“You can fit in my carry-on bag if we tried.” His eyes smolder as they roam over me, taking in my loose blonde hair and mascara-coated lashes framing my eyes.
Did I put effort into my appearance for Liam? Yes.
I’m so screwed.
“I don’t think I want to fly private jets in a carry-on. I didn’t peg you for such a cheapo who wasn’t willing to share his life of luxury.”
Liam barks out a laugh I’ve grown to love. Uh, like. He pours the wine like a pro, cloth included for wiping off any excess drips. We look like classy people using real glasses instead of plastic ones.
“Cheers to another city and another race.” He smiles.
I clink my glass with his and take a sip. The liquid cools me down from the heat of an August day and Liam’s nearness.
I scan the perfectly manicured lawn. “Can you believe people propose here? I don’t think I would ever want something so public.”
We already saw one proposal while walking over to our picnic spot with the sounds of a crowd cheering ringing through the quad.
“Are you a hidden romantic? Do you want some private proposal instead?” His eyes dance, the sun’s rays reflecting off his irises.
“Maybe. I don’t know. I never thought about it before, especially with my parents and their failed attempt at love.”
His eyebrows tip down, his lips matching the movement. “Oh, come on. Every girl thinks of it.”
“Not this girl. Don’t be so quick to jump to conclusions because not every female dreams of a three-bedroom house with a dog.”
“Of course not. Girls dream of fancy mansions with Bandini cars instead of dogs.”
His crazy picture of love makes me laugh up into the sky.
“For someone who talks about how in love his parents are, you sure have a dark outlook on life.”
Realization dawns on me when his eyes dart away from me. I try to backpedal. “I didn’t mean to bring that up.”
He focuses on the Eiffel Tower in front of us. “I know. But it happens. It’s not like I want to be some irritable asshole who lets one comment taint my mood. But in the end, you’re right. I shouldn’t be like this, but I am. Because, sure, my parents have the best marriage, but they have a son with the worst. So it doesn’t matter what we grew up with when Lukas lives a daily nightmare.”
“Have you talked to your brother about this? Based on what you’ve told me, it seems like he loved Johanna. I wouldn’t count that as the worst marriage.” I can’t help but wonder if Liam paints a worse picture in his mind about how his brother copes.
“Even if it wasn’t the worst, it didn’t have a good ending. Hell, it shouldn’t have ended, period. And no, I don’t talk to my brother as much anymore. At least not like before.”
“Then who are you to assume he lives this terrible life? He has two beautiful daughters from the photos you’ve shown me. Johanna may not be alive, but the memory of her continues in her kids.”
Liam’s eyes appear glassy as he turns his head toward me. “I don’t know…”
“You’re right. You don’t know.” I clutch his hand in mine and look him in the eyes. “It’s okay to stop torturing yourself over an idea of how he’s living. Maybe you should ask him instead of hiding.”
“It’s easy for someone to give advice when they haven’t experienced it.”
I scoff. “It’s anything but easy to confront you about this. Easy would be to not mention anything. To sit back, enjoy our limited time together, and take off into the Italian sunset when all is said and done.”
“Then, why do it?” His eyes hold mine captive.
I swallow back my nerves, wanting to say the words before I lose the courage. “Because I care about you. Whenever you mention your brother, you get this wounded look in your eyes. The tragedy in Johanna’s death wasn’t only her dying. It was also you losing part of yourself to compensate for the emptiness of losing a best friend.”
“I think you missed your calling in psychology,” Liam grumbles.
I let out a soft laugh. “Nope. My calling was to end up here all along, ready to kick your ass into gear. You’ve been on more podiums with me around than last year. You’re welcome, by the way.”
Liam shoots me a beaming smile that I feel all the way to the deepest parts of my heart. “You, Sophie Marie Mitchell, are right where you belong. Screw accounting, you’re too hot to sit in a cubicle all day.”