“Bethany.”
I turn to find Emilio behind me, “Just leave me alone.” I turn back to him, embarrassed that he witnessed what just happened.
He walks to stand beside me, looking forward, “I don’t need to explain the situation in detail to you and why your brother is stressed about this.”
“It wasn’t even my fault,” I sniffled.
“I know. It was my fault for allowing it.”
“Did she hold what she said against you?”
“No,” Emilio replied. “I was being selfish. I wanted to see you and going to that spa was the perfect spot without anyone seeing or reporting back to Luca.”
Blushing at his confession, “Do you regret that choice?”
He paused, “I regret not having self-control.”
Unsure if that was a backhand compliment, I proceeded to tell him about the man who came into my room. “I saw a man. Not sure if he was involved, but he came into my room, took off his clothes, and put on a robe then walked out.”
“Did you get a good look at him?”
I nod my head. “Dark hair, brown eyes. Defined jawline. A birthmark on his left shoulder.”
“That’s helpful. Now I need to figure out how to bring that up to Luca.”
“What’s Luca so concerned about anyway? Around Aria, it’s like he forgets he’s a DeCarlo. We hold the power.”
Emilio was silent for a moment. “I think he has genuine feelings for her.”
Taken back, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Luca catch feelings? Does he even know what feelings are?”
“He is human, Bethany. Cut the man some slack.”
“You always take his side.” I begin to walk away.
“B, where are you going?”
Talking over my shoulder, “What’s it matter to you?”
He caught up to me and grabbed my elbow gently. “Hey. Look at me.”
I stop and turn to face him. “It’s not fair.”
“Life’s not fair. You just need to roll with the punches.”
“You think he has feelings for Aria?”
Emilio nodded, “It’s not an ideal situation.”
“Do you think Aria has feelings for him? Genuine feelings?”
Again, nodding his head, “She fights it, but they are there.”
“And if they choose to accept those feelings…, would they choose each other?”
“Time will tell. At some point, it will all come crashing down.”
Although the conversation was geared toward Aria and Luca, I was referring to us and Emilio was doing the same.
