The Line Between Us

ChapteThree

Noelia’s POV

The first time Talia came to this house, we were ten. It was the Hills' first time spending their Christmas holiday in Greenwich. And it was also the last.

A part of me thought it was all Talia’s fault because she kept doing all that she could to be put beside Angelo in games. She said that she was going to get married to him and that she had seen their names written in the constellation together.

Talia had a huge crush on him that everyone in the house knew. I didn’t mind it. I just hated the fact that she always made sure I was third wheeling on all the games.

And after a while, I just stopped hanging with them.

Angelo did the same, and Talia stopped coming over. I don’t know what happened because I never asked. But it feels like all those years again.

“Noelia!” Talia grins, patting the seat beside her. I slide in, pushing my hair behind my ears. Angelo’s eyes stray over to me, their insane blue washing over my features before he returns them to his meal.

His phone dings beside his plate, and the screen lights up. I catch the name before he turns it face down.

Clara with a red heart emoji.

“Hey,” I breathe, reaching for the napkin. “You didn’t tell me you were coming over for dinner.”

“I invited her,” Luca says casually, eyeing the turkey in the centre of the table. “When Dante arrived, I figured she would want to be here too.”

What Luca isn’t saying is that he misses Talia. They used to date until two months ago. Talia said she grew bored, and Luca, as usual, told me nothing. But Talia isn’t here for my brother tonight. Not with how close she is seated to Angelo.

“And I’m happy you did,” Talia grins, wrapping her arms around my neck. “This is going to be the best summer break ever. I can feel it in the air.”

I try to put as much enthusiasm in my tone. “Me too.” But I don’t feel the same as her, and I hate that I don’t. Talia and I have been best friends since I was a kid. She has been a part of everything I do, and I never mind.

So, why the hell do I wish that Luca had never invited her for dinner?

“Grace, please,” My mom says, holding out her hand as is the tradition. The whispers of our limbs moving take over the room, and my eyes flutter closed. My mom’s voice fills the space, hushed and reverent.

I open one eye, looking around the room. Everyone has their eyes closed. Apart from Angelo. He is staring straight at the table, a muscle jerking in his jaw. I notice Talia is holding on to him so tight, a knowing grin on her face.

But that isn’t what catches my attention.

It is Roselyn. She isn’t holding her son’s hand. Instead, her left hand is on her lap, and her body turned away from Angelo towards her husband and his father, Rowan.

Angelo lifts his head slowly, and our eyes meet. We stay that way for what seems like an eternity, green clashing against blue, the rest of the room fading away.

“Amen.” The murmur spreads round the table. Limbs move again, and their eyes fall open. When I look back at Angelo, he has dived into his meal, escaping the whole room.

The silence is deafening. Just the sound of silverware silently clinking. It is time to confront the reason the Hills are here, but no one wants to do that. Mom is finally smiling, and any reminder of what happened is going to throw her back into her hole.

Maybe not a reminder, because no part of her can ever forget.

But she doesn’t want to talk about it. I want to. I want to mourn, to cry, to talk about how my dad was the most important person in my life. But now, I have to bottle it all in because I’m scared of Mom breaking down.

Rowan seems to know that too because he clears his throat noisily and scoots to the edge of his seat. “So… Luca, I hear you are almost done with college.”

My brother nods eagerly, always ready to accept any conversation that has to do with him and his stellar academic status. “Yale has been great, but I’m thinking of getting a master's at Stanford.”

“Stanford?” Rowan nods, obviously impressed. “That’s great. If you need help with a recommendation, just give me a call.”

“Really?” He grins. “Thank you, Rowan.”

“While you are at it, can you please talk to Dante? Eastern Michigan is already pushing it as far as I’m concerned. Did you hear he is about dropping out?”

All our heads jerk towards Dante. “Dropping out?” Luca murmurs. “I thought you liked it there.”

“Rowan…” Roselyn warns, but Dante shakes his head.

“It’s fine, Mom.” He allows his cutlery to slide from his hands. “I am not dropping out to do nothing. I am just yet to figure it out. If Dad can just…”

“You are always yet to figure anything out,” Rowan cuts in. “Look at your brother…”

“There we go again,” Dante sighs.

“Dad…”

“Angelo, he needs to hear the truth. Do you know the reason I announced you as the CEO of the Hill Conglomerate? Harvard is considering…”

“You are the CEO?” The question slips from my lips before I can stop myself.

“Rowan, do you think Dante doesn’t want it too?”

Rowan’s lips move to respond, but a chair scratches loudly against the floor. Angelo gets off his seat and looks at my mother.

“Thank you for the lovely dinner, Lucienne. I had a long flight down here, and I’d love to retire now.”

He grabs his phone and heads up the stairs, leaving us in a tension-filled silence.

Roselyn glares at her husband. “You’ve got to stop doing this, Rowan. Not Angelo. He isn’t even…”

“Stop, Roselyn!” Rowan growls.

“He isn’t even what?”