Chapter Seventeen
chapter seventeen
ISLA
When I saw Miles’s name flash up on my phone, I ducked away to the bathroom so I could take his call, I don’t hear from my brother nearly as much as I used to, and hearing his voice tends to ground me wherever I am.
“Hey little sis,” he said. He can never just call me by my name.
“Miles, what’s up?”
“I’m just on a stopover in Tokyo and I can’t sleep, I thought maybe hearing you drone on about your boring life might help,” he teased.
I debated whether I should tell him what’s going on or not. I don’t know if I want a lecture from my big brother right now. “Well, actually…”
“What did you do? Have a fight with Mom and went to stay with Brandon for a week, oh the rebellion.” His voice oozed with sarcasm through the phone, and I couldn’t help but bite back.
“Actually, I broke up with Brandon,” I blurted out.
“Thank fuck, I had an inkling that was perhaps the reason you fled for an Italian holiday. I’ve been waiting for the day you finally dumped that guy. Are Mom and Dad pissed?” He reacted way more chill than I’d expected.
“Mega pissed considering I’ve barely heard a peep from them since I got here.” My mom has called twice over the last week, but I haven’t had the guts to pick up.
“Wait, you’re still in Italy?”
“Yeah, May and I have got jobs at a local bar here.”
“Shit, you really have gone rebellion style.”
“Shut up Miles.”
“No, it’s a good thing. You’ve spent way too long doing what everyone else wanted you to Isla, you deserve to do something for you, you deserve to find your happy.” Tears welled in my eyes at his approval.
“Says the son who did exactly what his parents dreamed he would, got a high payoff job that they can parade around to their friends,” I joked. Sort of.
“You know Mom never wanted me to be a pilot, right?”
“What?”
“She said it was too dangerous, the idea of me crashing in the middle of the ocean was too much for her. We had so many fights when I went to aviation college. I spent so many nights having screaming matches with her whenever I’d go home for dinner.”
I had no idea.
“She always talks about how proud she is of you, how you’re so perfect and I should be more like you, get a job that they will be proud of me for.” I know I sounded like a brat, but that’s truly how my mom acts.
“Maybe that’s how she feels now, but she hated the idea when it first came up, but it’s what I wanted and I didn’t let her push me out of it, after a while she got over it.”
Tears slipped down my face as I leaned against the edge of the bathroom sink, trying to remember those times, I never remember them fighting. Something switches in my brain realizing that Miles went through something similar to me, I always had it in my head that he became a pilot because he had a little an interest in it, but that Mom and Dad pushed him towards it. I felt a newfound comfort knowing that Miles didn’t have the easygoing start that I’d assumed.
“They think I should go back, take Brandon back and work at Dad’s firm. Brandon won’t stop calling me, I feel like my future is inevitable.” More tears fell. I haven’t really talked to my brother like this since he left, and I haven’t really said any of that out loud.
“Isla listen to me,” he put his serious voice on, the one he uses when he’s in professional settings, or telling me off. “You need to do whatever it is that you want, if that’s your painting, if that’s becoming a weirdo statue street performer that scares the living daylights out of people walking past, whatever. I don’t care what it is, but live your life for you, not for anyone else. Mom and Dad will come around, I promise.”
I nodded, not that he could see it.
“Oh, my room service is here, I’ve got to go but I love you Isla, we’ll talk soon?”
“I love you too.” And with that he hung up, leaving me looking in the big bathroom mirror with tear stains down my face and a shaky breath.
After coming back from the bathroom, Caio hovered for about half an hour before he completely disappeared from view. Marina, May and I are standing around a table with champagne in hand while May is grilling Marina about Leo. “So he’s from here?”
“Yeah, he used to live here when he was young, giving me another idiot to keep alive when I was only eighteen. He’s a dick but I love him.”
“He seems close with the guys. Why did he leave?”
“He started up his business in the city, and at first, he’d come back all the time. But then business picked up and things got really serious for him, so he rarely ever comes back now. He’s only been back a handful of times over the last few years, so seeing him here tonight is special.” Her eyes hold an appreciative glow as she looks over at him and Heath at the bar.
I forget about their conversation as my eyes land on the handsome man walking up the stairs onto the stage. I still can’t believe I’m staying somewhere where there’s a ballroom. With a stage in it.
The room quietens as Caio makes his way to the microphone with Rafael by his side, and it comes to my attention that I have no idea what this event is even for. I never questioned Caio about it, I just agreed. I couldn’t do anything else when he was looking at me so intensely that night in the pool. Paralyzed by the feeling rumbling in my chest at his proximity.
I thought avoiding Caio would work, but he keeps stepping into my path and walking alongside me. I don’t know how to stop it; I don’t know if I even want to anymore.
He probably thought I was an idiot the way I ran out on him, but I had to get out of his proximity. I nearly crossed the line that night, I nearly wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist in the pool. Nearly hit the emergency stop button in the elevator and kissed him senseless.
“ Buona sera a tutti , good evening, everyone.” Caio’s smooth voice booms through the microphone, a grateful look in his eyes as he scans the room. “We are so appreciative to everyone that showed up tonight, it’s inspiring to see so many of you here.” He flashes a handsome smile.
“Many of you are familiar with the Ruby Cove Entrepreneurial Program and have been long supporters,” he catches the eye of a few people in the audience. “But those of you who are here for the first time tonight, Rafael and I extend our gratitude to you. We are so excited to have you on board to help our kids experience an amazing opportunity this year. You all know how near and dear Rafael and I hold this program so all of your support here tonight means more than you could know. Anyone that wants to contribute to the foundation tonight—whether it’s monetary form or you are interested in mentoring—please find Stefan before the night is over. Thank you again and please enjoy your night.”
Rafael steps up to the microphone. “And remember, canapés and cocktails are stationed by the entry door, please don’t insult me by leaving them there all night.” He winks as he backs away from the microphone.
The crowd falls into applause as the guys leave the stage and are immediately swept into conversation.
“They have a foundation?” I direct my question at Marina, but my eyes are stuck on Caio as he mingles his way through the crowd.
“Rafael and Caio have always been passionate about helping kids get a head start, and this program is how they do that.” She smiles with pride watching them.
I look again to where Caio is shaking the hand of a grey-haired man. This man intrigues me more with each passing day. There’s more to his character than I thought.
As if feeling my attention on him, his gaze flicks to mine. He quickly bids goodbye to his companion and begins in my direction, abandoning any networking he was doing.
“Care to dance?” He extends his hand in front of me, ignoring anyone else that has been vying for his attention.
“No one else is dancing,” I look around the room at everyone standing around tables. “Plus, this isn’t really music we can dance to.”
He catches Stefan’s attention as he is zooming past, whispering something to him before turning his attention back to me and extending his hand once more.
That look on his face washes away any of my resolve, he has the ability to do that with that sparkle in his eye, and it’s dangerous for me. I’ve never been able to say no to him. I was hoping it was a one-time thing that first day that we went to the fair. Little did I know then that I had no chance against the pull that keeps forcing me into his proximity at every turn.
By the time we have walked out onto the dance floor, the music has changed to a sultry tune and turned up a notch. Caio leads me out dramatically before spinning me around. We catch the eye of the people surrounding us and slowly a few couples start to make their way out to join us.
Caio quirks a brow at me as if to say not dancing music, huh? as he draws us together, I look down at my feet, avoiding his gaze as the edges of my mouth turn up.
He’s takes one of my hands in his as the other falls to my waist and we begin to sway back and forth.
“You didn’t tell me you run a charity organization.”
“You didn’t ask.”
“Do you only share things when people ask?” I say.
“No, generally I don’t share much at all, but I’ll tell you anything you want to know, Isla.” His eyes pierce mine.
God, I can’t keep my head straight when he looks at me like that, when he’s so close that I can smell the cologne on his skin and see the shadow of his freshly shaven stubble. So close that I can see every single one of his long, dark eyelashes that frame those ocean eyes of his.
“Why did you start it? This program?”
His finger begins to trace circles on my back as he answers. My skin tingles at the touch. “I grew up extremely privileged. I had my future laid out for me ever since I was young, expected to fall into step behind my father, opening a Marchetti hotel of my own. I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to do something of my own, and when I abandoned that future, my family abandoned me.”
I slide my hand up and around his neck, wanting to touch him, to comfort him as he opens up to me.
“When I moved here, I didn’t know where to start, I didn’t have anyone to help me professionally. Of course I met people like Nora who were my saving grace, helping me find my feet here, but business wise I was on my own.” I nod in encouragement as he carries on.
“It all worked out well in the end of course, and I learned a lot observing my father when I was young, not that I wanted to be like him,” he looks around the room. “I actually wanted to be the exact opposite. Instead of tearing other people down, I wanted to help young people get a leg up in this world. I wanted to be that person who they could go to. But I’m not narcissistic enough to think I know everything, so I roped in Rafael, and he helped me put this whole thing together. It started with just the two of us, but as we wanted to expand our reach, we started getting in contact with other business people we know in the area and beyond, and here we are. It’s something both of us are really proud of, something I hope will sustain our time,” he smiles.
“You’re incredible.” The words slip out of my mouth in a whisper.
He smiles at me like I’ve just given him the golden ticket, but he stays quiet, his finger still drawing patterns on my back.
“What made you want to leave?”
“My privileged life?”
I nod.
“Well, you know who my parents are. From early on I knew I didn’t want to open a Marchetti Hotel. I wanted to make a name for myself separate from my fathers, and it was either do what they say, or leave, so I left.”
I move my hands up to rest behind his head, fiddling with the ends of his hair. “I’m sorry, Caio.”
He tsks before looking back at me. “No apologies, sweetheart.” He’s called me that more than once tonight and my heart feels like it’s doing cartwheels in my chest every time.
“I haven’t seen them since that day, I was twenty-one, so I’ve had plenty of time to come to terms with it.” He says it with such a casual indifference, but there’s no way it doesn’t still sting to think about it.
I couldn’t imagine my parents cutting me off at twenty-one and uprooting my life to move across the world to start new. Despite everything Caio has been through he’s not bitter. I can’t say the same about myself, and my parents didn’t abandon me, they just wanted something different for me, I guess. Maybe I should pick up the next time my mom calls.
“You’re truly a good man, Caio Marchetti.”
“Careful,” Caio warns, tightening his grip around my waist. “Don’t boost my ego too much Isla, I’ll get a big head.” He winks at me, and I nearly stumble in my heels.
“Your turn,” he says, and my eyes flick back to his. “Will you tell me what I want to know if I ask you?”
“Depends on the question,” I say.
“Why did you stop painting?”
I don’t know why I expected him to let me off easy, but that question? The answer to it I’m not certain about myself, but after talking with Miles, something tempts me to open up. Caio just gave me a sliver of himself, and the way he’s looking at me makes me want to give him one in return.
“I don’t know where to start,” I admit.
“Well, when did you used to paint?”
“Whenever I saw something beautiful.”
The corner of his mouth quirks up. “Well, surely you’ve seen many beautiful things since you’ve been here.”
“I have.” I try my hardest to suppress my own smirk at his obvious comment.
“So why haven’t you painted any of it?” He inquires softly, his finger starting up in soft circles once again, and the small movement gives me the reassurance I need to try to talk about this.
“There are high expectations in my family.”
“How do you mean?” He gently pushes me to open up.
“Well, you know Miles, wildly successful. So let’s just say my parents weren’t as impressed with my choices for my career path. It turns out that maybe they weren’t so thrilled about Miles’s choice either at the beginning, but he’s good at what he does, and success was guaranteed with him.”
“They don’t think you’d be successful as well?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I didn’t really give them the chance to tell me that they didn’t. I was roped into some kind of intervention, it was like they felt the need to interfere before it was too late to save my career, and my boyfriend was there with them.”
Caio shakes his head as I continue, the words spilling out now. “I used to feel so present in my art. When I was painting, I felt truly connected to myself. It was my safe place, where I could express whatever I felt in whatever way I wanted to. But now, when I even think about it, I’m just reminded that it’s not enough for my parents to be proud of me the way they are of Miles. I feel kind of disconnected from it now.” I finally say the words, opening up to the one person I should be staying far away from.
“I know what it is to lose the people that you love because they disagree with your choices.” After hearing about his past I don’t doubt he knows exactly how I feel. “But love shouldn’t be conditional on how successful you are Isla. I have no doubt that you would be wildly successful if you tried, but that shouldn’t affect the way your family or your partner feel about you.” He sweeps a strand of hair behind my ear. “They should love you for your soul, for the way you light up a room when you smile. For your kind heart and your stubborn mind, anyone that isn’t willing to give you that isn’t deserving of everything you give in return. You’re electric Isla.”
We are barely moving now, as if he doesn’t want to give any energy to anything but me in this moment.
“Their affection shouldn’t depend on your success, any success you make in your life doesn’t define you, Isla, this does,” He points a finger to my beating heart. “You should do what you love purely because you love it, that is enough.”
His words strike a chord within me, validating my inner thoughts, and slightly digging up that root of doubt that’s been riddling my mind. He’s looking down at me with something like hope and fear mixed in his eyes, almost like he’s hoping he hasn’t said the wrong thing, but unknowingly he’s said the exact words that I needed to hear.
The lines I’ve carefully tried to draw between us are starting to blur. Caio is insistent on breaking down my walls, and I don’t know how to stop it. I don’t know if I want to. One part of me says run as far as you can, and the other says to jump into his arms and never let go.
He pulls me in close, his hands linked and resting low on my back, and I instinctively wrap my arms around his neck, leaning into his tall frame and resting my head against his shoulder. Holding him this way feels effortless, natural, like my body is made to be held in his arms, and it’s daunting.
My attention catches on Leo and May dancing together over Caio’s shoulder. May’s laugh echoes through the room making me smile. Behind them I can see Rafael sitting at the bar with a drink watching the two of them with disdain.
“Why does he dislike her so much?” I ask Caio, nodding my head in Rafael’s direction. “I mean I know May gives him shit but he’s been frosty from the beginning.”
“I think it might be because he doesn’t really dislike her at all.” Caio says with quiet confidence.
“Hmm.” I never thought that was even an option. But I don’t give it another thought as Caio pulls me in close, his body flush to mine. I rest my head against his chest, allowing myself this moment of comfort with a man who quiets my racing mind, even if that’s just for this moment.