After spending three hours at the beach, I’ve soaked up enough sun and saltwater, my stomach growls, and James and I are ready to go home. It takes us a while to walk back to my house but seeing all the different cafés and restaurants I used to go to as a child makes me feel better. We make small talk, yet I am not paying much attention. My mind is preoccupied with our surroundings. Eventually, I link my arm through his, like I’ve done countless times in my life, and laugh at something he tells me.
James moved to Monaco when he was only eight years old. His dad was convinced James had a great future ahead of him if they moved from London to Monte Carlo. His family still lives here, and they are not planning on moving any time soon.
For a little while, our conversation focuses on his sister and how worried he is. Mia is making questionable choices with questionable people, and James has no idea how to help her. She is careless because she’s convinced her parents’ money makes her invincible.
My mind drifts to Gabriel and his younger brother, Jean, who also had a terrible phase a couple of years ago. He lashed out because he couldn’t deal with his grief and with all of the pain he was feeling. I couldn’t blame him then, nor can I now, because I have felt hopeless, devastated, and broken more than once. Jean is the only one who had the courage to say, ‘I’m not okay, please help me.’ And we did. Adrian took him to therapy, Gabriel took him to the most beautiful places around the world, and I simply spent a lot of time talking to him on the phone, helping him work through his feelings. After a couple of months, he seemed much better, and now he’s happier. If Jean could fight through the grief that made him lash out, I’m sure Mia’s spoiled phase will pass too.
We arrive at home, and my heart rate speeds up to an unhealthy level when I see Gabriel sitting on the veranda with Adrian. Gabriel has a serious expression on his face as he studies James and me: arms linked and smiling brightly.
“How was the beach?” Adrian asks when I put my backpack on the table and pull out my towel to hang it over the chair.
“It was great. The water was cold, but it was worth it.” I smile at him, but he only nods absentmindedly. He is probably reading an email from his team, which is why he’s behaving rudely.
“I have to go home, Val, but thank you for the lovely day,” James tells me, and I grin at him.
“Thank you. I had a great time.” His face lights up, and he gives my cheek a quick peck before he leaves. I put on my shirt from earlier when a phone rings. My head snaps up, and I see Gabriel stand up and walk toward our pool area.
“No, Kira!” is the first thing I hear Gabriel say into the phone. “You always do this! You always put yourself first, and that would be okay if, once in a while, you would put me first. But you don’t. All you do is yell at me, tell me I should prioritize you, but you know what? My career matters, too!” I try not to listen, but Gabriel is screaming. Adrian and I exchange worried expressions. A growl roars from where he is standing, but I refrain from looking at him. “Valentina?” he says in a soft voice. My eyes move in his direction, and I see his face is red, his eyes are half-closed, and his hand is in his hair. I wait for him to say more. “May I have some water, please, chérie?” I simply nod before going inside to get what he asked for.
“Here you go,” I tell the upset man, who is sitting in the chair I previously occupied. “Excuse me, you’re in my seat,” I tease, but he’s too caught up in his thoughts to sense it’s a joke.
“Oh, shit, sorry,” he mumbles and attempts to get up, but I only laugh as I push him back down.
“Stay, I’m just kidding,” I add, and finally, he chuckles.
“Thank you.” His words are soft as they leave his mouth, and it makes my knees weak.
“Of course, you’re a guest in my house,” I tell him, and he shows me his brilliant, white-teethed smile with dimples. His adorable personality, combined with his sexy smirk, is why he’s so dangerous. My eyes shift away from his face to make my head stop spinning and heart stop racing.
I decide to go upstairs and take a shower. It has been a long day, and I am ready to sit down with my favorite book until it’s time for dinner.
I try to focus on the words on the page with all of my strength, but nothing works. My thoughts only want to concentrate on LA, Aunt Carolina, Luke, Grandfather, my parents, and other fun things that still haunt me. Groaning and moaning, I put the book aside and fall back onto my bed.
“What’s wrong, chérie?” I look up and see him standing in my doorway. His trained arms are crossed in front of his chest in a sexy, brooding way. One of his eyebrows is higher than the other, and all I want to do is smooth out the creases in his forehead, bring a genuine smile to his face, and make him happy. He deserves to feel joy instead of negligence.
“Nothing,” I lie and cross my legs on the bed before I pat the space in front of me. “Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?” I ask, hoping he’ll finally open up to me. He nods slightly and places his hands on the bed, followed by his round butt.
“I don’t know what to do anymore, Val. Kira and I want such different things, and everything between us hasn’t been right. We haven’t been right, and all I keep thinking is that I have known this girl for three years. Kira is talented, kind, and funny. She has watched me grow into the man I am today, kind of like you have…” He pauses with a thoughtful look on his face. It’s brief, and he shakes his head to focus on the conversation again. “…and I don’t know how to let her go,” he admits in a rant, and his honesty takes me aback. He’s never opened up to me about Kira. Usually, he keeps his business just that, his. However, hearing him talk about his relationship shows me he needs my help and advice.
“Instead of screaming at each other, why don’t you sit down with her and talk about everything? She needs to know what is going on in your head in a calm manner. Don’t let your emotions get the better of you. I think you guys can work it out. All you have to do is explain and listen.” Gabriel’s eyes are on mine, his lips are slightly parted, and his breathing is steady. For a minute, no words fall from his full lips, but when they do, I wish I wasn’t such a good friend.
“You’re right. We’re going to make it work. We always do.” Gabriel gets up from my bed and walks closer to me, his lips brushing over the top of my head. “Thank you, Val.” He leaves my room seconds later, and I am alone again.
“Good job, Valentina,” I whisper to myself.
