Page 84 of Wonderlust

“No, I bought it in LA,” I replied, walking inside the restaurant and looking for my parents. It was actually the first dress Alex had bought me, but David didn’t need to know that. I spotted my parents in the bar area, sitting on one of the comfortable purple couches.

“MyBambina!” my mother cooed, pulling me into her arms as she stood up. “I can’t believe you’re thirty!”

“Me either, Mum.” Rolling my eyes, I looked over at my father. “Hi, Daddy.”

“Happy Birthday, Natty!” he beamed as I reached for him. “You look beautiful.”

We had a drink in the bar while the waitress took our order, then we were shown to our table. I frowned, noticing we’d been seated at a table with five chairs instead of four.

“How’s business, David?” my mother questioned, placing her napkin on her lap.

“Good. I signed an exciting new act today, and I’m still hoping your daughter will agree to come back and work for me so we can be a proper team again.”

“Nat, that’s wonderful! Why haven’t you agreed?” she asked, confused.

“Because I’ve asked her to come back and work for me, too.” I choked on my sip of water at the voice behind me. This wasn’t happening. Slowly, I turned around. Alex was stood right behind me in a blue suede suit with a white shirt that had the top three buttons undone. Alex didn’t do ties, after all.Don’t drool. DO. NOT. DROOL!“I’m hoping she’ll realize I’m the better offer.” Taking his sunglasses off, he took a seat opposite me. What was he doing here? I had specifically told himnotto turn up! Goddamn rock stars!

Chapter TwentyOne

“Oh, mio Dio!” my mother gasped. You could always tell she was gob smacked when she spoke in Italian.

“You must be Natasha’s parents. It’s wonderful to meet you.” Alex held his hand out to my father. “I’m Alex Harbour, rock star extraordinaire.” I held in a chuckle at my dad's shocked face before watching my mother almost pass out as Alex kissed the top of her hand. “Now I can see where Natasha gets her beauty from.”

“Oh, Nat, I like him,” she giggled over at me. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alex.”

It was wrong of me, but I’d forgotten that David was sitting next to me. It was only when he squeezed my knee that I remembered.

“I don’t seem to recall you being invited, Alex,” he spat, shooting daggers at him. “And if you think Natasha will be taking your offer, you’re mistaken!”

“I think that decision is up to Nat. Wouldn’t you agree?” I wanted the ground to swallow me up. My parents sat watching eagerly as the two men argued over me.

“You can’t just show up like this! What fucking right do you have?!”

“Nat and I have unfinished business. If I want to come and see her for her birthday, I will!” David quickly rose from his chair, but I stood up and put my hand on his chest.

“Don’t,” I pleaded. “Not here. Not tonight. You know what he means to me,” I whispered. His shoulders slumped as he nodded.

“The timing has always been wrong with us,” he sighed, running his hands through my hair. “I could have made you happy. You know that, right?”

“I know, but things change. I was wrong about him, David.” He looked over my shoulder at Alex, who was stood right behind me now.

“You’re leaving with him?” David asked.

“I don’t know.” Tears were stinging the corner of my eyes.

“We need to talk, Nat,” Alex said softly. “You need to make a decision.”

“I was going to do thataftermy meal!” My anger flared at his words. This was what Alex did to me. I turned around and shoved his chest hard. “But just like everything else, you had to have your own way! You couldn’t let me do itmyway! You selfish son of a bitch!”

“We can have this discussion somewhere more private, or we can do it right here. It’s up to you.” Alex clenched his jaw, looking over my shoulder at David and my parents. All the hurt and frustration bubbled to the surface.

“No, you’ve barged in onmybirthday meal. Let’s do it right here! What do you have to say for yourself and your disgusting behavior back in LA?” I gave him my best bitch brow and waited for his answer.

“I wasn’t prepared to lose you again, Nat. Fuck! Do you have any idea what you mean to me?” He grabbed my arms and pinned them to my side. “I’ve been sitting in my hotel room trying to work it all out. If that call I heard wasn’t about David, it could only be about one other person. I’m scared shitless that I’m wrong, though.” Sobbing, I looked down at the floor. What did it matter? He was never going to return my love. “Straight Lace?” Lifting my face, he softly traced my bottom lip with his thumb. “If you come back to LA, I can’t promise you a fairy tale. I can’t say that I won’t fuck up from time to time, but Icanpromise that I’ll fall for you, if you’ll let me. I’m already half way there. You’ve gotten to me, Nat. Can’t you see that? I used to have this reoccurring nightmare where I was wandering down a back alley alone with nothing but my guitar strapped to my back. The path never ended, and I couldn’t leave it. I was always trapped. Those nightmares stopped the moment you began to share my bed. You must be able to see what you’ve done to me…what youmeanto me. ” I was sure I’d stopped breathing. Tears were falling down my face. Everyone in the restaurant seemed to have stopped what they were doing so they could watch us.

“I…I need to get some air,” I gasped, holding my stomach as I quickly rushed outside.

Bracing myself against the wall, I took deep breaths. Alex Harbour had just admitted that he was falling for me! My insides were about to burst with happiness.

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