The Trouble With Love: An Age Gap Romance (The Forbidden Love 1)

It all makes sense now.

Will drops his head before silence falls over the table. When he raises it back slowly, all eyes are on him, including mine.

“I’m… I am not in love with anyone,” he stammers, put on the spot. “But yes, someone has caught my eye.”

“I knew it!” Beau yells proudly.

“Beau Benedict Romano, will you calm down?” Aunt Nikki warns him.

As if she knew her son well, she changes topics swiftly. Soon after dessert is served, the younger ones excuse themselves from the table. I take the opportunity to retreat to the kitchen to help clean up, willing the questions to stop. It takes every part of me to resist asking him who this person is or even about London.

None of it matters.

Period.

An hour later, I exit the kitchen to find everyone but Will. According to Mom, he has an early morning business meeting with Dad and said goodbye. Annoyed he didn’t even have the decency to say goodbye to me, I storm off to my room to compose myself.

The room always brings back the nostalgia of my childhood. A few stuffed toys sit on a daybed looking out the window, along with a white bookcase where I keep a few things. It isn’t our primary residence, but we stay here sometimes for weeks on end.

A pale blue box catches my attention. I move toward it, lifting the lid as I pull it out. Inside sits mementos I keep, including photos from my childhood. I recall the day Mom handed me a bunch of photos and my shock to learn you could actually get them printed.

There are so many memories, all of them make me smile. Then, I stumble on a photo of Will and me. He’d have been a teen, and maybe I was about five. His eyes are shut tight as I kissed his nose. I don’t remember it, but I do remember that no matter how much he taunted me or we argued over trivial matters, he always protected me.

We have this history, which is the very reason nothing can ever happen between us. But none of this erases my annoyance from him walking out tonight without a goodbye. What’s his problem, anyway?

I decide I need to find out and clear my conscience once and for all.

I place the box back and exit my room to find my parents.

“Mom, a friend wants to catch up for a late coffee a few blocks away. Do you mind if I head out for an hour?”

“Go ahead, honey. Dad and Uncle Rocky are watching sports and drinking. You know it’s going to be a long night.”

Kissing her cheek, I race out of the room and exit the apartment until I’m out on the street. I hail a cab, prompting the driver to take me mid-town.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m standing at Will’s, overcome by nerves. What the hell am I doing here? Or better yet, what the hell am I going to say?

I knock on the door, crossing my arms, only to panic from the thought of another woman being here. Shit.

The door swings open to Will rolling up his sleeves. The second his eyes fall on me, he appears uncomfortable, his eyes closing momentarily.

“Amelia? What are you doing here?”

I push past him, entering the apartment, not wanting to have this conversation in the foyer.

“Am I interrupting you… or anyone else for that matter?”

“Uh… no. It’s just me.”

“Oh, but I’m guessing she’ll be here soon, the woman who has piqued your interest?”

“Amelia.” He lowers his head.

“I don’t even know why I’m here,” I shout, pacing the space between us. “I lied to my mom and said I was going out for coffee. I just…”

“Why did you lie?” He moves closer, and highly aware of his actions, my breathing falters. “Tell me, truthfully, why did you feel compelled to lie about coming here?”

“I don’t know,” I answer, barely above a whisper, dropping my head to hide my shame. “I’m confused.”