7 Chapter 7
I glanced down at myself—a wrinkled t-shirt, jeans, and dusty boots from my trip. My hair was a mess from the plane. I looked like I had just rolled out of bed.
Luckily, more guests arrived just then. Jessica quickly pulled Leonardo away to greet them.
Leonardo reacted first.
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I took the chance to steer my mom toward the main dining room.
No need. I wasn’t the main character here anyway.
“That thoughtful boy Leo specifically asked his parents to hold it on the day you got back, so you could celebrate together.”
Leonardo kept looking at me, his expression hard to read.
My emotions were a mess. The meeting I had tried so hard to avoid was happening unexpectedly.
On the day of my arrival, my parents picked me up from the airport, both dressed up.
In contrast, Mrs. Rossi kept calling my mom to ask when I was coming home.
“Kira, you’re back? Perfect, I can finally meet you properly.
The air suddenly grew thick and silent.
Jessica’s sleek red dress made her glow like a movie star. She and Leonardo looked like they belonged on a red carpet.
My mother told me that Leonardo went on another trip with his friends the day after getting his acceptance letter. He had been gone for a while.
I forced a smile and a small “Hi.”
Just as he was about to walk over, Jessica appeared out of nowhere and linked her arm through his.
Still half-asleep, I was ushered into the lobby by my mother.
“Kira, this is a party held by Leonardo. We brought you straight from the airport.”
Jessica’s eyes darted between Leonardo and me.
I didn’t say anything, not knowing how to reply.
Leonardo seemed to sense us and turned his head. Our eyes met.
Jessica led him toward us, smiling.
Mom suddenly remembered something and whispered to me, “I brought a dress for you. You can change in the restroom.”
I nodded, then shook my head.
When I woke up and got out of the car, I realized we were at a fancy hotel.
Noticing my confusion, Mom explained in a low voice.
She played the part of the hostess perfectly.
My father added, “Kira, didn’t you say you didn’t want a party?
Even though I had practiced facing him in my head all summer, now that it was real, I
still felt a little scared.
My heart gave a sudden, stupid flutter.
Leonardo’s expression looked a little tight.
As we walked in, I saw Leonardo, who I hadn’t seen in months. I froze.
Leonardo was dressed sharply in a tailored suit. His tall, athletic frame looked imposing as he stood by the grand staircase.
“I used to see you with Leo all the time. Even though we were in the same grade, we never got to know each other. Such a shame.” Her politeness was so perfect I couldn’t ignore her.
He said awkwardly, “What’s there to know about her? She’s just a stubborn brat who likes to hold a grudge. I thought she was going to hide out on the road forever and
never come back.”
Over one summer, his boyish charm had sharpened into something more mature, closer to the man I had once imagined he would become.
