by JA Low
“I’d do anything for you, Lilly. You’re a good person.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.” We clink our glasses of champagne together.
Three…
Two…
One…
We’re cuddled together after popping a bottle of champagne and waiting for the fireworks to commence. A kaleidoscope of color and smoke fills the night sky around the castle.
“Happy New Year, Lilly.”
“Happy New Year, Luke.”
We celebrate midnight with a passionate kiss, then our attention is pulled back to the fireworks display in front of us. Lilly oohs and aahs as each rocket fills the black sky with reds, greens, gold, so many colors it’s spectacular.
I am so happy I’m sharing this night with her.
There’s banging on the door. Who the hell is banging on our door at this time of the morning? I look over at the bedside table—it’s 10:37 a.m. on New Year’s Day. The apartment better be on fire, otherwise, heads will roll.
“Who is it?” Lilly asks croakily from beside me.
“I have no idea.”
“They seem very insistent.” I pull on my track pants, and Lilly does the same. I stride through the apartment, annoyed that some inconsiderate person is waking us up so early.
I pull open the door in my irritated state. “What!” I shout.
My eyes focus on the people standing in front of me—my sister and my ex plus a legion of bodyguards.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I scream at them in Italian.
“Happy New Year to you, too, brother,” Allegra says stiffly. Her eyes glance over my shoulder at the movement behind me. “Didn’t take you long to find some whore to keep you entertained.”
I take a step toward her. Never in my life have I ever wanted to hurt my sister like I do right now. How dare she call Lilly a whore.
Allegra pushes her way into the apartment with her entourage in two. “I see your standards have dropped.”
“I see your manners have disappeared also,” Lilly replies back in perfect Italian.
Which gives them all pause.
Allegra looks over Lilly, and I can see the sneer that’s curling on her lip. “Who are you?” she demands, folding her arms across her chest.
Lilly looks behind her and sees Rachele, my ex, and their bodyguards.
“Does it really matter who I am?” Lilly replies, who looks like she’s about to blow a fuse.
Walking over to where Lilly is currently standing, I place my hand in hers.
Lilly’s shaking, but she’s holding it together well.
“No, it doesn’t. You’re just one of many of Luca’s conquests. Don’t get too comfortable,” Allegra snips at her again.
“Luca?” Lilly whispers.
I squeeze her hand, and her attention is drawn back to the two women in front of her.
“I think you’ve proved your point, Luca. Now come home, so we can get married,” Rachele adds, her eyes glaring furiously at Lilly.
“Married?” Lilly drops my hand like it’s on fire.
“Oh, did my brother forget to tell you that. He was supposed to get married just before Christmas. He left my poor friend here at the altar.” The smile on Allegra’s face says she knows she’s found Lilly’s weakness.
“He’s my fiancé, whore,” Rachele adds.
The harsh words hit Lilly, and she takes a step back, blinking fast trying to keep tears at bay.
No. I knew my family would eventually come and mess everything up.
“The only whore I see is standing in front of me. You fucked my best man at our rehearsal dinner,” I yell at Rachele who has the sense to blanch.
“Please, as if you weren’t sleeping with other women.” Allegra rolls her eyes.
“I was not,” I shout, thumping my chest. “I thought…” I let the words trail off until Allegra and Rachele burst out laughing.
“Oh, dear brother, you seriously thought you would be getting married for love.” How hard is that to believe in? “You know who we are. We have to marry for connections, not love.”
“I thought we had an understanding,” Rachele adds. “I had no idea…” She tries to contain her laughter.
“Who are you?” Lilly turns to me, a frown marring her beautiful face.
“You haven’t told her?” Allegra jabs. “Oh, that’s cute. What? You wanted to slum it like a commoner?”
“What’s she saying, Luke?” I can see the distress written on her face, and I don’t like it one little bit.
“Oh my God, you’re even using a commoner’s name. Luke… how bouji.” Her cackles fill the apartment.
“Luke, Luca, whoever you are.”
“I’m still me, Lilly.” Reaching out to her, I attempt to keep our connection.
“He is Principe Luca Fiorenzo.”
“You’re a prince?” Lilly looks at me in shock.
“Yes, but…”
Lilly pulls her arm away from my reach. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you lie? You told me you were a businessman.” The hurt on Lilly’s face is palpable.
“That’s all true. I’m a businessman, but I am also a prince.”
“A prince who needs a princess. One that he has been betrothed to since birth,” Allegra adds.
“I don’t want Rachele,” I spit.
“You would rather that?” Rachele gives a dissatisfied glance at Lilly.
“You know nothing about me. I’m a doctor, and certainly not a damn whore. I’ve just arrived back from saving lives in Africa. I grew up surrounded by royals and London’s elite. My parents are doctors to most of them as well,” Lilly points out. “What do you do with your time? Spend it shopping? Going to parties? Cheating on your fiancé? Now, look in the mirror and see who’s lacking.”
“You bitch,” Rachele spits, launching herself at Lilly, who I quickly push behind me.
The bodyguards pull her off me, but not without scratching my face first.
“How dare you,” she screams like a wild cat.
Lilly just smiles at them both, knowing she has secretly won because that’s exactly what they do all day, shop and attend parties.
Allegra turns and glares at me. “Fine. If you won’t come back for her, then come back for Papà.”
“What?”
“Papà had a heart attack while you were away. I guess it was the public disgrace of his son not arriving on his wedding day that did him in. It’s all your fault.”
“What? No. I don’t believe you. Giorgio would’ve told me. I only spoke to him the other day.”
“Fine! He didn’t have it on your wedding day, but he had it a couple of days ago. Knowing you missed Christmas and now New Years. Those are holidays we never miss together, no matter what.”
Is that sincerity in my sister’s voice?
“Is he okay?” My hands are shaking because as much as I hate the control my family exercises over me, they are still my family.
“He’s in the hospital.”
The world falls out beneath me.
Shit! What have I done?
My tantrum has put my father in the hospital.
Lilly places a hand on me. “You should go… be with your family, Luca.” She uses my real name as I turn and look at my sister. “Give us a moment.”
She glares at me but takes her entourage with her out of the apartment.
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.” Tears fall down Lilly’s face, and I know she won’t be.
“Come… come with me.”
She shakes her head. “You should be with your family. Now isn’t the time to worry them with anything or anyone else.”
“But what about us?” I grab her face, make her look at me.
“Everything’s changed now, Luca.”
“No. No, it hasn’t.”
“We were only meant to be a holiday romance, nothing more. We were kidding ourselves that we could be more.”
My heart begins to break as a sick feeling develops
deep in my stomach. “I’ve fallen for you, Lilly.”
She pushes herself out of my arms and paces the room. “You may think you have, but we come from two vastly different worlds. I’m just someone you thought you wanted, but in the end, I’ll be a nice story to remember when you’re old.”
“You have no feelings for me?”
“How can I? I don’t know who you are.” Her words cut like a knife to my chest.
“I’m still me. The same guy who stood naked in your cottage living room. The same guy who thinks you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. The same guy who wants so desperately for the woman he realizes he loves to love him back.”
Lilly looks up at me through red-rimmed eyes. “I think you have me confused with someone else.”
That’s so not what I wanted to hear from her.
I stare at her, really stare at her, and she does the same back at me.
“Fine! The job offer still stands. I’ve contacted my friend… he’ll speak to you soon about working for his charity.” I turn on my heel and head to the bedroom, then shove my stuff into my overnight bag, which doesn’t take me too long.
Lilly is staring out the big picture window overlooking the city.
I can’t leave her like this.
Dropping my bag to the floor, I pull her into my arms and kiss her. It may be a goodbye kiss, but I need her to know that my feelings are real. She kisses me back, and I can taste her salty tears as she does.
“Don’t give up on us, Lilly,” I tell her, pressing my forehead to hers.
“Just go.”
It feels like walking through wet cement every step away from her.
My loyalties are torn between a sick father and a woman I have fallen for.
“The keys for the car are on the table,” I say as I sadly walk out of the apartment not knowing when or if I’ll ever see Lilly again.
18
Lilly
It’s a long journey home by myself. Thankfully, I was able to pick up Luke’s 4WD. Otherwise, I would have no idea how I’d be getting home. I pick up my phone and call the only person who I know who’ll understand. It rings and rings and rings until it drops out, so I try again.
“Lilly.” Lauren’s voice echoes through the car’s speakers, and I burst into tears. “Lil, what’s the matter? Has something happened?”
“Luke. His real name is Prince Luca Fiorenzo.”
Lauren bursts out laughing. “Did you say prince?”
“Yes.”
The phone falls silent.
“You’re being serious?”
“Yes, and his evil sister and fiancée have just dragged him home to Italy.”
“What! He has a fiancée?”
“He left her at the altar because she slept with his best man at his rehearsal dinner.”
“She did what!”
“They called me a whore.” I’m being hysterical, I realize this, but I am hurting right now.
“Oh, hell, no, they did not! She’s the one screwing her fiancé’s friend,” Lauren yells down the phone. “They are so lucky that I wasn’t there. Royalty or not, I’d have kicked their regal asses.”
I burst out laughing because I know she would. “I would’ve paid money to see that, but don’t worry, I stuck up for myself.”
“Good for you. So, where’s Luke now?”
“Luca… he’s in Italy.”
“He’s what? Oh, hell, no… damn! I need to kick his ass as well.”
“His father had a heart attack and is in the hospital. That’s why they were trying to find him.”
“Oh. Doesn’t that seem a little too convenient?”
“Lauren! Don’t say that,” I tell her while shaking my head.
“Well, they sound like bitches. I wouldn’t put it past women like that. I’ve watched The Tudors… royalty does that sort of shit.”
“This isn’t medieval times, Lauren.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“Nothing.”
Lauren screams at me, “Nothing? You’re just going to let a prince go?”
“I don’t care that he’s a prince.”
“I know, but still, a prince.”
I look out over the emerald green and white rolling hills of the Scottish countryside and try to picture myself living in a gilded castle. No. I don’t think that’s for me.
“He told me he loved me.”
A squeal echoes through the car. “He what? Why would you leave the most important thing out of the story? He loves you…”
My tears flow thinking about the way he kissed me as he said goodbye. The way he tried to convince me that what he was feeling was real, and I pushed him away.
“I told him to go.”
“Oh, Lilly-poo. Why would you do that?” my sister’s voice softens.
“Because it was the right thing to do. We can never work. His sister made it abundantly clear I was beneath her, and that his whole family would feel the same way,” I tell her, letting out a long sigh.
“Once they get to know you, they’ll love you. How can they not? You’re frickin’ awesome.”
“I think it’s for the best. Maybe the time isn’t right.”
There’s a long pause before Lauren speaks again. “Fate works in mysterious ways.”
Oh, good God, here we go again.
“I think maybe the timing is off with you both. But she’ll find a way to bring you back together. I have faith in fate.”
Well, at least one of us does.
“Anyway, I have to go. You don’t need my drama distracting you from your holiday. Love you.”
“Love you, sissy-boo. Just remember… you are worth it.” And with that bit of wisdom, she hangs up.
19
Luca
The flight back to Italy was a tense one. I didn’t care about anything Rachele and Allegra had to say. I simply needed to see Papà and make sure he’s okay. I have spent the entire day by my father’s bedside with my family. It looks like he is going to make a full recovery. Thank goodness.
“Need some company?” Natalia, my youngest sister, links her arm with mine.
“Not really.” I don’t want to be rude, but it’s been a crazy day.
“I know, but you’re still going to get it.” She smiles up at me not taking no for an answer, and I’m too exhausted to fight her.
“You look better after that shower,” my sister tells me while handing me a coffee. I take a sip of the dark liquid and groan. Oh, how I’ve missed thee.
“Guessing they didn’t have good coffee where you were?”
“Only instant.”
“So, where were you? Giorgio and I couldn’t find you at all, but somehow, Allegra was able to.”
That’s what I haven’t been able to work out, how the hell she found me so easily. I guess knowing my sister, she probably paid off the right people.
“Are you really surprised by anything she does?”
“No, not really. It was weird she took Rachele with her, though?”
“That’s because they knew I was with someone.”
Natalia’s eyes widen. “You work fast, brother.” I can hear the tone in her voice rise—it’s in a non-approval pitch.
Pulling out my phone, I hand it to her, showing her the only picture of Lilly and me that we took. We’re dressed in our pajamas, sipping champagne.
Natalia stares at the photograph for a long moment. “You look happy.” She hands me back my phone.
“I was. For the first time… someone liked me… for me.”
“She didn’t know who you were?” Her eyes widen for a moment.
“Not until Allegra and Rachele arrived.”
“And?” she questions.
“She didn’t want me.” Remembering the hurt on Lilly’s face when she learned the truth about who I was, it’s seared into my memory.
“Wait! What? She turned you down?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, you’re going to have to start from the beginnin
g.”
So, I do.
I tell her about how we met, which she thought was hilarious. I told her about how she was a doctor in Africa and about her ex. How she took me to the pub for Christmas Eve, then made me an Italian Christmas dinner. I told her about our epic Monopoly sessions and our hike in the snow. About the times we just sat beside the fire, not having to fill the silence because it was comfortable.
“Sounds like you have feelings for this girl?” Natalia tells me.
“I do. I…” Scrubbing my hands across my face, I continue, “I told her I loved her as I left, and she told me she didn’t feel the same.” I hang my head between my hands. “She hasn’t answered any of my texts or calls since I left.”
“It sounds like a lot was sprung on her all at once. Plus, she had the demon twins attacking her on all fronts at the same time.” They were horrible to Lilly, that’s for sure. “She might have said she didn’t feel anything for you to save face, especially in front of Allegra and Rachele. I bet they weren’t the nicest.”
“You think?” Hope begins to blossom in my chest.
“I think all you can do is give her time.” Natalia reaches out and laces her hand with mine. “Your face lights up when you talk about her. I have never seen that reaction from you before.”
“She’s different.”
“But is she worth it, Luca? You know our parents want you to marry Rachele. They have it all planned.”
“Do they know about what she did?”
Natalia shakes her head. “No. Allegra and Rachele spun some story to them, and then Papà started to feel ill, so Giorgio and I didn’t want to push it. We thought you would be back at Christmas, but when that came and went, Papà kept getting worst.”
“Fuck! It’s all my fault.”
Natalia shakes her head. “No, don’t say that. Papà likes to drink too much red wine and eat too much cheese. You know Mamma has wanted him to cut down on his vices, but he hasn’t listened.”
“I’ve added to his stress, though.”
“I blame Allegra and Rachele, not you. Rachele needs to remember to keep her legs together instead of fucking Marcus behind your back.”
