Eyes Don't Lie | Charles Leclerc

Part 58 | Truly, Madly, Deeply

August 9, 2023

I reached out to help Aria onto the yacht, holding her hand as she stepped aboard. Arthur and Lorenzo followed behind, busy bringing the coolers and bags of food onto the deck, working alongside the staff to get everything in place. As the sun began to set lower in the sky, I couldn't help but turn my attention to Aria.

She looked stunning. The dress she'd chosen swayed around her legs, showing off her tanned skin. But what really caught my eye were the earrings she was wearing, delicate gold with little pearls that seemed to match her style perfectly. They added a slight touch of elegance to her whole look, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

"Those earrings look beautiful on you," I said, leaning in closer, my voice low just for her. She met my gaze with a soft smile, her fingers instinctively touching one of the earrings.

"Thank you, amour," she replied. "Your maman bought them for me today, said she wanted me to have something to remember this trip."

Hearing that made my heart swell with emotion. It wasn't just the gesture itself, but what it meant. My maman's acceptance of Aria, the way she had welcomed her into our family, it was everything I could have hoped for. Aria had become such an important part of my life, and seeing her bond with the people who meant the world to me brought me a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in a long time.

I reached out, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, my thumb brushing against her cheek. "I'm glad she did. You deserve it," I whispered.

And in that moment, I knew that this was what I wanted more of in my life...these simple, quiet moments with her, where nothing else mattered except being together. I squeezed her hand gently, pressing a kiss to her forehead before helping her settle onto the deck's couch. As Arthur and Lorenzo finished setting up, I kept stealing looks at her, grateful beyond words that she was here with me, and that we had found a way to make this crazy, chaotic life of ours work.

Later, as the staff brought out our prepared seafood dishes, the sun was officially gone and the moon was shining high in the sky. I turned and picked up on a weird tension at the table as I looked across at Lorenzo. He was unusually quiet, not his usual laid back self. His fingers fidgeted slightly and he seemed far more interested in staring his plate than in the conversation around him.

Charlotte, seated across from him, was chatting with Aria and Carla about the shops they visited earlier, laughing and sharing stories from their girls' day out. But every now and then, she'd pause, her eyes flicking over to Lorenzo. It was as if she sensed his nervous energy too, even if she didn't know the exact reason for it.

Lorenzo caught my gaze at one point and raised his eyebrows slightly, almost as if he was silently asking me for support, or at least some sort of signal that everything was going to be okay. I gave him a small nod, offering a reassuring smile. Whatever was on his mind, I had a feeling it had to do with Charlotte. Lorenzo had been carrying a certain kind of look whenever she was around lately.

I leaned back in my seat, taking a sip of my wine, trying not to make it too obvious that I was keeping an eye on them. Aria's laughter drew my attention for a moment, and I couldn't help but smile, the sound of her happiness contagious. But when I glanced back at Lorenzo, he was still wearing that same uneasy expression, his fork barely touching the delicious food in front of him.

I knew my brother well enough to sense that something big was brewing in his mind. He kept glancing between his plate and Charlotte, almost like he was building up the courage to finally say whatever it was that had been weighing on him. And even though he hadn't told me anything directly, I had a strong feeling tonight might be the night he tried to make his move, or at least get something off his chest.