Page 82 of The Wedding Pact

‘Take my advice,’ Darian says, serious now. ‘Don’t let her go. I know you can have your pick of partners now you’re uber wealthy, but women like Ida are hard to come by. And she seems to genuinely like you.’

I let out a startled snort. ‘Thanks. I think.’

Darian grins at that. ‘I mean, with the kind of money you have it must be hard to know if someone’s with you because of the status you can give them. But Ida already has her own very cool status, cooler than yours, anyway.’ He winks at me and grins. ‘But seriously, it’s clear she likes you for you and not your money. Margot thinks so too and she’s an excellent judge of character. She can spot a fake a mile off.’

‘Yeah, she’s pretty special. Margot, I mean. You’re a lucky guy to be married to her.’

‘I know it.’

‘And yeah, Ida’s cool. But I don’t know if it’s serious between us.’

‘Really?’ Darian looks shocked at this. ‘You guys have so much chemistry. You’d be crazy not to stay together.’

I shrug. ‘Maybe. I don’t have a lot of time for a relationship right now. I have to keep my head in my business.’

Darian folds his arms. ‘Ida doesn’t strike me as someone who’d be too demanding. She’s got her own very successful thing going on.’

‘True.’

‘Seriously, Raffa. Don’t let her get away. I promise you, you’ll regret it later if you do. And as we both know, no one ever knows what’s around the corner. My philosophy now is to make the most of the good times and never take anything for granted. I’m living firmly in the now.’

I laugh at that. ‘Huh. You’ve really grown up since we last talked.’

‘Partly Margot’s influence and partly because it’s a bloody age since we’ve had an actual conversation, just the two of us,’ he points out.

‘I guess it is.’

‘I’d love to see you more, man. No pressure, but you’re always welcome at my and Margot’s place if you need a break from the big city.’

‘Thanks, man. I’ll keep it in mind.’

‘Do that.’

I turn to walk away, but stop when I hear him call out my name.

‘Will you say bye to your dad?’

I turn round to face my brother again and shrug. ‘I wasn’t planning on it.’

He shakes his head. ‘You know, the two of you are just as stubborn as the other, so one of you is going to have to break the stalemate and speak first and I think it has to be you. Don’t take your anger to your grave, Raffa. Or to his. I mean, I hate thinking like this, but he’s getting older. You might regret not saying what needs to be said in the end and wish you’d not lost all that time with him.’

I nod slowly, then signal my goodbye with a quick wave, before leaving my brother on the beach to go looking for his wife.

On the way back to the hotel, I allow myself some time to reflect on what Darian just said.

Maybe he’s right. Perhaps I should talk to my dad. Clear the air.

Maybe it’s time for me to grow a bit too.

As if I’ve conjured him with my thoughts, my dad appears from inside the hotel as I approach it and walks towards me across the beach.

I lift a hand to acknowledge him and he smiles and picks up his pace, meeting me in the middle of the sand.

‘Hey, son. I saw you out of the window of the bar. Thought I’d come and say hello since we’ve not spoken much since we got here. I’ve not wanted to intrude when you were with your lovely girlfriend.’

I nod at this, not wanting to get into another conversation about how amazing Ida is and having to justify why I’m leaving her alone here.

Honestly, I’m struggling to justify it to myself right now.