Chapter 34

JETT

I’m absolutely seething.

I’ve been trying to keep my cool for Aria’s benefit, but my anger has slowly risen ever since Eleanor stepped on the boat.

I knew she wouldn’t be thrilled about Aria, but I’d hoped seeing how happy she made me would help her put her personal feelings aside—whatever those were.

It breaks my heart when I think about Aria, the way she folded her hands in her lap and averted her eyes at dinner. I’ve seen her ferocity, but seeing her so upset and defeated lit my insides on fire.

And the fact that my own mother put that pain in her eyes just made me even angrier.

But I kept my cool. I played nice through the tour and dinner. I got Aria tucked into our cabin. Now, I need answers—and I’m going to get them.

I walk around the yacht till I find Eleanor and Leon sitting on the lower deck. I walk out, and they both look up and smile.

We chat for a few minutes about dinner and the day; not once do they ask where Aria is, which just burns me more. Finally, I can’t take it anymore.

“Leon, would you mind giving me a minute to talk to my mother?” I say.

Leon looks at Eleanor, who smiles and nods.

“What’s on your mind, Jetty?” she says with a smile, as if she doesn’t know.

“I just want to give you a chance to explain yourself,” I say calmly.

She furrows her brow. “I don’t know what you mean.”

I sigh. “You are unbelievable. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

She shrugs. I pinch the bridge of my nose.

“What is your problem with Aria?”

Her eyes dart back and forth. “I don’t have a problem with her,” she says.

“I’m not playing games with you,” I say, trying not to yell. “You can’t even say her name.”

She sighs and puts her empty wine glass on the table, then leans forward. “I mean, come on, Jetty. Are we going to pretend that this thing between you two is anything more than a rebound?”

“I’m not pretending! And if you’d even ~bothered~ to ask me, you would know that,” I say through gritted teeth.

She furrows her brow more. “Jett, I will ~try~ to be tactful here but…she’s just…not on our level? Do you know what I mean?”

I run my hand through my hair. “No. No, I don’t know what you mean.”

“Well, look at her family, her history. We all saw that article about her ‘humble childhood home.’ How do you know she even likes you for you and not your success?”

The reminder of that article, of the state it sent Aria into when I wasn’t there to help, fuels the way my blood boils.

“Her family and her history are none of your business,” I say, my voice almost shaking. “She cares about me, and that is the only thing that should matter to you.”

“But Lena was—”

“NOT RIGHT FOR ME!”

I stand up and start to pace, trying to keep myself calm.

“Lena and I were not meant to be,” I say. “I know ~you~ care about status and fame and money, but I don’t. And I will not allow you to make the woman I love feel like shit ever again.”

The words fly out of me before I can even think them. My insides clench as I realize what I’ve said. I turn to look at my mom, whose mouth has literally dropped open.

“What?!” she hisses. “The woman you ~what~?”

“Love,” I say, admitting it more to myself. “I didn’t love Lena, Mom, not like this. And if you can’t be happy for me and look past your own insecurities, then I’d appreciate it if you’d take your leave early. And don’t contact me again until you’re ready to grow the fuck up.”

“Don’t you dare speak to me that way.” She’s standing now too. “I’m simply looking out for you. If your father—”

“My father,” I say, my tone getting low and dangerous, “is gone. I have no doubt he would agree with you. You two always cared more about what others thought. But I’m done with that. I’m doing what’s best for ~me~. You can get on board or stay mad. I don’t really care anymore.”

I go to head back inside. Before closing the door, I turn my head to the side so she can hear me.

“Goodnight, Mom. And goodbye.”

Inside, Aria is lying in bed, facing away from me. I strip down to my boxers and climb under the sheets.

I slide an arm around her waist and pull her into me. Her body fits mine like a puzzle. I nuzzle into her neck; the smell of her skin mixed with coconut lotion invades my senses. I kiss the space just below her ear and feel her melt into me.

I have zero doubt I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

~Love.~ I actually said ~love~. I hadn’t even admitted it to myself. And yet watching someone, my only remaining family, talk down to Aria completely enraged me.

I’ve worked hard to protect Aria—from her ex-boyfriend, from the press, and now from my own mother. It doesn’t matter who it is. I realize, in this moment, that I would go to the ends of the Earth to spare Aria a moment of pain.

She deserves that and a million times more.

I’ve never met someone as sweet yet fierce, as smart yet unpresuming, as beautiful yet humble. Mom said Aria is beneath me, but truthfully, I’m beneath her. She deserves better than me, but I’m determined to live up to her needs.

I wake up early to find my mother gone, which is fine by me. The staff took her ashore around six a.m., and she left me a note explaining she’s returning to Croatia and that she hopes I know what I’m doing.

It’s our last night in Venice, and I have to find a way to end this vacation on a good note. Aria is still asleep, so I ask the staff to make me a breakfast spread that I can set up at the table in our room.

While Aria sleeps, I set the trays of fresh fruit, waffles, eggs, and bacon up and then sit beside her and gently stroke her back till she stirs.

Aria blinks her eyes open and looks at me.

“Everything okay?” she asks.

“Of course,” I say. “We’re gonna have breakfast in our room today. Coffee?”

“Yes, please,” she says as she sits up, and I go to pour her coffee and make it how she likes. “But what about Eleanor and Leon?”

“They had to leave. They’re on their way back to Croatia.”

“Oh. I suppose that’s because of me?”

I look at her. Her eyes are turned down at the corners and incredibly sad. It literally hurts my heart.

“No, it’s not because of you; it’s because of ~her,”~ I say as I place the coffee on her nightstand and sit next to her again.

“Aria, you did nothing wrong, but I did. I didn’t want to make a big scene, but I should have defended you sooner. I did talk to her last night and let her know her behavior was unacceptable. She chose to leave instead of owning up to it.”

I expect Aria to be happy or smile, but instead she drops her head. I see her shoulders shake as she starts to cry.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, lifting her chin. The large tears streaming down her face break my heart.

“I never want to be the reason you aren’t on good terms with your mom, Jett. I feel terrible. I…I know what it feels like to be alone. I don’t want that for you.”

“Please, don’t feel bad. I…care about you. You are my priority now, Aria. I would do anything for you, anything. Please, don’t cry,” I say.

The words tumble out of me before I can stop them. Her eyes widen then scrunch up as more tears fall down her cheeks. She puts her head on my chest, and I feel her shoulders drop as she cries harder.

“I care about you too—more than you know,” she whispers.

“Good,” I say. “We only have twenty more hours in Italy. Let’s make the most of it.”

Eventually, Aria goes into the bathroom and comes back out with a freshly washed face. She’s still a bit sniffly but smiles as she sits down and eats breakfast with me.

We have a lazy day, meandering through the city, stopping in random shops and cafés and generally doing whatever we want. Despite the last conversation with my mom hanging over my head, I feel lighter than I have…ever.

Back on the yacht, Aria and I are watching our last Italian sunset from the sun deck. The golden light from the low sun ignites Aria’s bronze skin and dark curls. She’s positively radiant, and I can’t believe how lucky I am to call her mine.

She looks at me and smiles, then raises an eyebrow.

“What?” she asks skeptically.

I want to say it, the words that have followed me around all day. I want to tell her how much I care for her, that I love her. But the words get stuck in my throat.

“I…am so glad to be here…with you,” I say. She blinks, then smiles again, though not as wide. She wraps her arms around my neck, a feeling I’ve come to love.

Love. I love her. I love this feeling. And yet, I still can’t even say it to her.