Chapter 22 #2
I nodded, and we spent the short ride catching up on MJ.
Soon, we were in front of his house. Miles jumped out of the car like it was on fire and rushed to my side to help me out.
Once inside, I smiled at the black-and-white photos of him and MJ in the living room, matching the one I made for him in her room.
“Sorry, didn’t know I’d have company today,” he said, clearing off a plate and cup from the counter.
“Please don’t worry about it. I sort of ambushed you.” I held out my hand to him. He put the plate down and turned to me, taking it. “Let’s sit down.”
“Sorry, I’m really nervous. Here, I’ll take your jacket."
We sat next to each other on the sofa, and he turned to face me. “I have to believe, I can only hope to believe, that you haven’t come all this way to tell me that you don’t want anything to do with me. I don’t know what you need courage to say, but I’m hopeful.
His eyes widened and he stuttered, “U-unless you’ve come to tell me you’ve met someone and are getting married or something. Or you’re here for work and not for…”
I slid closer to him, putting my finger over his mouth to stop him from talking, ignoring the desire to find another way to accomplish that goal.
“Miles, I’m not here to tell you that I’m getting married. If you want to know the truth, I have met other men and dated a few since I left.” I decided not to give any more details yet when I saw his jaw pulse with tension and his other hand ball into a fist.
“Then, you’re here for work?” he asked, his voice raw with emotion.
I let my eyes flick between his, choosing my words carefully. “Before I answer that, I need to ask you. Is there someone else for you? I mean, I saw your ribbon, so I have hope that there isn’t.”
Shaking his head, he took my other hand. “There’s no one else. I’ve dated a bit myself but, no, there’s no one, Vicky.”
His words were like ice in my veins. I knew Miles. He’d never date anyone he wasn’t serious about because of MJ.
“But there was someone? Did MJ like her?” I asked, my heart pounding loudly.
He shook his head again. “There’s been no one since you left that I’d even consider introducing to my daughter. Vicky, I know we’re tiptoeing here, being careful. But I’m done with that. I’ve waited two years to say these things to you.”
I took a deep breath in, lost in his ocean-blue eyes, waiting, anticipating.
Miles pulled me up to standing, our hands still clasped tightly. “My family has a saying. A motto, I guess, that we try to live by, and it’s this. Don’t miss the opportunity to say the words.”
I couldn’t breathe as he let go of my hands and pulled me closer, placing his palms on my cheeks.
“Vicky, I’m in love with you.” A tear snaked down my cheek, and he kissed it away.
“Honestly, I think I fell in love the night I found you in MJ’s room holding her pink dress.
I’ve tried to push those feelings aside since you left, but I can’t anymore.
I thought I was ready to move on, but my heart kept bringing me to that wishing tree over and over, almost like I was being drawn there.
But when you were here, Enzo made it clear you were off limits. ” I shook my head and laughed.
“He has gotten better,” I said through a teary chuckle.
“Good to know but my heart wouldn’t, couldn’t listen.
When you showed up at my house that first night, it took everything in me not to pull you into my arms after thinking about you for almost a year after Enzo’s wedding.
I figured that if God had brought you back into my life, there must be a reason.
“No woman has made me feel the way you do. You’ve seen the real me and torn through all my defenses and obliterated them.
Made me laugh and listened to me. You saw me and it broke me while putting me back together, if that makes sense.
I felt like such a failure with Katy. But you…
you were a miracle. One I never saw coming.
I wanted you so badly, but there were so many reasons not to allow myself to ask you to be mine. ”
I wanted to tell him that none of that mattered to me back then, but he continued talking.
“When you got that job offer in Rome, I wanted to ask you to stay. I felt torn that night because I never wanted you to give up your dreams so we could be together. I’d done that with Katy.
When she left, I was broken. But when you left, I couldn’t breathe.
There was a constant ache in my chest. You took a piece of my heart with you.
Vicky, you hold my heart in your hands. I won’t lie to you.
My desire is to have your heart as well. ”
“I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. But you’re right. I needed to go. Needed to grow and experience and be on my own.” I covered his big hands still warm on my cheeks with my own.
“I’ve seen beautiful parts of the world.
Met people, experienced different cultures.
I’ve grown as a designer, learned to take risks, and built the confidence I never had.
And I still want to do all those things.
But I want to do them with someone by my side, witnessing my life, experiencing them with me.
Miles, I’ve been all over, but what I want more than anything right now is to find my home. ”
His eyes were soft and hopeful. I knew he needed me to do what his family believed in.
Say the words.
“Miles, I’ve found my home. And it’s here with you. You and MJ. You’re my home. I’m so in love with you. While we’ve been apart, I felt untethered.”
He pulled me into an embrace again, but I wanted to say more. I laid my cheek against his chest and continued. “No matter what I did, where I went, there was something missing. It was you. You were my missing piece, too.”
A second later, we were kissing, his warm embrace making my soul feel at peace.
Nothing else mattered in that moment. I’d told Elena that I wanted to see if moving back to San Diego was the right thing for me.
She didn’t ask anything personal but said she didn’t want to lose me as a designer.
Her offer surprised me when she gave me the choice to stay in Rome or to work for her again in San Diego.
“When do you leave?” he mumbled against my lips. “How long do we have? Maybe we can visit you on the next holiday.”
I leaned back and looked into his eyes with a smile. “Well, about that. I have a choice between staying in Rome and coming back here. If I choose to stay, Elena will sponsor me until I get my residency here.”
Miles pulled away, his eyes wide again, joy written on his wide smile. “Well, I hear San Diego is beautiful year-round.”
I took a step back, tapping my finger to my lips. “Hmm, I don’t know. Rome is considered the eternal city, you know?”
“Oh yeah,” he teased, pulling me close again with one arm around my waist. “Anything I can do to convince you to stay?” His eyes moved to my lips with a smirk.
“Well, I don’t know. Do you know any cute, tattooed tech nerds?”
“Listen to me clearly, Ms. Lazzara,” he said, his voice lowering an octave. “There will be no one else. No other tattooed tech nerds but me. Understand?”
Grabbing his button-down shirt and pulling him closer, I answered, “A little possessive, are we? What if I want to just make sure…”
His growl made me force down my bubbling laugh as he narrowed his eyes and looked down at me.
“Did you wake up this morning and choose violence, Vicky? I won’t push you any further than what we’ve said today. But understand me when I say you’re mine and I’m yours. End of story.”
Our next kiss was filled with passion and promise as my arms entangled around his neck, my fingers touching the strands of his sandy-blond hair at the nape of it.
“Daddy, I’m home. What are you doing here in the middle of the day?” MJ yelled. I jumped, but Miles held me in place. She still hadn’t seen us as she was slipping out of her shoes at the door. He was facing the door, but I could hear when it closed.
“Hey, kiddo. Mom. Thanks for picking her up for her half day,” he said casually, like he was asking them to pass the butter, as I whimpered in embarrassment.
“Daddy…who is…?” Her words stopped, and I heard Angelica gasp.
I leaned over his wide shoulder and waved with my fingers. “Hi, MJ.”
“Vicky! You’re here,” she exclaimed, running toward me. Miles let me go so I could pull her into my arms. “I can’t believe this. How did you, I mean, when?”
She had grown so tall, and along with that, so had my love for her. “Just last night. I wanted to see you guys. I missed you so much. I’ve loved your letters, but this is so much better.”
She stepped back so I could look her over. “Look at you, you’re practically a teenager,” I said, ignoring the groan from Miles.
Looking over her head, I smiled at Angelica, who was walking up to me, her arms open for a hug.
“I knew you were meant for him. God has answered my prayers,” she whispered in my ear.
“Mine, too.”
“Vicky, you still have your bracelet,” MJ said excitedly when she saw mine peeking out from my shirt. She showed me hers, and Miles did the same.
“I’ve never taken it off,” I said, kissing her on the cheek. “You’ve been right here with me. This and your letters.”
“Are you here for work or just a visit?” she asked expectantly. I looked at Miles, who nodded.
Turning back to MJ, I said, “I’m moving back to San Diego. I’ll be working here full-time now. I’m not going anywhere for a long time.”
Her eyes were as wide as her open mouth before a squeal that could be heard on the East Coast barreled out of her.
“I knew it! I knew my wish and prayer on that tree the day you left would come true!”
We all laughed as she jumped up and down, looking more like the little girl I’d left two years ago.
“I’m glad you’re happy I’m staying. I wouldn’t want to do anything you didn’t want,” I said.
“We want you here. All the time. I told you already. You’re a part of our family.” I felt the sting of tears again when she turned to her father. “See, Daddy. She did choose us.”
I looked at Miles. His smile told me he’d explain later. “Yes, you’re right, sweet girl. I was given a choice. Here or Rome. And I chose here. I chose you both.”
“Then stay forever,” she said, hugging me tightly.