Page 12 of Falling for my Family's Rival

“I suppose you’re right,” I say. I’ve been thinking the same thing. From what I can tell, Luca’s family is a lot like my own. That means that he is a huge part of the restaurant, no matter what he wants for his own life. It’s just presumed and expected, regardless of what he or I truly want.

“Maybe just… text him,” Violet says. “Check in. Make sure everything is okay. Then when he responds, see what the vibe is. Then you can decide if maybe you want to subtly encourage him with an invite to a low-key activity, like a hike or something.”

Violet always knows just what to say. “Thanks, Vi. That’s a really good idea.”

“Now that we have that situation solved, it’s time to get back to our discussion of Romeo and Juliet,” Addie says.

I lean back in my chair as Book Club convenes again. Once in a while, I feel like I might have something to add, but then I get distracted by thoughts of what I should text to Luca. The message has to be effortless, but it also needs to convey that I want to see him again. Soon. How do I do that without coming across as desperate? I don’t want to interrupt and monopolize the conversation again, so I keep my mouth shut.

The whole time, though, I am composing my text to Luca. By the time Book Club is wrapping up, I think I’ve finally figured out what I want to say to him, but I haven’t typed it out yet. I linger in my seat, my phone clutched in my hand, feeling paralyzed by the enormity of it all. If I don’t send the text, then I chance my life going back to the way it was before. I’ll be sad. Heartbroken even. But I’ve been sad before, and I survived.

Maybe it’s best to just forget about it all and move on. Talking with my friends has made me think more about how complicated things may get, if I venture down this road. If I do nothing, he may think I don’t care. If I text him, then he’ll know how much I want to see him.

Everyone else heads out, but I stay put. When Violet comes back in, she doesn’t seem surprised to see me still there. She sits down in the chair across from me and gives me a small smile.

“So, still not sure what you’re going to do?” she asks.

I shake my head. “I want to text him, but I don’t know if I can handle the stress… of what it might mean to deal with our families, or of waiting for him to message me back.”

Violet laughs softly. “You’ll feel worse if you don’t message him,” she says.

“Ugh, I know that you’re right.” I fidget with my phone for another minute. Then I hold it out to her. “Will you type the message out and send it for me? So I don’t chicken out?”

“I mean, I can, if you’re sure,” Violet says. “What do you want it to say?”

I consider carefully what I think I want to say…. “Maybe… say I really enjoyed our evening together… he’s a great chef… I… I don’t know… I would love to see him again… but, I don’t know… it’s complicated and I don’t want to make problems for him and his family… or for mine… but also that I kind of want to see him regardless… and… oh, I don’t know, Vi… I just really want to tell him that I know we have something special, but I don’t know how it’s possibly going to work with our families being the way they are and all, but at the same time… argh!!! Maybe I should just forget it all, because . . .“

“Okay, done. It’s sent… before you can change your mind.”

“Oh my gosh…..” I feel light-headed all of a sudden. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Violet reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Now you’ll know if he feels the same way. You two at least owe that to yourselves, regardless of whatever your families’ issues are. If it’s meant to be, you two will find a way to work this relationship out- it sounds like both of you definitely have one thing in common: your families are ultra important to each of you. That’s not something to take for granted. It’s beautiful to find someone who shares such a strong family bond like you do. And yet- it also shouldn’t be a hindrance to your happiness. You know what I mean?”

“Thanks,” I whisper as my heart plummets into my stomach. I’ve never been good at dealing with nerves.

I smile wearily, hugging Violet as I head toward the door. I’m just about to my car when my phone dings. I pull it out of my pocket and my stomach drops again. It’s from Luca:

Marissa, I want to see you again..

Nine

LUCA

Islide my phone back into my pocket with a smile on my face. Marissa wants to see me again. I’ve been trying to decide what to message her for days. I’m so thrilled that she messaged me first. Honestly, if I hadn’t been so worried about coming on too strong, I would have called her the second I thought she was home. I had to fight against every desire I’ve ever had. Holding back definitely wasn’t easy, but I don’t think it would have mattered.

“What’s got you so happy?” Angelo asks as he slides by me with an empty tray. He’s on wait staff duty tonight.

“Nothing,” I say, grinning wider.

“Sure,” he grumbles.

I refuse to wait tables anymore. My parents don’t push the issue with me, but they still expect Angelo to do the task when we are short staffed. I’m aware that it doesn’t seem fair. It isn’t. But I’ve worked long and hard to carve out a niche for myself in Venetian Dreams. I’m not sure how I will last a whole career here, but not waiting tables at least helps.

Angelo wants to take over Venetian Dreams someday, and I know that he thinks that I’m standing in his way. If it ever comes up in conversation, I will reassure him that I am not. He can take over my duties at any point in time.

Ever since my first date with Marissa, I can tell that the dream of having my own Greek restaurant has taken root again and is growing at an alarming rate. I’m not sure how my parents would react if I told them what I really want to do with my life, but I don’t think that they would be happy about my decision. They have both made it very clear that they want me and my brother intensely involved in and dedicated to the restaurant.

I pull my phone out, so that I can read the message one more time. Smiling, I shove my phone back into my pocket to go back into the office. My dad is sitting there, on the landline phone, looking angry as he listens to whoever is on the other end. His eyes flick up to me when I enter, but he doesn’t even acknowledge my presence. Suppressing a sigh, I take a seat in the chair across the desk from him.

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