Chapter 7

Gabriele

Heather was sitting at the island, her green eyes glistening with tears.

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head, she fumbled in her book bag then she pulled out an envelope. Her hands were shaking.

"I'm probably overreacting."I took the envelope from her trembling hands. In golden letters, I read,

'You are cordially invited'  I unfolded the envelope. I scanned the invitation,it was for a wedding. Someone named Nichola and Alex was getting married. I noticed the surname Jackson I frowned. Why would this make her cry?

"Jackson? Is that your sister?" She nodded her head.

"And Alex was a guy I loved before Tyler. I feel so silly but it is becoming reality-he is going to marry her...he chose her. After all these years, he still doesn't care about me." The realization hit me, her sister was marrying the guy she loved. That must be the worst feeling in the world.

I took her hand in mine without thinking, she looked up at me.

"You're not going right?" Her head dipped down.

"I have to, my parents expect me to be there." I could feel a frown form on my forehead.

"Well, it says you can bring along a partner-Tyler can keep you occupied." I tried to lift the mood but she shook her head.

"No, I asked him but he said he's too busy. I'm going to have to go alone and watch as my sister throws it in my face that she caught him in her poisonous web." My mouth ran away from my brain there for a minute and I suddenly said,

"I can go with you." Her eyes widened and so did mine. Hers in shock and mine in surprise.

"What?" She asked softly.

"I can go with you since you have to go then I can accompany you."

"Why would you?" She asked with a questioning look on her face.

"I am willing to help, you are like a friend to me and Luca, so I'm here to help." She slowly nodded, the wedding was in about a month's time.

"Thank you, you really don't have to." I shook my head in turn.

"On the contrary, it'll be my pleasure." The ringing sound on the coffee machine made me sit up. I poured us some coffee, she intently stared down at her invitation. Whoever this Alex guy is, he sure was stupid to choose her sister over her.

We drank our coffee in silence when Luca emerged, he looked around and saw Heather's face, not a sad smile any more but a genuine smile. He walked to Heather and gave her a picture.

"What's this buddy?" She asked him, he gave her a small smile with a blush.

"I drew this for you." I leaned over to see the drawing of the stick figures, it was a stick figure girl with a balloon in her hand and a stick figure man with a bunch of balloons and a small stick figure with another balloon.

"This is you, that's daddy and that's me." He pointed to the drawing. She traced her fingers on the outline of the figures in appreciation.

"This is the nicest thing I've ever gotten, thank you, Luca." She hugged him and he returned it. With his jackpot winning smile, he walked away. It was great to see him taking such a liking to her already after only two weeks.

"Why is Tyler so busy?"

"He's an accountant and this financial quarter isn't doing him good."

"I can understand that, this has been a hectic few weeks along with becoming a partner it is a little bit overwhelming."

"You're an accountant?" I chuckled.

"No, I'm an investment banker."  After the coffee, I stood up following her out to the door. I stopped. I couldn't walk her home and leave Luca alone but I couldn't let her walk alone since the sun was setting already.

I heard a car pull up in the driveway, I wasn't expecting anyone. Heather stopped in her tracks as we both peered at the car.

I let out a relieved breath, it was my friend and co-worker Aiden. Aiden walked to the door, he stopped also and looked to me and then to Heather and back at me wiggling his eyebrows.

"I thought I could come to visit you television since it is football season, am I intruding?" He asked with a mischievous smile, typical Aiden.

"Not at all, I'm going to walk Heather home so you're just in time to watch Luca until I get back, my friend." I patted him on the shoulder, he looked at me in surprise. Luca loved his uncle Aiden.

As we stepped out of the door together, Aiden hollered from behind "Take your time" .I rolled my eyes. I stopped at the gate, the guard let us out.

"What direction is your apartment in?"

"Just about two blocks away," She wrung her hands together, we walked in silence down the street as the sun was setting against the city background. She stared at me as we walked and I tried not to look at her, if I do, things inside me begin to stir, and unfortunately, my thoughts become clouded with the very enticing image of her and me.

Her quint little apartment came into view. I walked her to her door, I stopped her before she opened her apartment.

"Don't be afraid to tell me anything, I'm not just your employer but I can be a friend too." She bit her lip and I felt that feeling I was talking about earlier. She nodded and muttered "Thanks" before I turned around walking back to my house.

I got home in record time. My head was zooming as I entered the house, the voice of the announcer was booming through the house. Luca and Aiden were cheering on a team. I am not sure which one since I haven't watched my team in a long time. I locked the door behind me walking to Aiden and Luca. Aiden looked at me with a grin.

Why did I sign myself up to go with her? I know for sure it wasn't in sympathy, the churning of my gut told me that my previous dry spell is catching up with me. She has a boyfriend and I a son-you can see how I shouldn't be attracted to her.

Aiden turned to me breaking my train of thought.

"You and the nanny ey?" I shook my head.

"No, she's just the nanny-shh I don't need Luca getting ideas. My mother is already planning a wedding because I was on a date this week, talk about going overboard."

"It's been six years, you need to move on and get laid." Luca turned to us.

"What is getting laid uncle Aiden?" He asked innocently as Aiden's face retorted in awkwardness. I walked to the fridge mouthing to him "enjoy explaining". I grabbed a beer, coming back to Aiden trying to explain something other than he actually meant. I snickered a few times, serves him right for telling me to get laid, he was right, however.

The game continued and when it ended Aiden left (he typically takes advantage of me because of my big screen). It was already late so I put Luca to bed. I felt stuck on her heart-shaped lips, green eyes and long brown hair.

I got home late that Monday. Heather was sitting with Luca helping him with a drawing, I smiled as Luca laughed causing Heather to laugh.

"...oops uh that's not supposed to be blue." She smiled at Luca, she noticed me and greeted me. Our usual routine followed, I changed into something more comfortable and then we ate dinner together. I read Luca a story and it wasn't long before he was sound asleep. I stared at him sleeping for a moment, I heard the door behind me creak as it opened. I turned around to see Heather standing there looking at me with a smile.

She walked closer to me and a sweet floral smell followed her.

"You love him very much." She stated, we walked out together.

"I do, he's my life." We walked to the living room. She looked nervous for a moment.

"I see you don't wear a ring. What happened to his mother?" I haven't told her anything about Clara, just that his mother isn't here and if she shows up she should throw her out. I didn't want Luca to know anything else so I kept that information from her too but she was bound to ask.

Before I could answer she shook her head.

"That's personal sorry." I decided that she needs to know at least who Clara is if she decides to show up, how unlikely that may seem I still have a fear that one day she will demand to take Luca back and that he finds out the truth about what type of person his mother is.

"Maybe you should know," I walked to our magazine stack and rummaged through them. I found a particular cover with Clara on, she showed way too much skin.

"That's my ex-wife Clara, she decided that her career is more important than her only son." I felt a fire inside me ignite. My hands tensed around the magazine cover and the picture of a smiling Clara looking back at me.

Heather took the cover from me.

"She's beautiful, I can see why you married her in the first place."She studied the cover.

"That's about all she is, I hope she never comes near Luca." I spat out the words as Heather put down the magazine. She placed her hand on my arm trying to calm me silently. I took in a ragged breath and looked at Heather. Where she touched me on my arm it felt like a surge of energy was passing through me.

I now noticed how close she was, I leaned in closer and our lips touched slowly and gently over each other. I felt the tension in my stomach knot together, I deepened the kiss and she kissed back. I pulled back and she opened her eyes with a flutter. The realization hit me and judging from her facial expression, her too.

What the hell did I just do?

"S..sorry, uh." I looked around awkwardly rubbing my stubble. She touched her lips gingerly and then looked back at me, she has a boyfriend, but then again it was just a kiss.

"Uhm, I'm Italian, I kiss everybody hello and goodbye." Lie, I hated that most of my family loved to greet each other with a peck, even my uncles. Was this the best excuse I could come up with."I'm Italian". Mmh, I'm not the most creative person really, not close.

"I should go, it's okay-uhm just a goodbye kiss." she agreed and hurried out of the door.

My heart was still racing, accidental goodbye kiss that's all that was.

Yeah right.

A/NCheck out the video on top,one of my favs.