Chapter 25
Elen a
“Morning.” I greet the people at the breakfast table.
It is after ten, a time where breakfast is normally over but we woke up late since we stayed up until one in the morning.
I am not sure what we talked about since half of the talking I did was my sleep deprivation and not me but hopefully I didn't spill anything stupid. Knowing me, I would mention my fun time I had in the bathtub. I sit down on the empty spot next to Nicole and a warm cup of coffee is handed to me as soon as my arse lands on the seat. I look forward, Gabriel giving a small wink before he turns back around to plate me up with a plate of food that I never asked for but he somehow knew I wanted. He leans over the kitchen counter and hands me a plate of delicious food. An egg sunrise and a small portion of a fruit bowl. Bacon is also an option but I think Gabriel somehow knows that I don’t eat meat.
I reach for the cup of milk and pour it into the bitter tasting liquid along with one teaspoon of sugar. I stir it and bring the cup to my lips; the sweet and neutral taste invades my tastes buds and my soul warms up to the coffee.
It's a late and kind of chilly morning here in Italy.
“We don’t have much planned today so you are all free and can do anything. For all I care, you can smoke weed on the balcony if you want.” He says in a serious tone and I look around the table to whom he directed the message to.
He gives his little sister a knowing look and she just smirks. “If you want one you could have just asked.”
“Rather not.”
“Your loss.” She shrugs her shoulders and throws a strawberry into her mouth.
“Just make sure you are at your best behaviour at the event and not all high.”
“Roger, boss.”
“Don’t boss me.”
“Whatever.” She mocks him.
He rolls his eyes at her. “I want to be ready by seven. We should leave by then and make it to the venue on time before all the guests arrive. We are co-host after all and we will need to be there to greet them or we will seem rude.” He looks around with a suspicious look, his gaze lingers on Charles. He throws his hands up in defence.
“Don’t look at them like that. I will be the first there and the first to go. I want this show to be over as soon as possible.”
“Do you miss your girlfriend that bad?” Nicole asks him, her voice comes from the other end of the kitchen aisle. I look back and forth at the siblings, confusion runs in my brain and I get intrigued to know which girlfriend.
“Girlfriend?” I ask her but turn my gaze back to him and repeat the question in a more serious tone.
“Sorry, I meant his runaway fiancé.” Nicole says.
Confusion cleared.
“Don’t tell me you are still going all stalker-ish on Reneè.” I ask Charles.
He gives me a smile that hides many emotions, including the famous words he said once. ‘Why yes I am.’
“You seriously need to get a life.”
“But I am having so much fun.”
“Of course you are. You are like a psycho, lurking in the shadows.” I comment and roll my eyes at him.
“A psycho that your best friend rejected and now I am trying to win her over. Again.”
“How romantic.” I mumble as I cut open the egg sunrise, the yolk oozes on the plate. I take a piece of bread from the basket and tip in the runny egg, the sensational taste gives my empty stomach the satisfaction that I have been craving.
“And how dedicated. It’s sweet.” Nicole mumbles, a sympathetic expression on her face and she looks forward into space with no thought whatsoever running through her mind.
“Did I just witness Nicole being nice to Charles?” Gabriel comments.
“It's like a world wonder happened.” Charles gasps and they both look at their sister with a shocked expression.
“What? It’s sweet how he isn’t giving up even after a marriage proposal rejection. I want a guy that has such dedication for me. But what do I get?” She huffs in frustration and drops the strawberry to her plate, the silverware clatters on the plate. “Arseholes who can’t even satisfy me.”
“I did not need to know that.” Charles says as his voice pitches high and he stuffs his mouth with pancakes to keep himself from saying stupid stuff.
Good choice.
“Me neither .” Gabriel moves away from his spot and goes on to doing his dishes and places them neatly in the dishwasher.
“I do.” I chime in and take my plate and walk the few steps over to her and take the nearest empty stool and place it next to hers.
The smile on her face brightens up. “Girl talk.” She waves her brothers away and begins telling me about one guy she recently had a one night stand in Paris.
At this moment it occurred to me. Reneè and Nicole are made of the same coin. Both crazy and have bad relationship experiences, and they both love to gossip about them.
I never felt I belonged when it came to these casual hook- up talks. I never was the person to do something like that. I have always craved the feeling of love and being loved and being in love. It may seem cliche and weird to some, but I do want to grow old with the one person I love, marry, and have kids. I may have already had names for the kids but that is another topic.
Our attention gets dragged away as the doorbell rings. Everyone looks at everyone confused. I even noticed that Charles started counting us because only the four of us and his mother - who is God knows where - are staying here.
“One, two, three,” Charles whispers and I hear a loud slap against his hand.
“Stop counting, idiot.” Nicole whispers-shouts at him and he gives her a mad look as he soothes the top of his hands where he received the slap.
“I’ll go check.” Gabriel says and walks out of the kitchen. The silence eats us up as we all shut our mouths and listen to who it might be at the door.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
We all hear Gabriel curse in a muffled voice and all of us sprint out of our seats to the door.
“Your mother invited me.” A light feminine voice answered his question. “Can I meet her?”
“Who?”
“Your fiancé.”
That is my cue, or how Nicole would do it., push me to the door. When I get a look at her, my heart still in shock and no words come out of my parted lips as I stare ahead. She is standing there, her coal black hair loose and flowing over her shoulders. High cheekbones but also she has these cute cheeks. Every time she smiles, her cheeks meet her hooded eyes.
“Hi…” I mumble. “Hi.” A shocking smile spreads on my face and I look back and forth between Gabriel and her.
“Hi,” she waves at me with a sweet smile curled on her lips. “I’m Mio.” She says and stretches out her hand for me to take.