Chapter 24 - Lost In Thought

I felt the words stuck in my throat. For some reason I could not bring myself to tell him everything his father and I discussed. I settled to leave it out. "Hmmm well since thats all he wanted I think I will head back. Its getting pretty late and I have to continue prepping for the exhibition."

I started walking towards the door but Dean seemed a bit lost in thought. He stood by the kitchen table staring straight into the ground. His arms still crossed over his chest.

"Dean?" I walked back and waved my hand over his face. "Ahh sorry I was just remembering something." He walked me out of his apartment and back to his work building so we can make our way back to my house.

Even on the drive back he seemed distracted. "So uh about your family's gala event? My parents will be busy then since my grandparents are going to be heading back to Milan around that time. And they will be attending to affairs over there while also dropping my grandparents off, so it will be just me."

He finally paid me his full attention. "Just you? Will you be comfortable attending alone? It's different than just hanging out with our friends." I gave a tight lipped smile. "It should be fine, I have to get used to it anyways I am not a teenager anymore. It was bound to happen soon."

"While I do not doubt your ability to be independent I just wanna warn you, Felix is also invited and his family indicated that they are bringing an extra guest. So if you are comfortable with it you could hang around with me and my family. They know and like you so that way you won't be ambushed as easily."

"Ahh your right." Felix and Sol may be easy to ignore but his mother was not. After our breakup she took any opportunity at the mothers hangouts to inquire about me and has sent multiple voicemails asking me to take back her son. She is likely to be there and based on her personality type she would not accept Sol very easily. So she may try to push us together again.

It would be exhausting trying to keep up my persona while simultaneously managing to keep away from them. "Hmm I may take you up on your offer. That is if your family does not mind." Dean smiled and leaned towards me, "Glad I could help. But going back to your family, I am surprised to hear your grandparents come to visit. Last I heard about them they left the country to Italy. So your family is based in Milan?" I turned to face him better.

"Ahh well my paternal family is originally from Milan and its custom that we live there for some time to honor our heritage. Our roots over there are deep so we also maintain the holdings we have besides that. Every D'Angelo since my ancestors first arrival here has gone back. For my grandparents, after leaving my Dad the company, they felt it was best to head home."

At this point Dean had long since parked in my driveway. But neither of us made any indiction to exit the car. I slumped further in the seat, somehow every car he drove that I have been in has been very comfortable.

"So then are you planning to head back as well?" He leaned against the headrest his arms folded again but this time he read as interested rather than intimidating.

"Probably, I have only been once many years ago and from what I can recall I enjoyed being there. But realistically I would only be there for a few months or years at most. My dad plans to head over once I take over but only for a few months and then he would come back. He says he knows he will miss being here and I feel like I would feel the same."

"Have you even been?" I also leaned against the headrest feeling sleepy after eating well and the warmth in the car was lulling me. "No princess I have not, but I would love to go sometime and see what is going on." I wrapped my arms around myself sinking back into the spot between the seat and the door. "I could show you around." I yawned a bit and felt my eyes get more droopy.

I heard Dean laugh as he gently pulled me back upright and helped push me into sitting properly. "Wait one sec lets continue this later sitting in my car is about as comfy as it gets anything else is a pain in the neck."

He walked around and opened the door for me, I got out groggily. "How do you know that. What do you do in your cars?"

My eyes were squinting, trying to stay open so everything was blurry. I could not see Deans face clearly but he looked a little pink. I gently rubbed my eyes to get a better look but he looked normal. 'Maybe I need new contacts.'

"I have done a few roadtrips. But anyways enough about me lets get you inside you are shivering a bit." I unlocked my door and went inside. My parents and grandparents no where to be seen. 'They must be asleep.'

"Ok I got it from here, night and we can discuss more details about the gala tomorrow evening." I whispered, as I did not want to wake up my family. Dean gave me a thumbs up and waved goodbye. I locked the door behind him and went up to rest.

The following days passed by in a blur. My grandparents finally settled all their affairs and were ready to head back. And sure enough the gala fell a week into my parents stay in Milan. Before they left they continued their plight with me. "Honey why don't you come with us, I am sure your team can handle your projects fine without you present."

My dad was more nervous than my mom about leaving my behind. It was not like they have not done this before, after graduating from college my parents have done a trips without me but each time they always try to convince me to come.

"Its fine I have a lot to do and I am representing us at the Cortez gala. Many of our subsidiaries are attending and expecting our appearance there so its best I stay anyways." This was a challenge I wanted to tackle. I also wanted to prove to myself that I am a bigger person than Felix, and use this gala as an opportunity to assert my independence.