mouth, I might cry from sheer happiness at the way my friends love me, the way Luca loves me, and the way I hope my family shows me that they love me- regardless of whom I choose to love.

I bid everyone goodbye and start the walk home. My stroll reminds me of the walk Luca and I took through Cranberry Creek in the middle of the night. We had such a good talk that night, and the discussion we just had at Book Club has a similar feeling to me. I know that they’re all rooting for me. So, even if my parents are angry with me, I know that I have support. And they will come around eventually, I have to believe. They would just have to.

I’m not good at opening up about my fears. Being vulnerable isn’t my strong suit, but today’s Book Club meeting proved to me that sometimes, taking that risk with the people who love you, is really worthwhile. I gained a sense of security that I didn’t know I needed. I think I take my friendships for granted. Most of these women have been in my life since I was in junior high. I decide to make an effort to be mindful of these friendships, and to never take them for granted again.

Seventeen

LUCA

Marissa and I had the best date tonight. We went to a drive-in movie a few towns over. I can’t really remember what the movie was about. Marissa and I spent the whole night talking, mostly about our future. I don’t know if I’ve ever been more excited about the future. Our future. Just the way that sounds is amazing.

It’s pretty late now, as I let myself into my apartment. I’m humming to myself, as I toss my keys onto the table in the entryway and take off my shoes. I’m so caught up in memories from this evening that I don’t remember Angelo is staying with me this week, until he is right in front of me.

“Hey, bro,” he says. “Where ya been?”

“Angelo, what the heck?” I nearly shout. Then I remember that I have neighbors, and I lower my voice so I don’t disturb them.

My brother grins at me and takes a bite from the string cheese he’s holding in his hand. I should know by now that I’m never going to win with Angelo. Nothing is ever serious to him, and that extends to every part of his life. If I thought for a second I could trust him to keep a secret, I would tell him all about Marissa. Mostly because I’m dying to tell someone. She admitted that she broke down and told her whole Book Club, but she swears that they’re trustworthy. I trust Marissa and her judgment, and if she wants them to know, that’s fine by me.

“No, really, where were you?” Angelo asks.

“Out,” I say.

“No, duh,” Angelo says. “But it’s pretty late to just be out. What were you doing out?”

“I was out with a friend,” I say, hoping that’s good enough to put him off questioning me.

Angelo frowns. “You don’t have any friends, Bro.”

“Whoa, that’s harsh,” I say. “And I have plenty of friends. You don’t know everyone that I hang out with.”

“Dude, whatever, tell me what you were really doing and who you were really with,” Angelo eyes me suspiciously. “Wait a minute, were you on a date?”

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