“My ears need bleaching.” He coughs.
“Son, we are old, not dead.”
“Anyway, back on track. I found a note from Nell when I woke up. She explained that she overheard a conversation between Asher and me and thought it was about her. It was not. Then the night before the wedding, she got drunk with you ladies and I put her to bed, then went for a swim. Daniella joined me and we had a talk and cleared the air, but…”
“But what, Romeo?” My mother’s voice goes deathly flat and I shiver.
“Don’t ever piss off Renata De Massy,” one of my uncles mutters, then sips his coffee.
Shaking my head at him, I carry on. “She must have woken up and come out to the balcony and saw us by the pool. Nell took it that we were having an intimate moment and thought we were getting back together. She also accused me of playing games with her. I assure you I was not; I am...”
“In love with her,” my mom finishes for me.
I nod, my heart beating really fucking fast in my chest. I reach up, rubbing my sternum and look to my mother, whose eyes go soft as recognition sets in.
“I am in love with her.”
“Of course you are, Son. She is a wonderful woman,” my father adds.
“Fucking hell, never saw that coming.” Asher’s tone makes people laugh.
He winks at me with a bright smile on his face, showing that he is happy for me.
Sitting back in my chair, I let the idea of being in love sink into my soul. Nell is good for me; she makes life brighter and less stressful. Her goofy ways make me laugh, the way her unfortunate mishaps, as she calls them, have her both embarrassed and accepting of whatever happens.
“I need to find her,” I say to no one in particular.
My gaze goes across the room, where I see Daniella sitting with some of her and Mia’s friends. As if sensing me watching her, she looks my way, offering me a small smile, before getting to her feet.
Walking toward me, my spine straightens, my shoulders going back, ready for what she has to say.
“Morning, everyone. Romeo, have you spoken to Nell this morning?”
“Have you seen her?” I ask.
Nodding, she says, “I saw her in the early hours; I was leaving…” She stops talking, looking around the room, her gaze searching for someone. “Anyway. I saw her leaving. She had all of her luggage, and she stopped at the elevators.”
“Did she say anything to you? Say where she was going?”
She shakes her head. “No, I’m sorry. All she said was that I had won, and that you were all mine.”
“Fuck,” I mutter. I run my fingers through my hair again.
My frustration is building.
Why did Nell run?
She should have talked to me, that way I could have cleared all this shit up. This is the part of a relationship that I fucking hate. The miscommunication, and everyone not fucking talking and just assuming shit.
Fuck.
“Romeo, I am sorry again. I know we talked the other night, but I do want what is best for you and if that is Nell, then I think that you need to go and get your girl,” Daniella speaks up with a smile on her face.
“I agree, Son.” I look to my father. “Go get her.”
Pushing from my seat, I step to my mom, leaning down to kiss her cheek. She taps mine softly, a smile on her face.
“I love you, Romeo, and I think Nell is someone special. Do not let her slip away.”
