Page 31 of Falling for my Family's Rival

Chiara turns to face me, a look of sheer surprise on her face. I didn’t mean to shock her. It just sort of came out. I want her to stop trying to get the information out of me. Honestly, I think that I can get her to back off, if I just give her a little more information.

“So that’s what it is,” she mutters. “I should have known.”

“Yes, I’m seeing someone, and it’s been going on for a while. I’ve been keeping it to myself, because we want privacy right now,” I say.

“Okay, I get that,” Chiara says. “How did the two of you meet?”

“We met at the masquerade ball, actually,” I say. “I didn’t know who he was until afterward, and by then it was too late. I had already fallen for him.”

“Wait, wait, wait! What does that even mean? Who is he? Please do not say Angelo,” she says.

“Well, no, but close,” I say. “It’s his brother, Luca.”

Chiara’s face goes slack with shock. I’m afraid I might have broken her. “Let me get this straight,” she says. “You’re dating one of… them??”

“Again, his name is Luca, and he is not the enemy. I honestly don’t know why Angelo was pulling the crap that he was, but I can assure you that Luca had nothing to do with it,” I say.

“How serious is this new relationship?” Chiara demands, one eye arched questioning.

At first I’m a little offended by her question, but I know that it’s coming from a place of concern, for me, for her, for our family. All of our emotions are heightened at the moment, because of this whole rivalry between our fathers. We take sides, even if we don’t want to. I’m trying not to think too hard about it.

“It’s serious,” I say.

“What does that mean for our family?” Chiara asks.

“I don’t know how to answer that,” I say. “Of course I’m loyal to our family, but I’m also loyal to Luca now.”

Chiara falls into a long silence while she stares at me. I’m not sure what’s going on in her head, but I wish that she would say something to me. I need to know if she’s going to tell our parents or not, but I’m scared to ask. I don’t feel much like an adult right now, to be honest.

Finally she says, “Listen, I have a lot of concerns about this relationship. I don’t want you to get hurt. I hope that he’s not using you as some kind of weird revenge. But if you’re happy, then I support you. And I’ll keep your secret, if you need me to. I don’t love it, but I’ll do it.”

Tears of relief flood my eyes. I’m choked up, to say the least. All I can say is, “Thank you.”

Chiara leans across the bed to give me a hug. I feel the same relief flood through my body that I did after telling the Lits about Luca. I realize that I want my relationship to be completely out in the open. I don’t know how to go about doing that, though.

“How long do you think you can keep it hidden, before mom and dad find out?” Chiara asks.

I shrug. “I don’t know,” I say. “I figure I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now, I just want to find a way to end the rivalry. I think it’s the only way for all of us to move forward.”

Nineteen

LUCA

Over the last few weeks, Marissa and I have gone on so many dates that I can’t remember where one ends and the next begins. However, we still haven’t come up with a solution for our families. It feels like the problem is just growing, because the more we’re together, the more in love with her I fall. I think we’re both avoiding the inevitable, ‘willing it’ to go away somehow, because we don’t want the magic to end. I know that sounds silly, but it is magical, every moment I’m with Marissa.

Today is a big day for me. And hopefully it will be equally big for Marissa as well, but I can’t think too much about that right now. I have to focus on what I need to do. On one of our recent dates, Marissa introduced me to her friend, Violet and her husband, Robert. I pulled them both aside when Marissa was using the restroom, and I confided in them about my special plans. Violet was so ecstatic, and after whispering something to Robert, they turned around and invited me to have a private, romantic dinner with Marissa in their fabled rose garden, within their greenhouse.

I was overwhelmed by their incredible generosity and hospitality. Marissa has told me countless stories about her Book Club friends, who have nicknamed themselves “the Lits.” She thinks the world of them all, and from everything Marissa’s told me, they all sound like exceptional people. I’m so glad she has them in her life, and I can’t wait to meet them all.

She hasn’t exactly said so, but I picked up on the fact that Marissa is the only one of her friends who is still single… well, I mean, unmarried. I am banking everything in my heart that I can be the one who changes that status for her soon. Marissa thinks that she’s coming to have a special meal ‘just because’, just another one of our dates. I intentionally didn’t build it up to any more than that. We don’t actually have a meaningful milestone to celebrate, but after tonight, I believe we will.

From the way Marissa has described Violet and Robert’s home, I already know that the place is stunning to begin with; and with the way Violet promised to set the greenhouse up, I have no doubt that it will be even more beautiful with her special touches. I can’t wait to actually see it.

I pull up early to the house - mansion, rather - so that I can see everything that is set up. I double-check, and triple-check, to make sure that I have the ring in my pocket. It’s solidly there. Violet greets me on the steps with an excited hug.

“I’m so thrilled that this is happening for the two of you!” Her eyes are shining, and the enthusiasm she has seems to burst from every ounce of her. I already like Violet a lot. She is like a ray of sunshine, bursting into bubbles. I’ve never met someone so joyful, yet peaceful, at the same time.

“Thank you again for allowing me to do this for her, Violet. I don’t think Marissa has any idea what I’m planning. At least, I hope she has no idea!” As I speak, I can feel myself getting more and more nervous. What if Marissa isn’t ready for this kind of commitment? I’m not really worried, though. If anything, I feel like this is the best idea I’ve ever had. And I feel confident that she will think so, too.

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