14

LUCIA

D inner with my family after the race felt like just what I needed—comforting, chaotic, and full of the kind of noise that made my heart feel full. I had missed the constant companionship of my parents, their bond with Gia, and their ability to make everyone feel important, the same superpower my brother had. The restaurant Matteo had chosen was nestled on a quiet street just outside Monza, with stone walls and flickering candlelight that made everything feel intimate and special. The air smelled like rosemary and garlic, and the low hum of conversation blended with the occasional clink of glasses.

I was wedged between my mother and Alexander, which felt like a particularly cruel setup orchestrated by Matteo since my mother was bound to want to talk to Alex all evening. My brother, sitting across from me, smirked every time our mother talked animatedly over me to Alexander. I shot my brother a glare, stabbing at the roasted potatoes on my plate with unnecessary force.

Alexander chuckled, the sound low and warm at something my mother said, and I couldn’t help but glance at him. Gianna had moved into his lap, refusing to sit on her own. She was eating right off his plate now as he continued to talk to my mother. He was relaxed in a way I hadn’t seen often, his usual sharp focus softened by the glow of the evening. He caught my gaze and gave me a quick wink, his eyes holding something that made my stomach twist .

“And how are you liking it, being on the road with Matteo and his circus of a sport?” my father asked, his booming voice cutting through the chatter.

“It’s…different,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “But it’s good. Gianna loves all the excitement, and I think it’s been good for me too. A change of pace.”

“She’s made friends with like every crew member already,” Matteo said, mouth full of food.

“I am a delight, that’s why,” I shot back at him with a winning smile. He rolled his eyes in response.

My mother patted my hand, laughing softly. “You are, cara mia . I must say, you seem lighter these days, happier. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you like this.”

Her words caught me off guard, the noise of the table faded into the background. I looked at her, trying to read the expression in her eyes. There was no judgment, no probing, just quiet, unconditional love.

“I am happy,” I said, settling into the thought. I had met more people and traveled more in the last couple of weeks than I had in years. It was fun and new and exciting and I felt like that dormant spark inside was starting to glow again.

Matteo raised his glass. “To Lucia surviving life on the circuit.”

“And to Matteo and Alexander,” my mother added, lifting her glass as well, “for their amazing finishes today. We’re so proud of both of you.” I glanced to Alexander, whose eyes held a soft look. They shifted to meet mine, and he covered it with an easy smile, raising his own glass.

“To Matteo and Alexander,” the table echoed.

I clinked my glass against Alexander’s, and when our fingers brushed, it sent a jolt through me that I felt all the way to my core. I quickly pulled back, trying to ignore the way my pulse quickened.

The evening stretched on with laughter and stories, the kind of night that wrapped around you like a warm blanket. Eventually, I excused myself to head to the restroom, needing a moment to collect my thoughts.

As I stepped out into the quiet hallway near the restrooms, I nearly collided with Alexander. He was leaning casually against the wall, waiting.

“Fancy meeting you here,” he said, his voice low and playful.

I crossed my arms, tilting my head. “Are you following me, Wright?”

“Maybe.” He grinned, and it was the kind of grin that made it impossible to be annoyed. “Or maybe I just wanted a break from Matteo’s endless monologue about his overtaking move in the third sector.”

I laughed despite myself, shaking my head. “He’ll be talking about that for days.”

Alexander’s gaze softened, the teasing fell away. “You look really beautiful tonight, you know.”

I blinked, caught off guard by the compliment. “Are you practicing already?”

“Hmm.” He stepped closer, his voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down my spine.

“Careful, Alexander,” I said, my voice lighter than I felt. “People might think you’re flirting with me.”

“Isn’t that the idea,” he replied, his fingers brushing mine as if testing the waters. The touch was barely there, but it sent heat coursing through me.

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The world narrowed to just the two of us, the space between us charged.

But then I took a step back, forcing myself to break the spell. “We should get back.”

His eyes lingered on me for a moment before he nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Lead the way.”

As I walked back to the table, I tried to shake off the feeling of his touch, the way my skin still buzzed where his fingers had brushed mine. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop myself from craving more.

* * *

By the time we landed in Azerbaijan, all I wanted was sleep. Gianna had been fussy the entire flight, which meant hours of trying to comfort her while she cried inconsolably. Matteo and Alexander had flown ahead on an ungodly early flight, leaving me to manage Gia alone. But it also meant Alex let me take his private jet. Thankfully, Nicola had offered to come with me so I wouldn’t have to face the ordeal by myself. Between that and not having to deal with a commercial flight and other people, it was a godsend.

As we stepped off the plane, Gia was finally asleep in my arms, her little head tucked against my shoulder, her cheeks still damp from earlier tears. Nicola trailed behind us, juggling our bags with careful precision. The last thing either of us wanted was to wake Gia now that the storm had passed.

As we made our way through the quiet airport terminal, Nicola glanced over at me, her expression calm despite the whirlwind of the last few hours. “You’re doing amazing, Lucia,” she said softly, her voice a steady presence in the haze of my exhaustion.

I gave her a weary smile. “I don’t feel amazing. I feel like I’ve been put through a blender. Thank you for coming with me, though. I don’t know what I would’ve done on my own.”

Nicola shrugged as if it were nothing, though the kindness in her eyes said otherwise. “It’s no trouble. Gia’s a sweetheart, even when she’s having a rough time. And you? You’re stronger than you think.”

I let out a tired laugh, careful not to jostle Gia. “Strong doesn’t feel like the right word. I feel more like…duct tape. Holding it all together by sheer force and praying nothing falls apart.”

Nicola stopped walking for a moment and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Lucia, listen to me. You’re an incredible mother. You’re doing everything you can for Gia, and it shows. She’s happy and loved, even when she’s cranky. You’re not just holding it together; you’re thriving in the chaos. And you’re not alone. You’ve got me, Matteo, Alexander—everyone who cares about you.”

Her words hit hard, I felt the sting of tears behind my eyes. The weight of everything—the flight, Gia’s crying, the constant balancing act of being a mom—felt just a little lighter.

“Thanks, Nicola,” I said, my voice soft. “I mean it. You didn’t have to do this, but I’m really glad you’re here.”

She smiled, stepping back to pick up the bags again. “Of course I’m here. What kind of friend would I be if I let you handle all this alone? Now, let’s get you and Gia to the hotel. You both need some rest, and I’m pretty sure I saw Matteo order extra snacks to your room. He’s predictable like that.”

A small laugh slipped out despite my exhaustion. Nicola always had a way of diffusing the tension, of making things feel manageable even when they weren’t. As we stepped into the car waiting outside, Gia still asleep in my arms, I finally allowed myself to exhale. For the first time in hours, I felt a semblance of calm.

Once we got to the hotel, things finally settled. Gia had a snack, we played for a little while, and then she went down for a much-needed nap. As soon as I shut the bedroom door, I wandered into the smaller living space and collapsed onto the couch, letting out a sigh of pure exhaustion.

My phone pinged with a message from Nicola that read, Open the door.

Dragging myself up, I shuffled over and pulled it open to find her standing there, looking refreshed and far too energetic for someone who’d just survived the same trip I had.

“Hey,” I greeted, my voice tired but grateful.

“Hey,” she replied, stepping inside. “I took a nap, unpacked all my clothes, and now I’m here to hang out with G while she sleeps. You, on the other hand, are going to take a break. Go to the café downstairs, get a coffee, sit in silence for a bit—whatever you need. But go.”

Her tone left no room for argument, and honestly, I didn’t have the energy to resist even if I wanted to.

“You’re a lifesaver,” I mumbled, grabbing my bag.

“Yes, I am. Now go before Gia wakes up and I change my mind.”

I laughed lightly, already feeling a weight lifting off my shoulders as I stepped out the door. I hadn’t had the chance to shower or freshen up after the flight, but honestly, I didn’t have the energy to care; sometimes not feeling trapped in a room was just what I needed. I walked until I found a couch with a little lamp and side table, and I decided that was good enough. A large bay window looked out and I pulled out my Kindle from my purse and I sat like that for an hour.

“Luce?” a familiar voice cut through the silent hallway.

“Hey!” I said, seeing Alexander. He was dressed to the nines, a baby blue knitted sweater and cargo pants that I swear no one except Alexander Wright could pull off. I realized I might have been ogling him a little too long once he cleared his throat.

“Sorry, um, tough day,” I explained, coming back to reality.

A crease at his eyebrow appeared. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine!” I said, my voice pitching at the end, and I could tell by the way he looked at me that he was not buying it at all.

“You hungry?” he asked.

“I could eat.”

“Come on.” He held out a hand. I went to reach for it and was stopped by a big yawn taking over me. After the pause, I took his hand and he pulled it into the crook of his arm. Alexander led me through the maze of hallways until we reached a dimly lit lounge tucked away from the rest of the hotel. The space was stunning—candles flickered atop dark oak tables, and warm, ambient lighting glowed against the paneled walls. The soft hum of conversation mixed with the gentle clink of silverware and the smooth notes of jazz playing in the background. It felt like stepping into another world.

A host guided us to a booth in the far back corner, a cozy little nook perfect for two. As I slid into the plush seat, Alexander followed, his presence filling the space beside me. The intimacy of the setting wasn’t lost on me—the low light, the quiet buzz of the room—it felt both magical and charged.

He picked up the menu, scanning it with ease, while I stared blankly at mine. The exhaustion from the day hit me like a wave, and the jumble of foreign words on the page was impossible to decipher. My expression must have given me away because Alexander glanced over and gently slid the menu out of my hands.

“Sweet or savory?” he asked, his voice low and calm.

“Uh…savory,” I replied, too tired to argue.

He nodded, signaling for a server and placing the order in a language I didn’t recognize. I blinked at him, surprised yet again by the layers of Alexander Wright. There was always more to him than met the eye.

When the server left, he turned toward me, leaning slightly against the backrest. “So,” he said softly, his eyes meeting mine, “what happened today?”

Something about the way he asked—his voice steady, his expression open—made it impossible to brush him off. Instead of the usual, I’m fine , the words spilled out before I could stop them.

“Everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong,” I admitted, pressing a finger to my temple. I recounted the disastrous morning: Gia’s meltdown, the chaos at the airport, the overwhelming exhaustion.

When I finally stopped, Alexander tilted his head slightly. “I like Nicola,” he said simply, a small smile tugging at his lips.

I smiled back, warmth filling my chest. “So do I. I’m lucky she came into my life when she did. It feels like I’ve known her forever, not just a few weeks.”

“She’s good for you,” he said, his voice laced with quiet approval. Then, with that easy, devastating smile of his, he added, “Well, I can’t fix today, but I can feed you. We’ll start there.”

His smile was disarming, bright enough to erase the lingering frustration from the day. It wasn’t just a smile; it was him . Pure Alexander—effortless, charming, and unexpectedly kind.

“Also,” he continued, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his tone, “I was thinking we should start the plan ahead of this race. Maybe post something? Get people talking before we show up together.”

I perked up at the shift in conversation, happy for a distraction. “Totally! We could do a soft launch.”

Alexander blinked at me, confused. “What the hell is a soft launch?”

“It’s like a teaser,” I explained, holding back a laugh. “You post something ambiguous, like a hand or the back of someone’s head—just enough to hint that you’re in a relationship but without showing everything. It’s mysterious.”

His brow furrowed, amusement flickering in his eyes. “How is it mysterious?”

“It draws people in!”

He rubbed a hand over his face.

“This will stir the pot, intrigue the media.” Honestly, Anna would be proud of me for thinking of this.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Fine. Whatever you think is best.”

I leaned in, resting a hand on his arm. “This is going to be fun. Something different to focus on. Honestly, I’m excited to have an identity outside of ‘Mom’ for a bit.”

“You’re an amazing mum,” Alexander said, his voice soft with sincerity.

“I know,” I replied with a small smile. “But it’s consuming, you know? After I found out I was pregnant, my whole world shifted. It stopped being about me—it was all about Gia. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything, but sometimes…it’s a lot. Being responsible for an entire little human, knowing everything I do affects her.”

He nodded, his gaze unwavering. Then, under the table, his hand brushed against my thigh and rested there. It was meant to be comforting, I knew that, but the jolt of electricity it sent through me made my breath hitch.

I pulled myself together quickly. “Anyway, come here,” I said, grabbing his phone. I leaned into him, angling it to hide my face behind my hair as I snapped a photo. The image showed Alexander looking down at me, his face only partially visible, while my own stayed out of view.

“Perfect,” I said, showing him the screen. “Post it before tomorrow, and we’re set, we can take one for mine in one of the mirrors in the lobby, the pretty, big ones.”

He stared at the picture for a moment, then back at me, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You’re something else, you know that?”

I handed him the phone with a grin. “You have no idea.”