Page 64 of Lucas & Melissa Falling in Love
“You’re overwhelmed—”
She snaps around, “Oh no. I’m not. I’m assimilating. There’s a difference. If I were overwhelmed it would imply that I couldn’t handle the situation, but I’m handling it. Don’t worry about me. That’s why I’m such a catch.”
Now I laugh and I’m grateful she’s herself again.
“I didn’t hear anything about a shopping trip in your plans,” she says. “I can’t borrow from your sisters’ wardrobes forever you know. I feel funny about it.”
“That’s right. I’ll take you, unless you’d rather I suggest Sabrina take you. I can give you my credit card.” I slip my wallet from my pocket.
“I don’t need your credit card. I have one of my own.” Her eyes spark. I don’t want to argue.
“Fine. Consider it a plan,” I say and toss my wallet down.
"I don't need your money," she says.
“I’m not arguing with you.” I say this, but I don’t feel right, even if I’m being unreasonable to want her to spend my money after hiding the fact that I have money. My wallet is open and the credit card gleams, taunting me, lying on the bed between us.
“Fierro Motor Company card?” she says.
I nod. She looks at me long and hard.
“Do you feel a little bit like you’re selling your soul?” she says, perfectly serious.
Automatically I open my mouth to say no, and then I stop. She’s watching me and waiting, letting me think about my answer, to be sure. I shake my head.
“No.” Last month, maybe even last week, I would have said yes. But not today. My father means more to me than…” I wave my hand in the air. “Whatever else it was that I wanted to do with my life.”
I think about Domenic then and the strain on the family, the guilt, the ever-present sadness and sense of something missing in the family. I know that was the void I was supposed to fill. Domenic was the eldest son, the one who would have taken my father’s place.
Sure, I would have still had a place in the company if my brother were alive. But I always knew that when Domenic died, the reins of the family company fell to me.
My brother’s death and the guilt I felt about it was a big part of the reason I left. I couldn’t make myself step into his shoes. I didn’t want to usurp his place.
I said, “Domenic and I were racing against each other the day he died.”
Melissa kneels and turns to me at once, her eyes showing shocked compassion. Then melts against me in a heartfelt hug because she knows I’m giving her a piece ofmy soul.
