The loneliness really started to sink in when I saw Hailey's pictures from Italy.
Especially now that Brianna and her mom have traveled for the Christmas holiday.
She looked so radiant, so free. Looking at her, I felt the ache of being an only child; I truly wished I had siblings to fill the quiet. With Layla away traveling, the house felt cavernous and empty, save for Martha's occasional presence.
To kill the time, I'd picked up baking, losing myself in a rabbit hole of YouTube and TikTok tutorials. Harry and I still hadn't spoken; I missed him, but neither of us had reached out.
Most days were a cycle of FaceTiming Brianna and Hailey, but the rest of the time, I was just… bored.
Finally, I couldn't stop myself. I messaged Antonio.
Andrea: I am bored 😔 The "typing" bubble appeared instantly.
Antonio: I'm running an errand in 30 minutes. Want to join? My face lit up.
Andrea: Yesss!
Antonio: Alright. I'll pick you up at Dana's Café in 30.
I scrambled to get ready. I freshened up and pulled on baggy jeans, a basic top, and my favorite sweatshirt. I brushed my hair smooth, swiped on some lip gloss, and—after a second of hesitation—sprayed the perfume he'd gifted me for my birthday.
By the time his car pulled up to the curb at Dana's, my heart was racing. I wasn't sure if it was the excitement of leaving the house or just the proximity to him.
"How are you?" he asked as I fastened my seatbelt.
"I'm good," I replied, feeling like a princess just being near him. His presence was always so grounding, so comforting.
"So, what's the errand?"He gave me a quick glance before returning his eyes to the road.
"Dropping off some documents for my brother," he said calmly.
"You have another brother?" I asked, surprised.
"Yeah. I'm the second child."
"Wow. I wish I had siblings," I said, a fresh wave of sadness hitting me. Then, curious, I added, "Why are you dropping them off yourself?"
"Because they're serious documents that need to be delivered by hand. Plus, we have things to discuss."
The car fell into a sudden silence. I stared out the window at the passing New York skyline, watching the gray buildings blur together as the winter wind whipped against the glass. The silence felt heavy, almost awkward.
"I've never really had a proper tour of New York," I ventured.
"You're getting one now," he replied shortly.The tension in the car made me bold.
"So… do you have a girlfriend?"He stared at me briefly, his expression unreadable, before looking back at the road. "I've never dated anyone."I was genuinely shocked.
"Wow. Why? No girl fits your interests?" I teased.
"Something like that."he replied
"You mean you've never seen a girl you liked?"
"I liked a girl once," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "But she betrayed me."
"I want to hear that story," I said, leaning in.
"That story is for another day," he stated. I pouted, and to my surprise, he laughed.
"So you're like… a virgin?" I teased again.
"Nah," he smiled, his eyes glinting.We talked until we reached a massive, imposing building: the De Luca construction headquarters. Inside, Antonio grabbed a file and led me toward the elevator.
"Wait here," he instructed, gesturing to a seat in the lobby.
"Good afternoon, Mr. De Luca," the secretary said professionally. "Mr. Aaron De Luca will see you now."As Antonio disappeared into the office, the secretary turned to me. "Would you like anything to drink?"
"No, I'm good," I said, retreating into my phone.
It took thirty minutes before Antonio emerged, followed by another man entering the office."Sorry we took so long," Antonio said."No problem," I replied, standing up. "But you owe me ice cream."He gave me a long look.
"Alright. Let's go."As we reached the entrance of the building, a beautiful woman with long, flowing brown hair walked toward us.
"Hey, Anita," Antonio said, giving her a brief hug.
"I'm surprised to see you here! How are you?" she asked with a genuine, radiant smile. I felt a sharp pang of jealousy. Her eyes shifted to me. "Hey." She greeted.
"Came to drop some things for Aaron," Antonio explained. "This is my friend, Andrea."Friend. I mimicked the word bitterly in my head.
"That's cool. Is Aaron busy?" she asked.
"Not really. You can go up."
"Alright, good to see you!" She swept past us into the building. She was so elegant, so effortless. I hated how much I envied her.
We got into the car as the valet brought it around. The question of who she was burned in my throat, but I kept my mouth shut. We drove in silence until we pulled up to a restaurant. Snow was beginning to fall in thick flakes, so we hurried inside.
"Hey, my man!" A guy greeted Antonio with a hug. "Surprised to see you on this side of town."
"Just delivering files to Aaron," Antonio said, gesturing for us to sit. "Matthew, this is Andrea. Andrea, this is Matthew, a friend from college."After the introductions, I realized I didn't want ice cream anymore. I ordered hot chocolate and donuts instead.
As it grew dark outside, a knot of anxiety formed in my stomach—luckily my dad wasn't home, or I'd have a lot of explaining to do."You seem different," Antonio noted. "What's the problem?""Nothing. I'm just tired."Matthew returned with our orders. "Are you planning on heading back to Kingston tonight?" he asked Antonio.
"Yeah, why?"
"Heavy snowstorm. Roads are starting to block. You might have to stay in town."
"No issue," Antonio said casually. Matthew nodded and left us. Antonio turned to me.
"I can call your dad and let him know you're with me." I was stunned.
"No! I don't want anybody to know I'm hanging out with you."
"Are you ashamed of me?"
"No, I just… I want my life to be private".i lied.
"Well, I literally don't care what people think," he said.
"How do you even know my dad?" I asked.
"Our families are close. We have business together."
"Fascinating," I murmured. "What kind of business?"
"Different things. I don't really want to discuss it," he said, effectively ending the conversation.
I couldn't hold it in any longer. "So, who was that lady at the office?"
"That's Aaron's fiancé. They're getting married soon."
Relief washed over me like a wave. She wasn't an ex; she was practically his sister-in-law.
"We'll sleep at my apartment tonight," Antonio decided. "I'll take you home first thing in the morning."
We drove to his building and took the elevator up. His apartment was exactly like him: cozy, yet undeniably elegant.
"So, is this where you bring all your girls?" I asked, looking around.He gave me an irritated look, completely ignoring the jab.
"Go shower. There's hot water." He led me to a bedroom. "There are new shirts and shorts in the wardrobe. Change into whatever you like."
"I don't want to shower yet," I grumbled.
"Fine. I'll go first." He said
While he was in the bathroom, I took a small tour of the place. When I returned to the bedroom, the sound of the running shower filled the room. A sudden, wild idea took hold of me—a boldness I didn't know I possessed.I stepped out of my clothes, leaving them in a heap. I opened the bathroom door.
Antonio turned, his expression freezing in shock.I opened the glass shower door and stepped inside. He stared at me, and I saw it—the raw, hungry expression in his eyes. The hot water hit my skin, and I moved closer to him, my heart hammering against my ribs.I brushed my hands against his chest as the water cascaded over us. I reached for the body wash, lathering my skin while turning my back to him.
Suddenly, I felt his hands on my waist. Goosebumps erupted all over my body. His palms moved slowly over my stomach, traveling upward, while I felt the unmistakable heat of him pressed against my back.A wave of desire hit me so hard I felt dizzy.
I turned around in his arms and kissed him first. He groaned, pulling me flush against him, his lips taking total control of mine.
The steam from the shower blurred everything but the heat of his skin. I could feel his hands roaming over me, and my nipples hardened instantly at his touch.
Emboldened, I traced my fingers down the length of him. He tensed under my touch as I moved my hand slowly up and down his shaft, feeling him harden further against my fingers.A low, guttural moan escaped his throat—a sound that sent a thrill straight through me.
He didn't say a word as he hoisted me up, my legs locking around his waist. He carried me out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, laying me back against the cool sheets. In that moment, I was vibrant, electric, and ready for everything.
Then, the heat vanished.
He walked toward the wardrobe, grabbed two towels, and tossed one at me.
"Get dressed," he said, his voice tight and controlled.I blinked, the sudden cold air hitting my wet skin.
"Why? Why did you stop?" The disappointment was a physical ache; I felt completely dissatisfied.
"You're not ready," he said, not looking at me. "Another time."
"But I am," I argued, sitting up and clutching the towel to my chest.
"Don't push it, Andrea," he said sternly. His tone left no room for debate.The silence that followed was heavy.
Once I was dressed in one of his oversized shirts, he finally spoke again. "Are you hungry?"
"No," I snapped, still stinging from the rejection.
"You can sleep on the bed," he said, moving toward the door. "I'll stay on the couch in the living room.""No," I said quickly. I didn't want to be alone in the dark with my thoughts. "We can sleep on the bed together. I won't try anything funny, I swear."
He looked at me skeptically, his eyes scanning my face for a long moment. I stood my ground until, finally, he gave a sharp nod.
We climbed into the bed, the space between us vanishing as he pulled me back against him. We laid there, tangled together in a tense but comfortable cuddle. As I felt the steady rhythm of his breathing, my mind drifted back to the silence from the other De Luca brother.
If Harry wasn't speaking to me, no problem. His brother would do just fine.