Fall For My Ex's Mafia Father novel Chapter 66

I smile down into my cup of tea, enjoying the fresh herbal scent. My belly is full of scone, and I'm listening passively as Daniel explains the ins and outs of some new philosophical theory that he's learning about for his class.

I don't really care about it, but it's nice to hear him think through something about which he's passionate. It's really a gorgeous day – the sun is shining in little pieces through the grape leaves that wrap around the pergola, and I lean my face back to enjoy the warmth on the soft skin on my cheeks.

Next to me, I hear Daniel laugh a little. "Are you even listening to me anymore?" he says.

"No," I reply, smiling. "But that's okay, it's good to hear you talk."

He laughs again, a soft thing, and then takes my hand.

“It’s nice, Fay,” he says, and I open my eyes to look at him, seeing him smile at me. “That you enjoy listening to me, even when you’re not hearing my words.”

I squeeze his hand and return his smile, considering him.

It's funny – I was so in love with him for the few months that we were dating. Or, at least, I thought I was. Maybe "obsessed" was a more appropriate term, but either way, I couldn't stop thinking about how handsome he was or how much I wanted to kiss him. Just to kiss him, small, chaste things. But I had wanted so badly for him to treat me gently, love me, be kind to me. To treat me like his treasure.

But now? After everything I've learned about his life – our life? It's all just... gone. All of those feelings have disappeared.

Instead, I view him now completely as my best friend, my ally in this crazy world. I want the absolute best for him and know that he feels the same about me, but the romance has been totally wiped away.

It's a bit sad, really – the end of a love. I wonder, passively, when the next time I'll have a crush again, feel that delicious buzzing of emotion in my stomach.

I push back against the first thought that comes to my mind, ignoring it. Ridiculous.

Luckily, Daniel helps to disrupt my thoughts.

"Are you all right, Fay?" he asks.

"Daniel," I say, running my thumb lightly over his fingers, thinking about what my father said to me earlier. "Are you happy here?"