He did.
There was so much he wanted to say to him. So much he needed to tell his brothers. He didn’t know where to start. “Perhaps we could be the first generation to share the island. You can have Dominic’s side.”
Stephan choked on a laugh. “That’s cruel.”
In a more serious tone, Gio said, “I was wrong to leave your wedding. Wrong about more than I can even begin to explain now.”
Stephan put a hand on Gio’s shoulder and said, “You are not the first Andrade to make a mistake, and you won’t be the last.”
“Speaking of mistakes . . .” Max looked around and asked, “Did you lose Julia?”
Gio shrugged one shoulder unhappily. “She went back to New York.”
Luke shook his head. “That’s a shame.”
An uncharacteristically sympathetic Nick said, “We liked her.”
“She said I wasn’t ready.”
“And what did you say when she said that?” Nick asked.
Gio shrugged again. “What could I say?”
Nick turned to his cousin. “We can’t lose Julia. I actually like Gio when he’s around her.”
Luke broke the silence that followed his brother’s declaration by asking, “How far could she have gotten?”
Max looked at Gio. “Is she on a commercial flight?”
“Just call her. Maybe she’s not on the plane yet,” Max suggested.
“I broke her phone. And even if she had it, her number is in mine, which is on the bottom of the ocean,” Gio said in frustration.
Luke looked at his oldest brother with a funny expression on his face. “I’m ready to diagnose you, Gio.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“You have a severe case of, ‘In love with no fucking idea of what to do about it.’” He shook his head sadly. “It’s the worst I’ve seen.”
“She wanted to leave,” Gio defended himself, even as he kicked himself for letting her leave. “What was I supposed to do? Kidnap her?”
Stephan shrugged. “I’ve seen it work.”
Max said, “And Gio thinks I hang out with a questionable crowd?”
Stephan asked, “Do you love her?”
There were many things that Gio was no longer certain about, but he knew the answer to that question. “Yes, I do.”
“Then go get her. Tell her you love her. Everything else will work out.”
A ray of hope lit and grew within Gio. Could it be that easy? Could he choose love? “You’re right. I have to tell her how I feel. I’m going back to New York. I wish I knew what flight she was on.” He looked at his cousin in apology. “It’ll mean I’ll miss your wedding, but I have to find her.”
Stephan groaned. “I know someone who can find out anything. He could probably tell us if she’s en route or at the airport. He can access almost any database.”
“You mean a hacker?”
“He doesn’t like that term, but yes.” Stephan made a brief phone call, then said, “She has a two-hour layover in Rome.”
Determination filled Gio. “I still have time.”
“Just make sure you’re back for the ceremony tomorrow,” Stephan said in resignation. “Or Nicole will kill me.”
Gio hesitated before he left. He looked at his three smiling brothers and said, “I know I haven’t always been that easy to get along with, but when I get back we need to talk. I need to make some things right.”
Nick made a face at Luke. “Why does love make you sound so much like you’re dying?”
*
Julia used some of her time in the airport to check her phone messages via a public phone—an expensive necessity. She needed to reconnect with her life. Now. Her father had called twice. He said there was nothing important but asked that she call when she had time.
She had a couple of messages from friends back in Rhode Island who were wondering how New York was treating her. Only her closest friends were going to hear the real story, and even then she wasn’t sure she’d be able to talk about any of the past week for a long time.
What are the five stages of realizing you just did something too stupid to tell your friends?
Denial: It was not a bad idea to run away to a foreign country with a man I barely know.
Anger: Until he turned out to be a complete jackass who didn’t fall in love instantly the way everyone does in books.
Bargaining: I’ll never do anything like this again if I can just fall out of love with him as fast as I fell in love.
Depression: I can’t believe I did this. I told myself not to. I knew it would end badly, but that didn’t stop me, did it? Instead of doing something important—like saving my family’s company—I go off and get my heart broken by someone who told me he wasn’t looking for anything serious.
But do I listen?
No, I see only what I want to see.
Acceptance? Not likely to happen for a while.
Julia hit the button for the final message. She’d half hoped it would be from Gio, but it was a woman whose voice she didn’t recognize. “Hello, my name is Lisa. I’m Mrs. Rockport’s personal assistant. I’m calling on her behalf to invite you to her house next week. She’s received so many compliments on your necklace that she’d like to commission it in gold and diamonds as well as look at your other designs.”
Julia played the message a second time, and then a third.
I did it.
I found my buyer.
She called her father to tell him. He was happy, but not surprised. He said he always knew she would sell them. She promised to start sending him money as soon as it came in and, just as she knew he would, her father told her it wasn’t necessary.
“Dad, I’ll be able to come back now. I can help you figure out the books and work everything out with the bank.”
“You don’t have to, Julia. I accepted a buyout offer.”
“Oh, Dad. No.”
“It’s okay, Julia. It’s what I wanted. I was hanging on to my factory because I didn’t want to let my employees go. But the new owner says he’ll keep everyone on. I have some money in the bank now and more time to be with your mother. This was for the best.”
The news was bittersweet to Julia. “I’ll come see you next weekend, Dad.”
“We’ll be here, honey.”
Julia hung up the phone and fought back the wave of sadness that filled her. She couldn’t imagine her family without their furniture store.
It also meant there was no longer any reason for her to be in New York. She could create Mrs. Rockport’s orders anywhere. She could return to her apartment in the city, but she wouldn’t be happy there. Not without Gio.
Her flight number was called and Julia walked to her gate. The attendant looked at her ticket, then let her through. Although Julia was lost in thought, she stopped midway down the enclosed ramp and noted that no one was behind her. She hadn’t seen anyone in line in front of her either.
Maybe I’m early?
No, they said it was time to board.
The stewardess at the plane ushered her forward, which put her somewhat at ease. Julia stopped again before the plane door and looked over her shoulder again.
Did I actually think he would come after me?