“What?”
“Papà had a heart attack while you were away. I guess it was the public disgrace of his son not arriving on his wedding day that did him in. It’s all your fault.”
“What? No. I don’t believe you. Giorgio would’ve told me. I only spoke to him the other day.”
“Fine! He didn’t have it on your wedding day, but he had it a couple of days ago. Knowing you missed Christmas and now New Years. Those are holidays we never miss together, no matter what.”
Is that sincerity in my sister’s voice?
“Is he okay?” My hands are shaking because as much as I hate the control my family exercises over me, they are still my family.
“He’s in the hospital.”
The world falls out beneath me.
Shit! What have I done?
My tantrum has put my father in the hospital.
Lilly places a hand on me. “You should go… be with your family, Luca.” She uses my real name as I turn and look at my sister. “Give us a moment.”
She glares at me but takes her entourage with her out of the apartment.
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.” Tears fall down Lilly’s face, and I know she won’t be.
“Come… come with me.”
She shakes her head. “You should be with your family. Now isn’t the time to worry them with anything or anyone else.”
“But what about us?” I grab her face, make her look at me.
“Everything’s changed now, Luca.”
“No. No, it hasn’t.”
“We were only meant to be a holiday romance, nothing more. We were kidding ourselves that we could be more.”
My heart begins to break as a sick feeling develops deep in my stomach. “I’ve fallen for you, Lilly.”
She pushes herself out of my arms and paces the room. “You may think you have, but we come from two vastly different worlds. I’m just someone you thought you wanted, but in the end, I’ll be a nice story to remember when you’re old.”
“You have no feelings for me?”
“How can I? I don’t know who you are.” Her words cut like a knife to my chest.
“I’m still me. The same guy who stood naked in your cottage living room. The same guy who thinks you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. The same guy who wants so desperately for the woman he realizes he loves to love him back.”
Lilly looks up at me through red-rimmed eyes. “I think you have me confused with someone else.”
That’s so not what I wanted to hear from her.
I stare at her, really stare at her, and she does the same back at me.
“Fine! The job offer still stands. I’ve contacted my friend… he’ll speak to you soon about working for his charity.” I turn on my heel and head to the bedroom, then shove my stuff into my overnight bag, which doesn’t take me too long.
Lilly is staring out the big picture window overlooking the city.
I can’t leave her like this.
Dropping my bag to the floor, I pull her into my arms and kiss her. It may be a goodbye kiss, but I need her to know that my feelings are real. She kisses me back, and I can taste her salty tears as she does.
“Don’t give up on us, Lilly,” I tell her, pressing my forehead to hers.
“Just go.”
It feels like walking through wet cement every step away from her.
My loyalties are torn between a sick father and a woman I have fallen for.
“The keys for the car are on the table,” I say as I sadly walk out of the apartment not knowing when or if I’ll ever see Lilly again.
18
Lilly
It’s a long journey home by myself. Thankfully, I was able to pick up Luke’s 4WD. Otherwise, I would have no idea how I’d be getting home. I pick up my phone and call the only person who I know who’ll understand. It rings and rings and rings until it drops out, so I try again.
“Lilly.” Lauren’s voice echoes through the car’s speakers, and I burst into tears. “Lil, what’s the matter? Has something happened?”
“Luke. His real name is Prince Luca Fiorenzo.”
Lauren bursts out laughing. “Did you say prince?”
“Yes.”
The phone falls silent.
“You’re being serious?”
“Yes, and his evil sister and fiancée have just dragged him home to Italy.”
“What! He has a fiancée?”
“He left her at the altar because she slept with his best man at his rehearsal dinner.”
“She did what!”
“They called me a whore.” I’m being hysterical, I realize this, but I am hurting right now.
“Oh, hell, no, they did not! She’s the one screwing her fiancé’s friend,” Lauren yells down the phone. “They are so lucky that I wasn’t there. Royalty or not, I’d have kicked their regal asses.”
I burst out laughing because I know she would. “I would’ve paid money to see that, but don’t worry, I stuck up for myself.”
“Good for you. So, where’s Luke now?”
“Luca… he’s in Italy.”
“He’s what? Oh, hell, no… damn! I need to kick his ass as well.”
“His father had a heart attack and is in the hospital. That’s why they were trying to find him.”
“Oh. Doesn’t that seem a little too convenient?”
“Lauren! Don’t say that,” I tell her while shaking my head.
“Well, they sound like bitches. I wouldn’t put it past women like that. I’ve watched The Tudors… royalty does that sort of shit.”
“This isn’t medieval times, Lauren.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“Nothing.”
Lauren screams at me, “Nothing? You’re just going to let a prince go?”
“I don’t care that he’s a prince.”
“I know, but still, a prince.”
I look out over the emerald green and white rolling hills of the Scottish countryside and try to picture myself living in a gilded castle. No. I don’t think that’s for me.
“He told me he loved me.”
A squeal echoes through the car. “He what? Why would you leave the most important thing out of the story? He loves you…”
My tears flow thinking about the way he kissed me as he said goodbye. The way he tried to convince me that what he was
