Page 150 of Flawed

Zara's eyes glisten. She pulls the necklace out of the box. "Thank you, Dad. This is amazing."

Dad.

I fight more jealousy, continuing to hate myself for feeling this way.

Luca steps forward. "Do you want to try it on?"

"Yes, but can I wear it today?" she questions.

"Of course," he replies, then takes the necklace from her. She moves her hair over one shoulder, and he clasps it around her neck.

Zara spins, and Luca smiles.

He softly states, "Your grandmother would have loved to see you in it."

Zara furrows her eyebrows, inquiring, "What happened to her?"

Luca hesitates then answers, "Let's talk about your grandparents at a different time. Okay?"

She opens her mouth then shuts it. Then she quietly says, "Okay."

I step forward to study the necklace. It's a gold, Italian, diamond-cut beaded choker. I offer, "It's absolutely stunning."

Zara puts her hand over it. "I'm going to go look in the mirror!" She runs out of the room.

Tense silence fills the air.

Luca reaches into his pocket and takes out his phone. He asks, "What's your phone number?"

It's a question he asked me in the past, yet I'd never give it to him. My initial reaction is to change the subject. I open my mouth, but he cocks an eyebrow. I freeze.

He states, "We have a daughter together."

I wince. "I know. Old habits die hard."

His lips twitch. He nods then asks again, "Number?"

I rattle it off, and he programs it into his cell. He taps the screen, and my text alert ringer fills the air.

I nervously laugh. "Guess that's you?"

"Yep. Can't escape me now," he states, then winks.

My insides turn to Jell-O.

Zara reappears, chirping, "We should go so we're not late."

Luca and I tear our eyes off each other. He takes the garment bags and duffle from her. "I've got this."

She beams at him.

He motions to the door. "Ladies first."

I inhale deeply, passing him and feeling his eyes on me. We get into the hall then the elevator, and Zara slides her arm through his. She announces, "This is the first wedding I've ever been in."

He puffs his chest. "Glad I get to be there."

We get through the building. Luca leads us to his SUV and we slide inside.

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