Hannah reached across the table and rested her hand on mine. “I understand your reasons, but I don’t agree with them.”
Groaning, I pulled my hand away. “That’s exactly what he said yesterday. Though he said he would respect my decision.”
She offered a sweet smile. “What kind of sister would I be if I didn’t try to convince you otherwise?”
I groaned again. “The kind I need right now?”
“Hil …”
“Don’t Hil me, please. I’m not ready, Hannah. I want to be, I swear I want to be, but I can’t force it. I sense I’ll break down again, and it’ll be even worse this time. I’m not sure I can recover this time.”
She nodded. “All right. I’ll give you some time, but be warned that I’ll bug you about this again. Soon.”
I sighed. “Just don’t do it too soon, deal?”
“Deal.” She finished her juice, and then looked at me with serious eyes again. “Just one more thing.”
“What?” I asked, my voice harsher than I intended.
“I think Gui isn’t taking your decision too well,” she said. I raised an eyebrow at her to continue. “João Pedro called Leo this morning, saying Gui had agreed to play with another team for the next three weeks. A team in Florida.” She paused, letting the information sink in.
So, Gui was going to Florida. For the next three weeks. That was okay, right? Better this way. I wouldn’t have to be so careful to avoid him in the building or anywhere else now. Why had a sudden pain wrapped around my heart and squeezed it tight, then?
“Oh.” I squared my shoulders, as if I could shield myself from any blow with a perfect posture. “When is he leaving?”
“As far as I know, he’s not required to be there until the middle of next week, since the tournament doesn’t start until the following weekend, but Leo mentioned he might be going this afternoon.”
“Oh.” My heart sank. It seemed Gui also didn’t want to run into me anymore. “That’s … okay. Good for him. I hope he does well there.” I pushed my plate away with half of my panini untouched. “I … I should get back to work.”
“Oh, yeah, of course,” Hannah said, her brows knitted.
I stood to leave and Hannah grabbed her purse and followed me out.
“Bye,” I said, turning in the studio’s direction.
Hannah reached out, closing her hand around my wrist. “Hey, Hil, I’m here for you, okay? Whatever you need, whenever you need. I meant what I said about being more than sisters. Okay?”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Driving into the parking garage at my parents’ house, I saw two cars I didn’t know parked in the visitors’ area.
I frowned, wondering what the hell my mother was up to. She had called this morning to make sure I would be going to the club for our Sunday lunch, but I lied about not feeling well. Later, she called saying that, since I wasn’t going to lunch, I owed her and had to come to the house for dinner. I argued I was still not feeling great, but she said she would come over, give me some Advil or Tylenol, make me tea, and would make sure I was okay enough to come to dinner. Knowing my mother, I believed her, so to save her the trip—and hours of agony for me—I agreed.
Until now, I thought it was only going to be my parents and me, but now I saw those two cars, and Hannah’s car in her spot beside mine.
I looked down at my outfit. Pink flowy skirt with a white and silver swirl pattern, white blouse, and tan sandals, matching my thick tan leather bracelet. I always dressed up for dinner at my parents, but I had almost come in my fav jeans and a simple blouse this time. I was glad I didn’t.
I entered the house through the kitchen access, and Rosa greeted me with a tray of hors d’oeuvre.
“What’s going on?” I asked her.
“Your mother invited some friends over, and you know how she is. There are only four more people than usual and it’s already like a banquet.”
I laughed, trying not to snort out the little shrimp puff I had swallowed. After looking down at my outfit again to make sure nothing was out of place, I entered living room number one, as Hannah and I used to say when we were little. That was the biggest living room in the house, where my mother liked to receive visitors.
At first, I only saw the back of the visitors’ heads, seated on a long sofa in front of the massive, unlit fireplace.
“Hilary, you’re here,” my mother said, standing from the armchair she always liked to sit in. It stood in a privileged position in the room, with a matching chair right by its side—their thrones, Hannah and I always teased.
My mother was dressed in an elegant dark green dress, and her second best diamond jewelry set. Uh oh, whatever this dinner was, it was big.
“Hi,” I said.
The visitors stood and turned, and my jaw dropped open.
“Hilary, how are you?” Eloisa said, reaching to me. Oblivious to my shock, she kissed my cheeks twice, and then introduced me to her husband, James.
“Nice to see you again, Hilary,” Reese said, taking my hand and planting a kiss on top of it.
“Hey, there,” Lucas said. I knew he was Reese’s cousin, but when he reached for me, I stepped back, the images of Hannah’s engagement night still fresh in my mind. Fear and dread choked me.
Hannah appeared by my side and nudged me in the waist.
Forcing myself to move past my shock, I waved at Lucas. “Hello.” I plastered a fake smile on my face and looked at my mother. “I didn’t know we were having a party.”
“It’s not a party,” my mother assured me. “It’s just a get-together with dear friends.”
It was definitely a party, and these people were not my parents’ dear friends. As far as I knew, this was the first time they’d ever set foot in our house.
“I see,” I muttered.
Breaking the ice, Rosa entered the room with a tray full of hors d’oeuvre. She walked around the room with the tray, and I seized the opportunity to sit beside Hannah and Leo, and a big, round side table, making sure nobody else sat near me.
“Did you know about this?” I asked Hannah in a low voice.
“No. I’m as surprised as you are,” she said in an equally low tone. “Though I can guess why mom invited them over.”
“Me too.”
“I don’t know,” Leo said.
“Mom is trying to set Reese and Hil up,” Hannah explained.
Leo’s eyes went wide. “O que? Não!”
She frowned at him. “I thought he was sort of a friend of yours.”
“He is,” Leo said. “I think he’s a great guy, but Hilary deserves better.”
A tiny smile took over my lips. “You’re so sweet.” He turned his face to the other side, waving me off, but not before I saw his lips widening into a smile. “It’s a shame there aren’t more guys like you.”
He snapped his head and stared at me again. “There are. My cousins are all like me, or much better actually. And I know of one who is currently available.”
My smile slid away and I gaped at Hannah.
She elbowed him in the ribs, and then offered me a weak smile. “Sorry. I tried to keep it to myself, but you didn’t want to talk about it. Gui didn’t want to talk about it. I wanted to tell Bia, but I knew you would be mad at me, so I told Leo.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“Don’t worry,” Leo said. “I won’t bother you about it. Much.” He winked and I groaned. “Though I will bother Gui. Going away to play with another team was a shitty move. He should have stayed and fought for you.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t give him that option.”
“I don’t—” Leo started.
I shook my head again. “Please, Leo, like I told Hannah on Friday, I need some time before I can talk about this.” And hopefully, by the time I was ready, everyone would have already forgotten about it.
“Tá bem,” he said, his voice dejected.
To lighten the mood, Hannah to
ld us about one of her riding groups this afternoon. Apparently, a girl and a boy, both around sixteen, had gotten lost from the group.
Leo laughed at that. “Claro, lost.”
“I know, right?” Hannah said, explaining everyone had noticed they had run off to make out. Or more.
As my sister continued her tale, I heard my name from across the room.
“It’s Hilary,” my mother said to Eloisa. “Hilary is making all our dresses.”
“That’s fantastic,” Eloisa said, smiling at me. “You must be talented. Congratulations.”
I frowned. “Thanks.”
Reese and Lucas were talking among themselves, but Reese’s eyes kept shifting to me every few seconds.
My mother boasted about me some more while Eloisa did the same with Reese. It was as if they were comparing our attributes, making sure we matched. At least, my father and James were talking about horses, not us.
“Soon, Mom will open the dowry negotiation,” I half-joked.
“If they do, we’ll kidnap you,” Leo said with a wink.
I smiled to him. Seriously, Hannah was one very, very lucky girl.
My mind went from Leo to Gui. The one who haunted eight out of ten of my thoughts. It was impossible to stop thinking about him. I told myself it was only a matter of time. I was enamored with him because, besides his looks, he had been gentle and caring when I needed him to be. He had been a friend and supporter. If I kept my distance, I would go back to normal, to doing my stuff without his help. I wouldn’t care about his opinion, and then we could be friends-slash-family again.
For the sake of this family, I hoped I was right.
When Rosa called out dinner was served, my mother announced she had exact places for everyone at the table. She positioned me between Hannah and Reese. Leo sat on Hannah’s right, while Lucas sat across from me, snuggled between Eloisa and my mother. Both older men, my father and James took the heads of the long table.
During the first two courses, Hannah tried to keep me busy by talking to her. I knew it wouldn’t last though.
“How have you been?” Reese asked me.
I cut into my steak, considering ignoring him. Or being rude. No, that wasn’t fair. He might have shown interest in me, but mother had gone to great lengths to set us up.
With a forced smile, I glanced at him. “I’m doing all right. How about you?”
“Pretty good.” He flashed me a wide smile. “I hear you’ve been pretty busy with so many design projects and helping plan your sister’s wedding.”
“True.”
I didn’t know what else to say. Thank goodness, Leo was paying attention and saved me.
“Reese, I heard you guys have been training hard lately,” Leo spoke up, so the entire table would listen. “I also heard that you guys are training so hard because you want to challenge Montenegro.”
Reese paled. “What? No. Who told you that?” His reaction seemed genuine, and I couldn’t decide if the rumors were true or not.
Artfully, Leo also involved Lucas, James, and my father in the conversation, mixing the topics between polo and horses and ranches.
Under the table, I squeezed my sister’s hand. “I love your fiancé. I mean it,” I whispered to her.
She smiled at me. “Sorry, he’s taken.”
I sighed. “A shame.”
“But you know, Leo meant what he said. Gui and Leo are similar in several aspects.”
I glowered at her. “Stop. Stop it right now. I don’t want to get mad at you too.”
“All right, all right.”
My mother tried to cut into the men’s conversation several times. Thankfully, Hannah had a way of catching all the female attention to her. Once she opened her mouth and uttered the word “wedding,” Eloisa and my mother were at her mercy.
The dessert was served back in the living room, quickly followed by coffee. I excused myself and went to the kitchen to find me some ice cream, since I didn’t have a taste for these fancy cakes my mother liked to offer.
I was seated on one of the stool around the kitchen island, devouring a bowl of ice cream, when my mother barged in the kitchen.
“Hilary! What do you think you’re doing?”
I pointed to the bowl of ice cream. “Eating?”
She frowned. “You’re being rude. You should be out there with our guests. They came especially to see you.”
I set the bowl on the island, not in the mood for my dear sweets anymore. “Why? So you can arrange a marriage? Did he propose yet? Did his parents like my dowry?” She gaped at me, but didn’t say anything. “I’m not one of Dad’s horse. I won’t be sold like that.”
“This is the twenty-first century, Hilary. We’re not arranging your marriage.”
“It sure looks like it.”
She straightened her already perfect posture and lifted her chin. “Well, Eloisa and I seemed to agree that Reese and you would make a great couple.”
“Have you asked us if we think that?”
“I don’t think it’s necessary to ask Reese. He seems enamored with you.”
I groaned. “But I’m not enamored with him. I …” I sighed, trying to calm my boiling blood. “After all I went through, I thought you understood I’m not ready for this kind of thing.” I gestured to the kitchen’s door leading back to the living room. “I feel like I’m a song on repeat, because I say this all the time, but it seems I need to say it again. I. Am. Not. Ready.”
“But, Hilary, it has been three years. That’s plenty of time to move on.”
I flinched. “For most people, I agree that three years sounds like enough time, but unfortunately, I’m not most people. I’ve made major progress in the last three years, but I’m nowhere near healed.”
She watched me, her features softening. “I thought … you look so well. You’re in school, you’re working, you’re helping with your sister’s wedding, and you’ve even gone out. And you’ve been around men, especially Leo’s brothers and cousin. I thought you were better.”
What did she mean by that?
“I wish I was.”
My mother walked around the kitchen island and embraced me. “I’m sorry.”
Surprised, I embraced her back. “It’s okay. Just … don’t try to play matchmaker anymore, okay?”
She pulled back and smiled at me. “I’ll try.” She looked around the kitchen, trying to recompose herself. “Now, we have guests over and I have to entertain them until they leave. But if you want, I can tell them that you weren’t feeling great and went to lie down for a little bit. How does that sound?”
I smiled. “Great. Thanks, Mom.”
She kissed my cheek. “You’re welcome.”
Then she strutted out of the kitchen as if we didn’t just share a rare sweet moment. I could be mad at her most of the time, but thankfully, after what happened with Eric, my mother started listening to Hannah and me. Sometimes it took us a few tries to make her understand what we were saying, but in the end, she listened to us. She understood us.
Feeling lighter, I walked onto the back porch and looked over my parents’ beautiful estate. The lush green expanse of the back garden, dotted with lamps, illuminating my mother’s prized flowers.
Hannah’s wedding would be right here and it would be beautiful.
I was happy for her and Leo. They were great together. I wished them more of the same: love and happiness. I wished someday I would heal and find love like that too.
Past the garden, atop a green hill, sat the main stable, where my father’s stallions were housed. Before I noticed what I was doing, I walked across the garden, on one of the side stone paths, until I was standing in front of the stable’s wrought iron gates.
Maybe it was rubbing on me, or maybe I was just starting to pay attention to these beasts for the first time, but I realized horses were growing on me. As I walked past the stable main corridor and looked inside the stalls, I was amazed by how beautiful these animals were. Long necks, massive torsos, strong
legs, shiny coats, and some had manes and tails like they visited the hairdresser every week. Well, maybe they did. I was sure my father had the best horse groomer in town. Maybe even in the state.
Okay, I had to admit, I was falling for horses. A sudden pain rushed through my heart, and I wished I were at Hannah’s ranch, walking her stable and stopping by Belle’s stall. Because she was the horse I was falling for.
My first instinct was to reach for my phone and text Gui about my sudden realization, but with a frown, I remembered we hadn’t part on good terms on Thursday, and right now, I wasn’t sure we were even friends. I pocketed my phone and stared at an empty stall.
Footsteps snapped me out of my stupor.
Reese entered the stable, followed by Lucas. A rush of fear went through me and I retreated several steps.
“Oh, hey,” Reese said, sounding suprised. “Your mother said that you went to lie down in your bedroom because you weren’t feeling well.”
I shrugged, not sure what to say.
Reese turned to Lucas and said something to him. Lucas nodded and left. Though my fear had surged because of Lucas, now it spiked because Reese had sent Lucas away, leaving us alone in the stable.
“You didn’t know we would be here tonight, did you?”
“No,” I confessed.
“Yeah, I figured that when you arrived. You looked shocked.”
“Well, I was.”
“I swear this dinner wasn’t my idea.” He stopped just past the front gates, his hands in the pockets of his dress pants. “When my mother told me your mother had invited us over, I thought you knew about it, and I thought it was a great way to talk to you, to get to know you better in a familiar place, with familiar faces. It cuts the edge from a real first date. However, if I had known you were in the dark, I wouldn’t have agreed to it. I wouldn’t have cornered you like that. I’m sorry.”
Breaking Through (The Breaking Series Book 3) Page 22