Page 119 of Chasing You

I was on the phone with Emilio Rossi, the owner of the local flight school I applied to yesterday, after my phone call with Wes.

After talking it through with him, I decided to apply for the job right then and there in the car. So when Emilio called to tell methey want to interview me as soon as possible, I froze. I stumbled over my words, but somehow I’ve got an interview tomorrow morning, and my stomach has been twisting with anticipation ever since I hung up the phone.

I’m taking another step, one giant step towards changing everything, and I don’t recognize the feeling in my chest. I think it might be pride.

“Okay, well, walk me through it,” Leo says. I turn to face him, my brows raised to my hairline. “Okay—like—leave outthatpart.” He shakes his head. “Did anything happen afterward?”

“I got a phone call.” I could elaborate more, tell him about the job, but I want to tell Marina first. She deserves that. But I don’t want to take away from the D’Angelo’s and their party. Tonight is about them.

“Like...mid?—”

“Jesus Christ, Leo. No, it was afterthat.”

“Okay, was it your ex-girlfriend or something? Why would she be upset? Unless you just didn’t…ya know,” he shrugs, “perform.”

“Okay, I’m not having this conversation with you,” I say as I walk out of the kitchen, heading outside to where everyone is sitting around the big wooden table.

Vanessa is engrossed in a conversation with May and Rafael, deliberating baby names as they all argue about what is tasteful versus outdated. Luca sits beside her, his attention focused on Caio as they mumble to each other in Italian.

“Here you go, princess,” I say, placing the glass of red wine on the table in front of Marina. She just smiles, not saying a word before she takes a generous sip.

I hate this energy between us. I hate not knowing what’s wrong, because then I don't know how to fix it.

I pull out the chair beside her, grabbing her hand in mine as I sit close to her. “Baby?”

“Mmm?” she mutters.

I take her chin in between my fingers, pulling her gaze to meetmine, and for the life of me, I can’t read what’s written in her eyes. “Are you okay?”

She bites on the inside of her cheek, her eyes darting around my face. “Can we go somewhere to talk?”

I just nod, leaning back. “Wherever you want.”

She stands, picking up her wine glass and walking us through the house, leading me to the soft leather couches in the living room.

She doesn’t let go of her glass, even as she tucks herself into the corner of the couch like she needs something to cling to, and it makes worry rise in my throat.

Things were so good earlier, at least I thought they were, so what happened in the time that I was on the phone? Or did I do something before that to upset her?

“Talk to me, princess.”

She’s still chewing on her lip, her eyes nervous as she looks up at me. “Are you leaving?”

My heart stops. “What?”

“Are you leaving, Miles?” My heart skips a beat as I sit here. This isn’t what I was expecting, though I’m not sure exactly what Iwasexpecting. “On the phone…” She searches my eyes, and I’m not sure what she’s looking for. “It sounded like you were talking to your boss, you sounded pleased, I just—” Her gaze dips, and she takes a big gulp of her wine instead of finishing her sentence.

I can’t help the small smile that I can feel tugging at the corner of my mouth. I fold my leg up onto the couch to face her fully.

“Why are you smiling?” she says, her voice sharper than it was a second ago. “Is this entertaining to you, Miles?”

My grin just spreads, and I shrug my shoulders. “I mean…I’m hoping he’ll be my boss. I might find out tomorrow around ten a.m.”

Her brows jump together. “What are you talking about?”

“I’ve got an interview tomorrow morning for a job as an instructor at a flight school somewhere between here and Sorrento.”

The look in her eyes softens immediately, but confusion still swirls behind them. “You what?” she breathes.

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