Page 65 of My Destiny

“Yeah… yeah, we are.”

“Where did you meet her?”

“I met her in Melbourne late last year.”

“You’ve been seeing her that long, and we’re only finding out about it now? You better keep that information from your mother.” His words make me chuckle.

“I’ve only been dating her for a month or so.”

“You seem pretty smitten.”

“I think I’m in love with her,” I admit.

“Wow. Have you told her that yet?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to scare her off.”

“She feels the exact same about you.”

“How do you know that?” I ask, frowning.

“I can see it. She looks at you the same way your sister used to look at me.”

“You think?”

“I’d put money on it,” he says, slapping my back as he walks away.

“I’m not ready to go home,” Brooke says, as we settle into the back of the limousine. I love that she referred to my penthouse as home. Hopefully one day it will be her home permanently. I can’t even contemplate the thought of her leaving, which I know is on the horizon. I just want to hold her tight and never let go, but with each passing day, I feel her slipping through my fingers.

“There will be other parties.”

“And dinner at your parents during the week,” she says. Now, that I’m not looking forward to. I inwardly cringed when my mother insisted we join them for dinner. I know Brooke thinks the world of my mum and sister, but she’s in for a rude shock when she meets my father. “How come your dad wasn’t there today?”

“He hates children.”

“What?” she says as her head snaps in my direction.

“True story. He eats them for breakfast.”

“He does not,” she says, slapping my chest.

“Okay, maybe that was a slight exaggeration. He loves Lara—she’s his only grandchild—but he can only handle her in small doses. He was the same with Michelle and me growing up, probably worse. He’s mellowed with age, but I think it’s only fair to warn you, he pales in comparison to my mother. What you saw today was the best of my family. My father and my aunt are the worst.”

“Is that John’s wife?”

“Yes, my father’s sister.”

“I didn’t see him before we left. I hope he’s feeling better.”

“I think my mum dropped him home earlier.”

“So, your aunt, she didn’t come today because…?”

“Probably the same reason as my dad. My sister and I were scared shitless of them both growing up, especially my aunt. Our nickname for her was the Wicked Witch of the West. My dad has his rare good moments, but basically, he’s just a prick.”