Holiday With My Neighbour

30. Advised

Theo's POV 

Emilia vaguely remembered the guys, which is understandable as she met them at Mom's funeral and wouldn't have been in the mental state to remember anyone.

The boys were surprised to meet her but happy at the same time. At first, I was worried about how Matt would act towards her, as he has no boundaries, but he kept it respectful and didn't look at her in that way.

When we finished eating breakfast together, the guys decided to give us privacy to reconnect. As a result, me and Emilia are walking on the beach together.

"Um, where do I even begin?" I'm trying to keep my cool, but I suddenly feel nervous.

"I'm thinking the same. I'm lost for words."

I sigh heavily as I prepare myself. "Where did Dad take you after the funeral?" I start with the hardest question, but one I've wanted to know for a long time.

Emilia's gaze is fixed on the sand as she begins to speak. "Uh, I don't really know. We moved around a lot, and I was barely allowed out. I couldn't go to school or anything, so I was home-schooled by a professor who'd travel with us. She was really kind... That was only for a few years. After this, I was allowed to go out... and to school."

What the fuck am I hearing? This psycho put her into hiding? It seems like he only did that because somehow he knew I was looking for her. As soon as I stopped looking, he started to give her a 'normal' life. "I'm sorry he did all of this to you. If I knew what he was planning, I wouldn't have let him get anywhere near you."

"He's changed now, Theo. He has made up for what he has done. He's the reason I'm here on vacation, he paid for the trip." I hate that she's speaking so highly of him.

"Is he here?"

"No. It's just me and my friend." She replies, I guess she doesn't want to say that she's got a man.

"Ah, okay. Did you ever ask about me?" I ask, wondering if she even cared.

She looks up to meet my eyes. "Yes, and whenever I did, he'd say that he doesn't want to talk about it. I argued with him many times because of you because I missed you. But he'd never argue back. He would say that he understands how I feel, which is nice of him." How does she think this is normal?

"I never understood what his problem was with me." I say.

"It's not only you. Dad's the same with Carlo."

"Carlo is crazy, so that's understandable, but me? I've never done anything to him. I took his place when he disappeared and failed to be a dad. Then mom dies, and he's suddenly there, ready to be a dad but only to you."

"Well, when he disappeared, he always sent us money, which was helpful. You just need to see the positive side to him." She doesn't understand. 

I sigh as I've given up speaking about this. "Okay."

"Speaking about Carlo, have you seen him recently?" She asks.

"No, why? Have you seen him?" The last I saw of my younger brother was a few years ago when he was on the edge of dying. Knowing he might be alive somewhere makes me wish I finished him off.

"No, but I do wonder where he is." Emilia replies.

"Why do you even care about him?" I ask bluntly.

"It's normal to care, he's my brother."

"He barely acted like a brother. He was a waste of space."

"He was better when you were away for school. You both clashed a lot."