When It Falls Apart (The D'Angelos, #1)(70)

Chloe groaned, took her appetizer, and walked away.

Thirty minutes later there was enough of a lull in the kitchen for Luca to step out and called Brooke.

Thankfully, she picked up the phone.

“Hi, stranger.”

“It’s been hectic,” he started. “How are you?”

“Busy. I’m on a break right now, so I have a few minutes to talk.”

Luca stood outside the back door of the restaurant, away from the ears of his staff. “Chloe told me you spoke.”

It took a second for Brooke to respond. “Yeah. It’s crazy how she could find a minute to tell me what’s going on and you couldn’t.”

That made him look bad. “I honestly didn’t want to distract you from your work. I know how important this job is.”

“Considering how huge this is, I’d think . . . never mind.” Her words were sharp, anger laced her voice.

He squeezed his eyes shut. “I should have said something.”

“When men keep things from women, there’s a reason. I shouldn’t be offended. We’re new. You don’t owe me anything.”

“Cara, don’t say that. I may not owe you anything, but I want to be here for you, and you for me.”

“I want to believe that.”

“You can.”

“We’ll see. How is Franny?”

“Seeing her mother this afternoon at the hotel.”

“Antonia is staying in a hotel?” Brooke asked.

“Yes. She wanted to stay here, but I said no. Put her in a hotel instead.”

“Wait, what? You’re paying for her hotel?”

He ran a hand through his hair. This was not going like he wanted it to. “Yes. It’s complicated.”

He heard Brooke’s nervous laugh over the line. “More complicated by the second.”

“None of this is making me look good, is it?”

“No.”

“She means nothing to me, Brooke.”

“You’re lying to yourself. If she meant nothing to you, she wouldn’t be in a hotel that you’re paying for. Here’s the thing . . . I’m going to put my feelings aside here for now. This is about Franny and how she’s handling all this. I have one piece of advice, if you want to hear it.”

“I’m listening.”

“Don’t say anything good or bad about Antonia in front of Franny. Don’t make one promise you can’t keep when it comes to her mom. She’ll hold it against you.”

“Thank you, cara.”

“You can thank me by not keeping shit from me.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“And, Luca?”

“Yes.”

“If your feelings change about anything, tell me.”

“My feelings aren’t going to change.”

Brooke laughed. “People’s feelings change every day. I gotta go.”

“I’ll call you tonight.”

“Okay.” She didn’t sound convinced. “Bye.”

“Ciao.”

Luca disconnected the call. “Fuck!”

“That does not sound good,” Sergio said from the back door.

“Women.”

Sergio started laughing and continued to laugh as he walked away.





CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR


Franny squeezed Luca’s hand in a death grip as they stood outside the hotel looking up at it.

“Are you ready?” he asked her.

She shook her head, her face void of color. She wore a dress, one she picked out for one of those school performances where all the classmates stood onstage and sang for their parents. It was rose pink with ruffled sleeves and completely girlie. She picked out sparkly white sneakers after having a slight meltdown that the dressy white shoes she hated to wear didn’t fit any longer.

It took Luca showing her online images of girls wearing dresses with cute tennis shoes to convince Franny the outfit worked. All of it came together when everyone in the restaurant complimented her as they walked out.

Luca guided her through the hotel lobby and out into the courtyard. He scanned the tables, his eyes landing on his ex-wife.

She wore dark sunglasses and was on a cell phone.

When she caught sight of them, she raised her hand and got off her call.

Franny tugged on his arm until he leaned over. “Is that her?”

“Yes.”

They crossed the courtyard slowly. As they did, Franny moved closer and closer to Luca’s side.

“Oh, my . . . would you look at you. How grown-up you are.”

Franny placed a timid hand in the air. “Hi.”

Antonia knelt down, opened her arms. “Don’t you have a hug for your mama?” It was then that Luca noticed the high heels and the skirt she wore.

Franny pushed closer to Luca’s leg.

“Why don’t we give Franny some time here, Antonia.”

The smile on her face wavered as she stood without the hug. She removed her sunglasses and looked between the two of them. “Of course. Sit, sit. I ordered some snacks. I hope you’re hungry.”

Franny smiled. “You’re pretty.”

“Oh, baby, that’s so sweet of you to say. You are, too.”