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Normal Is Ridiculous

Hypothetical Question: Would you rather have to talk in a sexy whisper for the rest of your life or scream every time you answer a question?

Carina

“What the hell is that noise?” I grumble, burrowing deeper into the sheets. Thanks to Nate’s blackout blinds, I have no clue what time it is.

“That, Princess, is your phone,” Nate’s sleep-roughened voice rumbles in my ear.

I bolt upright, fumbling blindly around the bedside table until I find the offending device, its screen flashing with Enzo’s name.

“Hullo?” I croak, flipping on the bedside lamp and wincing at the sudden brightness.

“ Buongiorno, bella addormentata 13 . Thought you might want to know my flight is booked for this afternoon.”

“Your flight?”

“I’m needed in New York, bella . I’m no longer needed here.”

My chest tightens. Enzo’s my only real friend, and the thought of him leaving stings more than I expected.

He’s always been someone to come and go, disappearing back to the States before returning—our friendship always picking up as if he never left. Some things never change.

“I’ll come say goodbye. How much time do I have?”

“Two hours.”

“Two hours?! You said this afternoon!”

“It is afternoon, bella. It’s midday.”

“Crap,” I mutter, running a hand through my tangled pink hair. “I’ll be there soon.”

I end the call and glance over at Nate, whose expression has turned from calm to alarmed as he stares down at his phone.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, my concern spiking.

“My mum.” He exhales sharply. “I’ve got about fifty missed calls and just as many texts. All of them are about Edward.” His voice drips with disdain as he says the name, and it soothes something inside me to know he refuses to call that man his father anymore.

How could I ever have thought Nate was anything like him?

“I was going to go say goodbye to Enzo before he leaves, but I can stay with you… or come with you to see Evelyn?”

“No.” He shakes his head, his jaw tightening as he looks back at the screen. “You go see your friend. I’ll handle my mum.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” he confirms, his voice softening as he leans over and presses a lingering kiss to my lips. Then he swings out of bed, padding toward the ensuite, giving me a perfect view of his sculpted back and that maddeningly perky rear end.

It almost distracts me from the tension I feel about everything we’re facing.

Almost.

By the time I make it home, after legging it across the city, Enzo is packed and ready to go.

I give him a lift to Heathrow Airport, so he doesn’t have to get a taxi.

“I’m going to miss you,” I murmur into Enzo’s chest as I hug him goodbye.

“Maybe… keep in touch this time, eh?”

I laugh despite the ache in my chest.

“I will. Promise.”

He tightens his arms around me before letting go. "There should be no trace of any of you, my work is thorough."

"Grazie."

“You sure you’ll be okay here?” he asks, hesitation etched into the furrow of his brows.

“I’m good,” I reassure him with a small smile. “I’ve got Nate.”

His expression softens, but there’s still a trace of doubt. “So, you’re forgiving him, then?”

“It’s not about me forgiving him,” I admit, a touch of regret in my tone. “He’s the one who had to forgive me. I jumped to conclusions I shouldn’t have.”

“I’m glad you’re happy, bella .” He gives me one last squeeze before letting go.

“You ever need a place to disappear…” his voice trails off, but the intent is clear. Enzo is... well-connected. His skill-set speaks for itself, and I found him for a reason. He's exactly the kind of man who knows how to get things done without leaving a trace.

“Bye Enzo.” I wave as he begins to turn towards the security gates. He’s probably got a private jet waiting; I doubt he flies with the rest of us commoners.

He glances over his shoulder. “Ti amo 14 , bella.”

And then he's gone.

Nate

"Mum?" I call out as I step into the house.

The Mayfair townhouse stands tall in its pristine perfection—a mix of historical Georgian charm and modern opulence. White columns frame the entrance, and ornate railings encircle the private garden square. It's the kind of place that demands respect.

The kind of place that hides secrets.

“Nate?” her cracked voice calls back. She never calls me Nate.

A bad sign.

I find her in the kitchen, immaculately put together—navy blue dress, crisp white blazer, not a single hair out of place. She looks… perfect. Controlled. But her hands tremble around the delicate porcelain teacup.

“Have you heard from your father?”

My stomach knots.

I keep my expression neutral as I answer. “No. Not for a few days.”

“He didn’t come home last night.”

I shrug, feigning nonchalance. “It’s not unlike him to go on trips, is it?” Now that I know the truth, his weekly retreats to his business cabin make more sense. I’ve never known where it was, but he always made it sound like he went there to focus on work. Now, I realise it was where he kept the girls he bought. And I know it was more than just Carina.

She shakes her head. “Sure… but he always tells me first.”

“He probably just forgot, mum.” I hate the way my gut twists as I lie to her. But I can’t tell her. Not about this. It would destroy her. Better for her to think he ran away than live with the knowledge of what her husband has been doing behind her back.

“You’re right. I’ll try not to worry.” She wraps me in her arms, and I squeeze her tightly back.

“So,” she says, shaking off her nerves. “How’s Carina?”

The mention of the little hellion has my heart racing for two reasons; one, I am so in love with the woman it’s criminal, and two, it’s another reminder of what happened just last night and the secret I’m now keeping.

My jaw tightens and my tone is clipped as I reply, “She’s good.”

“Everything good with you two?”

“Yeah. We’re good.”

“You should invite her over one day. Your father has yet to meet her.”

I swallow hard, my throat clogged. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m sure she’d like that.”

Untangling myself from her embrace I step backwards. “I should head out. I just wanted to check in.”

“Oh… okay. Thank you, Nathaniel. I’ll let you know once your father turns up.”

He won't.

And I pray to God she never finds out why.

My chest tightens. “Love you, mum.”

Before I leave the house, I head towards my father’s study, slipping inside silently.

His passport is easy enough to find, and I know the code to his safe. I grab the passport and a handful of his emergency cash before heading back out this house, careful to leave everything else untouched.

It’s only once I’m back at Carina’s do I feel like I can finally breathe.

“Why is this one freaking me out more than the others?” Carina says, looking at me with wide eyes.

We sit across from each other on her sofa, finally trying to unwind after the chaos of the day.

“It’s too close,” I say quietly, my eyes tracing the patterns on the couch.

“This is my fault,” Carina murmurs, her voice full of regret.

“No, it’s not,” I respond, shaking my head. “He needed to die. It would’ve happened eventually.”

“But I didn’t plan it well. I was too focused on the betrayal, on the anger.”

“It’s done now, Princess,” I murmur, trying to reassure her.

Carina sighs, her head dropping back onto the cushions before it pops up again with a playful sparkle in her eyes.

“Okay, hypothetically, if dads came with return labels, but only the best excuse got approved... who’s getting their refund first? Yours or mine?”

I blink. Then I laugh—a real, chest-rumbling laugh that shakes something loose inside me.

She grins. "That was a good one, right?"

I shake my head, still laughing, my shoulders lighter than they have any right to be.

"Yeah, baby. Perfect timing."

Because right now, I need normal. And with her, normal is ridiculous.