Page 94 of Heir of Fire
“What about you, Gianna?”
She shrugged. “I’ve already finished some of my classes, but I’m not worried about finals. I’m mostly worried about the recital I have in a couple weeks.”
“What is there to be worried about? You’re an amazing dancer,” her father said, grabbing some grapes off the table.
“There was one move I kept messing up, but I think I finally got it down. You’re still coming to the recital, right?”
“Of course I’ll be there. I hope you’re saving me a spot in the front row.”
Her heart swelled at his words. He had never been one to miss any of their events throughout the years and it mattered.
Allister snorted. “Maybe she can save you a spot next to her boyfriend instead.”
Gianna’s eyes flew open. She looked at Allister and then at her father, who stared at her with an eerily calm look on his face. He didn’t say anything for a moment, just blinked and stared. God, she was going to kill Allister.
“What boyfriend?” her father finally said.
She cleared her throat, wiping her now sweaty hands on her dress. “His name is Finn. We just started dating recently.”
“Finn? Why does that name sound so familiar?”
“Probably because you’re thinking of Finn Kingsley, which is exactly who it is,” Allister said. “She has fallen in love with a Kingsley.”
Her father ran a hand down his face, muttering something under his breath. He looked at Gianna with a desperate look. “A Kingsley? Gianna, there are so many men in this world, and you choose Finn Kingsley?”
She frowned. “He’s a really great person and he treats me amazingly. He actually wanted to be here today to support me, but I didn’t let him because it’s a family thing.”
Her father turned back to Allister. “You know this boy?”
“Somewhat. I’m getting to know him better. I did all the standard threatening the other night to keep him in his place,” Allister said.
Gianna fought the urge to roll her eyes. That threat didn’t really do anything, but she didn’t mention that. If this would get them off her ass about it for now, she would let them think whatever they wanted.
“Good. I still want to meet him outside of the recital. Once we handle all this here, we’ll set up a date for you two to come down,” he said.
She nodded her head. “Perfect. Just keep an open mind.”
As long as he was willing to meet Finn, she could work with it. It was going to be awkward no doubt when they did run into each other, but her father would learn to love him just like she did.
The knock on the front door stopped all conversations in the living room. Immediately, Gianna could feel the goosebumps coating her skin, the internal dread settling inside of her all over again.
Federico stood up, moving in a haste to open the door. She attempted to take deep breaths to calm her rapidly beating heart, but there was no use. She turned to Allister, who seemed to have the same look on his face. He had always been much better about hiding it, but not now. Not when the moment was here and there was nowhere to go.
The sound of high heels followed her father’s footsteps into the living room. She had red lipstick painted on, her blonde hair pulled into an updo, and she wore a black dress that looked more suitable for a funeral than it did for anything else.
But that was her mother.
That was Giulia Moretti. The last name she kept despite not keeping the family associated with it, but it gave her access to things that she wasn’t ready to let go of.
She smiled wide, holding her arms out as if she wanted a hug from them. “Wow, look at you both.”
Gianna didn’t move a muscle, and she was happy to see that Allister didn’t either. Giulia dropped her arms awkwardly, clearing her throat. Her father returned to his seat from before, forcing her into the other armchair. Unfortunately, it happened to be directly across from Gianna.
“How have you both been? You look so much older,” Giulia said, attempting to keep the conversation going.
Allister spoke up. “We’re fine. Still in school; still doing everything we’ve done before.”
That was how they kept it. Generic and vague. Never giving details about where they went to school, lived, or anything really—but then again, she never asked. She was just as fine with the answers as they were giving them.
