Page 45 of Unconditional

I shake my head, bursting into tears. “No.”

Wrapping his arms around me, he pulls me in, holding me tight. “Baby girl, it’s okay. Everything will be okay. You wanted to see him again, didn’t you?”

I nod against his chest. “I did. But I’m scared. I don’t want to get hurt again.” I stop, then sniffle. “What if he isn’t here for me, but here to tell me that he’s back with Melody? That we were a mistake?”

Francois pushes me to arm’s length. “Baby girl, the way that man was looking at you, there is no way he wants to tell you that you were a mistake. That look on his face? Honey, that was pure love. And the tension and electricity between you? Damn, I thought I was going to choke on it.”

I snort as I swipe at my tears, my eyes meeting his. “You think?”

He thumbs my wet cheek. “I know.”

Sighing, I move to the couch and drop down. “I know I’m not over him, but I feel like I’ve made progress in these last ten months. A lot of that can be put down to you, you know?”

He sits beside me. “It was all you, baby girl. I was just there for support.” He sighs. “It’s okay to let yourself love him, Thalia, if that’s what you want. I know a lot happened between you two and you haven’t told me the whole story with how the baby came about, but if he’s here for you and you still love him, what’s the problem?”

I chew my bottom lip in thought. Francois is right. I never told him the whole story about the conception. It’s not my story to tell and I would never betray Theo’s trust like that. I do still love Theo with every fiber of my being. We may not have been together these last ten months, but the love I feel for Theo never went away. If possible, it burned harder, stronger. I sat in bed crying many a night through my time without him, and even in the heartache, there was a tiny part of me that believed we would still be endgame. An even bigger part of me knew that Theo was my person, my soulmate. He was it for me. And even if we couldn’t be together, that would remain the truth and no one could take that away from me. I know I have been naïve when it comes to Theo but how can I doubt my feelings, my thoughts? I know you can confuse feelings but what I feel for him, there is no doubt in my mind it’s real. True.

With that in mind, I blurt. “I’ll go and see him. I would have seen him anyway, but I want to find out all the facts before I make any decisions.”

“My baby is growing up,” Francois chuckles. I swat at him but smile, only for it to turn into a frown.

“My father won’t like this, and when my parents get to Italy, they’ll know Theo is here. They’ll see him when they watch the competition.” I chew my bottom lip anxiously.

“Don’t worry about that. Your father loves you; he wants you happy.”

I glance at my best friend. “What about you? The press, your parents? They think we’re a couple.”

He pulls me into a hug and kisses my head. “I love that you’re worried about me but don’t be. I love you. I want you to be happy and if that fine piece of man meat makes you happy then I’m not going to stand in your way just because the press came up with their own conclusion and made us a couple.” He sighs. “One day I will tell my parents the truth. I need to tell my family anyway. Henri wants me to. He wants us to be out in the open with our relationship and I do too. It’s just hard, you know. My parents won’t be happy.”

I look up at him. “Do you love him?”

“Yes. I think I do.”

I squeeze him. “I am so happy for you Franny. Tell your parents. They might surprise you.”

He sighs. “I will.” He glances at me and waggles his brows. “And I’ll be happy for you when your man finally claims you.”

I shoot him a look. “We don’t know if he’s here to do that. How can everything turn upside down in a split second? One minute I’m walking along, laughing with you and the next the love of my life, who I haven’t seen in so long, steps in front of me like we’ve never been apart.”

Francois smiles knowingly. “That’s the beauty of love, baby girl. No matter what happens or who tries to come between you, if it’s meant to be, it will always find a way. It’s fate. I felt the tension between the two of you. Saw the looks you gave one another. The love in both your eyes. Even after the time apart you are still crazy about each other. And that? That is something you find once in a lifetime, so take it with both hands and never let it go again.”

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