Page 94 of Tinsel in Telluride

The sound of Luca’s phone ringing cuts me off—a blaring horn that in any other situation I’d think signaled someone was stealing something.

He pulls it out of his pocket and mumbles an apology as he fumbles to silence it.

No image pops up on the Facetime call, but I immediately recognize the area code.

Shady Grove.

“Is it your family?” I whisper, praying it’s just someone calling about his car’s extended warranty.

Luca winces. “My mother.”

My gut twists and not because of the person on the other end of the phone. It’s the look of longing in Luca’s eyes and the pain on his face. It’s the look of a man who wishes things could’ve been different.

Which is why I find myself reassuring him. “You don’t have to ignore it because of me.”

“I’m not,” he says, his eyes never leaving the phone screen. “She’s been calling every day for the last month.”

His admission floors me.

“If you need to answer it, I can go.”I set down his boots and grab my own phone from the hearth.

“No,” he blurts out. “Stay.”

I hesitate, everything in me telling me to run and that this a bad idea.

Again, maybe it’s the lingering tequila, but I find myself nodding slowly. “If that's what you need.”

He looks up at me,and nods once as he swipes the screen to answer.

“Oh, Luca,” Isabella Donati croons in a sickly-sweet tone. “I am so happy you finally answered.”

I glance from off camera at the visage of his mother. She’s every bit the delicate socialite I remember. Not a single hair is out of place, and she’s got more makeup on her Botox filled face than a clown at the circus.

“Hello, Mother.” His voice is soft yet, clipped and tension radiates through his shoulders. “Merry Christmas.”

“Well, it would be if all my children were under one roof.”

God, she’s insufferable.

Luca gives her an irritated scowl. “No ‘hi how are you?’ Or ‘what’s new with you in the last ten years?’ Just going to jump right in then with the insults.”

Isabella scoffs, examining her immaculately manicured nails. “You know I’ve never been one to sugarcoat, dear.”

“Unless it suits you.”

“Oh, come now, Luca.” She pouts. “Enough is enough. It’s time you and Enzo come home. We have so much to celebrate. Your sister is pregnant, and that baby deserves to know their uncles.”

Gianna’s pregnant? The news shouldn’t make my heart clench, but to think once upon a time I’d be the one she’d call to tell leaves me teetering between nostalgic and uneasy.

“Does Enzo know all this?” Luca deadpans.

“You’ve always been the more reasonable twin.” It’s a nonanswer if I’ve ever heard one.

“No, I’ve always been the one you could manipulate, but I haven’t forgotten everything you said when you cut us off.”

“Oh, don’t be dramatic, Luca.”

My strong, resilient twin shakes his head. “This was a mistake. I’d love it if we could all fix things, Mom, but you needto fix things with Enzo first, on your own, before you get to meet my family.”

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