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“Right, and then there was someone who did?” She raises her eyebrow. “That’s what I’m getting, even though you’re being really cryptic.”
“She did a little more than just catch my interest,” I mutter.
Quinn had somehow done the impossible. She had captured a heart I thought would never feel again.
“Oh, wow.” Luciana’s eyes light up.
“I don’t think we should talk about this.” Telling her myself is too difficult. Maybe I just need to wait until she hears from the others. It’s not like my story with Quinn had a happy ending anyway.
“Dad, seriously?” She glares. “Just when the story started to get good, you pull the plug? Don’t leave me hanging like that.”
“Luciana, it’s not the fairy tale you’re imagining in your head. I don’t even know how you’ll react—”
“You’re having an affair with a married woman?”
“What? Of course not. That’s just ridiculous.”
“Then what is it? I’m sure it can’t be as bad as you’re making it out to be.”
“It’s Quinn,” I blurt out, closing my eyes.
I expect her to explode, telling me what the hell I am doing with someone so close to her own age. But to my surprise, she smiles.
“Quinn? Like the lifestyle influencer Quinn?” Her face lights up. “Oh my god. This explains why you always act so strange around her. But isn’t she leaving?”
“She is.”
“And?” She throws her hands in the air. “Why aren’t you stopping her?”
“Luciana, you’re not mad about this?” This was the last thing I expected her to say.
“Why on earth would I be mad?” She chuckles. “I’m not the dating police. You’re allowed to pursue other adults, you know.”
Seeing her put it into perspective for me makes me feel silly for fearing her reaction all this time.
“I didn’t want to keep it from you. I suspect you’ll hear about it from Alessio soon enough, anyway. But at least now I can stop feeling guilty about it.”
“Dad, you’re worrying me.” She frowns. “Who told you that you have to be this priestly figure who can’t even date without being guilty? It’s not like you’ve done anything wrong.”
“It’s not about being priestly. But more so about being a good father. My children come before me, and I don’t want to do anything that embarrasses them.”
She puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Your children are old enough to understand. Is this why you didn’t stop her from leaving?”
I nod, not knowing what else to say. Letting Quinn down is a regret that’s going to stay with me for a long time.
“Dad…” Luciana’s voice is pained. “What are you doing? You know Mom would have been so mad if she was here.”
I dismiss her comment with a shrug.
“I’m serious. You know she would want you happy, above all.”
“I think I just need to throw myself back into my work. Like you said, relationships are too distracting anyway.”
She shakes her head. “For me? Yes. But you’ve already established your career, you have kids. What you need more than anything right now is a companion.” She sighs. “And as you said, no one else that came before Quinn even made you want to pursue things, so why would you let someone as rare as that walk away?”
I consider her words for a moment.
“Dad, do you love her?”