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She giggles and wraps her arms around me, whispering back, “Thank you for everything you did for my brother and me. I really wonder if I deserve someone as wonderful as you.”
Her words leave me speechless, and I hold her even tighter still. This woman is so precious to me, and now she’s all mine officially.
As she gets into the car that will take her away, I can't resist stealing one last kiss. I watch as she leaves with a smile on my face, knowing that even if I have to sleep alone tonight, it won’t be a common occurrence from here on out. I plan to have her in my bed as much as possible.
As I make my way back inside, a feeling of wanting to check in on my father arises, and I know exactly where he will be. Entering his studio, I'm greeted with the sight of him admiring his collection of watches, a twinkle in his eye as he examines each one. A sense of warmth and familiarity washes over me.
The walls are lined with shelves filled with various tools and parts, and a large work table sits in the center of the room, covered in watches in various states of disrepair. The smell of oil and metal fills the air, and the soft ticking of the watches is the only sound that can be heard.
“So,” he begins without even turning around, “are we attending Andries’s wedding or yours this August?”
“Ha-ha, how funny you are, Pops.”
But then he turns to me and chuckles, his deep laughter filling the room, and responds, “You have no idea how smitten you look when Elise is around, son. It's as cute as watching puppies.”
Pride wells up inside me and I grin, announcing, “We are officially together, actually, so that might explain your wedding confusion.”
He looks surprised for a moment, but then his face breaks out into a smile. “Really? Well, I guess congratulations are in order.” The happiness in his eyes is evident as first he reaches out his hand to shake mine before pulling me into a full on embrace, patting me on the back as he does so.
It doesn’t take long for Pops to notice me being pensive. Once the hug ends, he asks me what's going on. I try to say nothing and change the subject, but he keeps insisting. My father isn’t one to take no for an answer when it comes to things like this.
After considering my options, I lay it all out and say, “We might be officially together, but she never said that she loves me.”
He nods understandingly and asks, “And you think she doesn't feel the same as you do?”
“I know she feels something for me, but is it love? Or is it just the fact she loves what we have going on and she doesn't want to give it up.” I shrug, feeling unsure, but Dad lays his hand on my shoulder and squeezes reassuringly.
“Give her some time, Dan. I'm sure she will say it back, eventually. You want to make sure she feels comfortable telling you and isn't rushed.”
I smile and nod, but in my head, I can’t help but think,I certainly hope you’re right, Pops.
20
Elise
As I enter my apartment,I drop my luggage on the floor with a sigh. It’s good to be home, but it’s also sad to have to admit that our time in Capri is truly over. Now that I have made Dan and I’s relationship official, though, there will be many more luxurious trips in our future if I get any say in it.
With that wonderful thought in my head, I make my way to the bedroom and begin to unpack my things. Going through my belongings, I come across the one thing I don’t really want to think about right now––the letter from Johan.
Looking at it makes me feel a mix of emotions. I’ve finally decided to be with Dan and Dan only, so the last thing I want to think about is my ex right now. But there is the meetup at Tati’s place coming up, so I won’t be able to put him out of my mind for long. Still, I can have a few moments of peace, surely, so I put the envelope in the first drawer of my bedside table, not wanting to deal with it.
I head to the bathroom to take a shower, letting the hot water wash away the stress of the day while also looking back fondly on the last few hours. Hanging out with Dan’s family, getting to know them a little better, and getting the full tour with a quick hookup included was a great way to spend an afternoon.
Once I'm done, I grab my purse and head out to Tati’s apartment to meet her. She answers quickly enough, smiling, but she has to know that I’m here to talk to her seriously. I hug her quickly anyway and let her lead me to the living room of her apartment, offering me a drink before sitting down across from me.
“So, I want to know everything,” she starts, the excitement in her tone palpable. “How was Capri?”
“Good, except for the fact that you told Andries about Dan and I being together.”
My tone is neutral, and Tatianna’s eyes go wide. She tries to explain, but I cut her off. “Tatianna, why would you do something like that? I thought that we kept each other's secrets! I didn’t realize your loyalty lies with my brother.”
“I'm sorry, El, but I didn't think it would have this much impact.” She pauses for a moment, taking a sip of her drink, before saying, “He just asked if you went to Dan’s party and if you slept at his house, and I said yes. I never thought it’d be such a big deal.”
I take a deep breath and try to let it go, but the sting of Tatianna's betrayal still lingers. It doesn’t really matter though, in the long run, because Tati didn’t tell Andries to be malicious. Of course, she couldn’t have known about the weird promise between my brother and Dan.
My silence must unsettle her because she continues when I say nothing. “Really, I didn’t know it was an issue.”
The urge to hold the grudge is strong, but Tati looks so innocent and worried that I just can’t stay mad. “It’s fine, Tatianna. Just don’t give my brother any more information about me without at least asking me first, okay?”
