11 | Truth

◇ KEL ◇ 

Me? In love with Miles?

The question left me speechless, much to my puzzlement, and it took me seconds until the thought finally sank in.

"Yes." I stared back at the guy sitting across from me just waiting for my affirmation.

It was partially the truth;  I'd always liked Miles. Not only because he'd been a reliable friend and my only confidante the past couple of months, but also because he was the type of guy I wished I'd met before life started throwing painful curve balls I just couldn't dodge by myself.

But I'd grown past that. Life's hurdles had become less problematic these days with Miles being there for me. Just someone I could count on. I wouldn't have survived here in Italy without him.

"So, you'll try the long-distance thing?" Ricchar raised the glass to his chin, his lips slanted by another grin.

"I, um...yes," I muttered.

"You know about Niccolo?"

Oh jeez...  Why won't his questions end?  "They dated. Briefly." I paused to think. "Miles told me he's been reported missing."

"Niccolo Vinciguerra.  Yeah.  I've met his parents. The Vinciguerras own a few businesses here, one overseas." Ricchar put down his wine glass. "Like us, they're a complicated family, Mykaela. If he really is missing, I got a few ideas." Ricchar smirked. "Anyway,  I'm sure you could say the same after meeting Zio and Zia."

"They're nice, caring," I commented of Miles' parents. "They miss Miles more than he thinks." I nodded slightly. "I find it comforting." I just didn't have a clue why Miles needed me to pretend we're together, I wanted to add.

"They care about his well-being. Because no matter how often he tries to forget it, he's still a Falco," Ricchar replied. "Being his father's only son, right now Maxim's clueless about what the family's planned for him, but I know he's gonna step up to his full potential. Just needs some time. The right push."

"Of course,"  I mumbled in reply. In all honesty, I couldn't understand why the guy was dumping all this information into my already bleary head. "How complicated?"

"Not your average Catholic Italian clan, if you know what I mean." Ricchar sighed. "But we're good people. Or at least we try to be."

"I wouldn't have thought otherwise," I replied, pretending to be interested in hearing more. The guy must be blind drunk at this point, muttering every single thing that crossed his mind. But I just didn't want to be rude to our generous host.

"If he decides to finally be part of the family business, it will cause issues in your relationship, and I'm speaking from experience here. So, early as now, know what you're getting yourself into." Ricchar gave me a timid smile. It seemed genuine, despite the cryptic implications of his monologue about his clan.

"Issues?"

"Time's number one." Ricchar played with his wine glass, the tilt of his head highlighting his shadowed features. "He'd be traveling here and there, and when you're also working full-time,  modeling or as a doctor,  he won't have much time for you and your relationship. And the other things can be hard to manage, too."

"Other things?" she repeated as she stared at the guy's unfaltering answers.

"At times, he will slip, make mistakes...mistakes we can't afford to keep making these days. So if you stay with him, know that it's gonna require hard work and commitment."  Ricchar stared again, seeming eager for a reaction. "You get what I'm trying to say?"

"Mykaela," a familiar deep voice called out before I could attempt to answer Ricchar's question.

Relief enveloped me when I saw Miles' shadowed figure approaching our table, his steps big and agile, almost impatient.

"It's late. Go to bed," Miles murmured to my ear. Without waiting for me or his cousin to respond, he held my arms to help me up, effortlessly pulling me back on my feet.

Baffled, I held onto his forearm and excused myself. I glanced at his cousin's reaction. "Thanks, Charr. Chat again tomorrow."

"No problem." Ricchar winked at me. "Cloe will be here in the morning. You'll have fun."

"Oh. Great."  Cloe? Ah. Right. His wife. "Looking forward to meeting her. Goodnight." Before I turned to Miles, I caught him throwing his older cousin a glare.  

"You okay?" Miles protectively put his arm around my back and then hugged me by the waist. He just about dragged me away from his cousin and the mansion's windy, dim-lit patio made of earth-colored bricks. It faced the quiet garden.

"Yeah." I looked behind and saw part of the elaborate maze the Falcos must've been paying a lot of money to maintain. "Ricchar found me in there."

"Where?"

"In the maze," I muttered while enjoying being so close to Miles and the way he hugged me. His grip on my forearm forced me to keep up with his pace.

We went up the stairs and reached the second floor in no time. "Why were you in the maze?" 

"Curiosity."

"It's too dark out there." 

"Creepy, too."  I waited for him to talk about something else. His reticent behavior lately intrigued me, and I certainly didn't like it whenever he kept to himself. Something bothered him; it was a gut feeling I couldn't simply ignore.

"Seriously." Miles sighed and walked on. He held me close to him as we rushed along the hallway, our surroundings still dim.

Thankfully he stayed beside me, and right this moment, nothing else gave me a sense of comfort and security. "I was looking for you," I said.

"Why? You should be sleeping."  Our hasty pace shortly led us back into my room on the third level.

I was panting by the time we got inside. 

Miles locked the door behind him. Then he started taking off my sweater. "There's leaves and pieces of twigs all over this thing–  Why'd you walk into the maze?" Miles sat me down on the bed big enough for two.

Although I wanted to satisfy his curiosity,  mine was more intolerable at present. I didn't even know where to begin.

His insistence that I come with him on this trip and meet family? His plan to fool his own parents into thinking he was in a relationship with me? Was he keeping secrets from me all this time?

"Why are you pretending?" I stared at him despite the dimness.

Unable to maintain eye contact, Miles backed away tentatively. "You've just met my parents. Why even ask?"

"Be serious."  I frowned.

"I am." Miles sighed and stayed put on the bed. "Sorry for earlier. And for the other night. Got drunk and looked through your phone."

"Okay," I said calmly. It wasn't a big deal, really. My suspicions bothered me much more. Something clearly troubled him. "Something up?"

"Nah." Miles avoided my gaze. "Talk tomorrow; it's late."

I scoffed at his dismissal. Why wouldn't he just talk and get it over with? He'd been distant all week. Didn't he trust me anymore?  "Why are you avoiding me?"

His being uncommunicative was hitting a nerve. He was keeping secrets; he was breaking their ultimate rule. Miles glimpsed his wristwatch and got up from the bed. "Sleep." 

"Wait." I grabbed his hand before he could make it to the door. I put my hands on his tense shoulders, ready to kneel and beg just to make him confide. "What's wrong?"

"Nothin'." Miles budged when I held him close. Then his arms gently pushed me away.

Although it hurt somewhat, I stayed standing in front of him.  I just wanted a real conversation.  Too much to ask, it seemed.  "Don't lie."

"I just..." His voice loudened a tad. Then Miles propped his hands on his hips. "I couldn't deal with you leaving so suddenly. Okay?"

"What?" I made a face. "Calm down. I'm only going home 'cause my dad's in the ICU."

"Didn't even mention a thing to me."

"Sorry." I covered my face with both hands. Heck. Was it the only reason he was also keeping to himself lately?  

"What's wrong?" he muttered after a quiet moment. "Did Charr say something that upset you?"

Getting annoyed by his deflecting, I shook my head resignedly and walked away and started fixing the bedcovers. "I actually don't mind it, because at least he talks to me, y'know?"

"Hey."

I didn't respond. Instead, I acted busy tidying up the room. For minutes, I kept at it while Miles sat on the bed.

"I said I'm sorry," he stressed when I kept folding clothes in my suitcase to maintain a certain distance from him.  "Just kinda anxious."

"Why?"

"I don't want you to leave."

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