Page 38 of The Godfather’s Christmas Twins

“I don’t care. Well, I don’t want the kids seeing it, but it’s your business.”

“So, after last night, you’re not bothered by her being here?”

“Why would I be bothered?” I wonder how well I’m pulling this lie off. “I'm not that starry-eyed teenager who had a crush on you anymore, Max, the one who thought…" I cut myself off, refusing to revisit those memories. "I've grown up. I understand how things work now.”

"Gia—"

"No." I hold up my hand. "Why don’t you call Whitley? Have your fun. Just keep it away from my kids."

"I don't want her. Fucking hell."

“You’re tense. You should call her.”

“Why are you being like this?” He looks at me like I’ve grown a third eye. Like he doesn’t know me. It occurs to me that he doesn’t know me. He still sees the naïve eighteen-year-old girl.

“I’m not being like anything. I’ve heard your concerns about our safety and I appreciate everything you’re doing. But you have a life too, Max. I told you last night that I didn’t want me and kids to get in the way of that. Tonight we did?—”

“You didn’t!” He turns away with a harsh, “Fuck!” He whirls back. “You really didn’t care that she was here?”

“It doesn’t matter what I?—”

"It matters." His hands grip my shoulders, and the warmth of his touch sends electricity through my body. "Everything about you matters."

"Stop." I push against his chest, precariously close to pulling him to me instead.

He takes a step back, and something in his eyes makes my heart stutter. "Stop pretending you don't feel what's between us."

"What's between us are history and obligation. Nothing more."

He’s doing that thing again, where he acts like he wasn’t the one putting distance between us.

I see something flicker across his face. Something that looks like pain. "You really believe that? That all I feel for you is obligation?"

I wrap my arms around myself, doubt creeping in. The hurt in his eyes seems genuine. “I think obligation takes precedence over everything else.”

“I see.”

I don’t want to hurt him, but he’s annoying me with his constant change in behavior. “You’re hot one minute, cold the next. You can't seem to make up your mind about me.”

He opens his mouth to speak, but I press on.

"Six years ago, you gave me the most beautiful night of my life. You were tender and caring and everything I dreamed of. Then you disappeared to Vegas without a word."

Max's face tightens with some emotion I can't read.

"And when you finally showed up again last year, you could barely look at me. Now…" I gesture between us. "Now you kiss me one night and act like nothing happened the next morning. Now it appears you’re angry that I’m not jealous of Whitley. I can’t keep up with you, Max."

"I told you last night why I acted that way last year?—”

“What about six years ago? You just… vanished. I mean, I knew it meant nothing to you…" The minute the words leave mymouth, I wish I hadn’t said them. I don’t want him knowing just how much he hurt me.

"That's not true. I just… I couldn't give you what you wanted."

I roll my eyes. "Right. That whole godfather, Nic's friend, age-difference thing."

His jaw is tight as he looks away. It makes me think there's more to the story.

"I wanted to protect you, Gia, I really did."