Chapter 10:

"You son of a bitch!"

Claire snorts and drinks some wine to try and hide her smile. Try being the operative word. I look back to the screen again. "Why all the love, sis?" What did I do now?! I haven't even talked to her in months, I –- oh. I haven't talked to her in months.

"Are you really asking me that, Owen?! I tried to call you but the damn calls weren't coming through and you didn't even have the decency to call and tell me you were okay?! I had to find out on damn twitter that a damn dinosaur chased you and that you, somehow, managed to escape unscathed! On twitter! The actual hell, man?!"

Okay. I deserve that. I really did mean to call her but I was distracted with Claire and dealing with the whole shock of being chased by dinosaurs, plus grieving the loss of 3 of my girls. And then the meetings with Masrani Global, it just didn't even occur to me that she'd be worried. I know it's stupid, but deep down I was hoping she never actually found out. Now I realise that was naïve of me. The internet is an endless source of information.

"I know, I know. I'm a complete asshole, okay? I'm sorry. There's no excuse. I should have called. I'm really sorry, Isa. Please, forgive me? Pleeeeease?" I pout and bat my eyelashes at her. I want her to meet Claire, but she has to be in a better mood. I don't want this moment to be tainted. Plus, I can't have her being mad at me. She's my baby sister!

"Don't even dare bat your eyelashes at me! I was so scared that something bad had happened to you! Mum and dad were a mess too! Especially mum, you know how she gets! You're lucky nonna was busy at the bakery that day. She probably would've had a heart attack! No, you don't get to bat your eyelashes at me and hope everything it's okay. It. Is. Not. Okay!"

My face falls. I can count on one hand how many times Isabella has truly been mad. She's a very forgiving person. She has a positive view on everything. She's always finding the silver lining. So the fact that she doesn't accept my apology, really says more about me than her. I really messed up.

"Okay, okay. I fucked up big time. Tell me how I can make it better. Please, Isa. I don't want you to be mad at me. Please?"

She's looking at me, anger radiating off of her. But I can see her thinking.

"I'm going to be home in less than two weeks. I want you to come."

Crap. Of course she wants that. Two days ago I said to myself I was going to try and reconnect with my parents. But I really didn't think it would have to be so soon. I have to do it, though. Not just for Isabella, for myself too. I sigh and hang my head.

"Okay. I'll come home."

She frowns. Anger is still etched on her face, but I can tell I've surprised her. Can't blame her. I've been saying no for 11 years.

"Okay, then. Email me the date so I can let mum and dad know." Her face has softened a little.

"Of course. Just let me figure out my scheduled, give me a couple of days." I look up for a moment and remember Claire is here. Shit. Well, she's definitely not meeting Isabella today. But I really want her to meet Isa. An idea pops into my head. Claire is going to murder me.

"Hey, Isa? Would you mind if I brought someone with me?"

As expected, Claire's eyes widen and she starts shaking her head no.

"The last time you brought a girl over things didn't end up well. Remember? Are you sure you want to do that?" She sounds bored. Which is anger in disguise for her, really.

"That was a long time ago. Trust me, this one's special." I look up at Claire again and she's shaking her head at me, disbelievingly. Angry. Person number 2 I've managed to piss off today.

Isabella perks up a little. Much like Phillip, she's also been hoping I open up a bit more.

"Okay, fine. Whatever. I'll tell mum and dad you're not coming alone. What's her name?"

I feel the corners of my lips lifting up. "Claire. Claire Dearing."

Her eyes widen. "Claire Dearing?! Jesus Christ, man! You know what? See you when you get home!"

I laugh. "See ya. I love you, sis."

"Yeah, yeah. I love you too."

She hangs up and I look up at Claire.

"Are you insane?! How dare you make a decision like that without my consent?! You don't get to use me as a buffer! And what the hell was that at the end? What have you told Isabella?!"

Holy mother of pizza! She's pissed off!

"Claire, please. Just hear me out. First, I didn't make any decisions for you. I would never do that. I was just asking her if it was okay for me to bring someone. I never said you were definitely coming with me. I just wanted her to be okay with meeting you. The decision rests with you. I know it's a huge step to meet my family, but I really want you to come with me. I don't think I can do this alone. Please? Just think about it?"

I swear I could see Claire blink away the anger. Well, most of it anyway. She still looks kind of angry with me.

"I understand that you may want some support, but that was completely out of left field and I don't appreciate it." She sighs. "Owen, from what you've told me, I can only imagine how nervous and anxious you must feel, but please try and not be impulsive. What you just did, right now, was use me as your shield to protect yourself from whatever pain you think your parents might cause you. Don't do that."

Wow. I mean, I hadn't even thought about it until she mentioned it. I did intend to use her as a shield. I don't want to do that.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. You don't have to come, okay? I'm just… scared. I don't know how I will react or how they'll react. I just want to make things right with Isabella."

She reaches for my hand across the table. "I know. But Owen, you told me you miss your parents. Isabella is giving you an opportunity to finally make amends. I don't know what pulled you apart from each other, but they obviously care and love you, if Isabella's words are anything to go by. You are a determined person, Owen. If you go back home committed to fix things, then you will. I've yet to see you fail."

I cover my face with both my hands, because I'm afraid my eyes will betray what I'm thinking – what I'm feeling right now.

I love you, Claire Dearing. I love you.

I inhale deeply and lower my hands from my face. I take both her hands and say, "Thank you for that, Claire. I promise I'll try my best to fix things. And I'm sorry again. I didn't mean to make you feel like that. I feel like an idiot." I shake my head. "Forgive me?"

"Apology accepted. So, when are we going to New Haven?" she says bouncing our hands a little.

"What? No, Claire. Really, you don't have to come. I promise you, I'll be fine."

She shakes her head smiling. "Everybody needs someone to lean on. And I suspect Isabella might want to pass the torch to someone else. She has done a fine job, but I think it's time she retires. Don't you think?"

I shake my head in disbelief. How could I have been so lucky? Someone who so obviously understands me without even knowing me that well? It has to be fate. If Claire in fact becomes the person I'll lean on for the rest of my life, then I'll never fall.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." I want to kiss the living daylights out of her. But somehow I don't think she'll appreciate me doing that in front of a room full of people. So instead, I settle with holding her hands.

The pizza comes and the moment the waiter puts it on the table, I practically start salivating. I can see Claire looking disbelievingly at the pizza. Yeah, the smell and the look of it is just that good!

"Wait until you try it! Have a bite first and then I'll tell you what's in it. Dig in, my dear!"

Claire grabs the spatula to lift a slice and I, like the caveman that I am, just grab one with my hand and put it directly into my mouth.

As always, Claire just shakes her head, but this time she takes a note from my book, and eats the pizza with her hands. Her eyes basically bulge out of her head once she takes the first bite.

She covers her mouth with her pizza-free hand. "Oh my God! This is so good! Please tell me what's in it!"

I wipe my mouth with a napkin. "First, the crust is brushed with virgin olive oil. Then, the tomato sauce is spread out. 100% homemade, by the way. Thirdly, basil leaves are spread out all over the sauce, then mozzarella cheese. Extra, of course. Then for the toppings we have prosciutto, black olives, peppers, pancetta, salami, ground meat and for the final touch a drizzle of truffle oil, because why not?"

I take another bite of my slice, because Jesus!

Claire looks at her slice and frowns. "This has so many calories in it."

I point at her and swallow the last bit of my slice. "Nah, uh, uh. You said there were not going to be any restrictions on your part. Now stuff that slice in your mouth! Go on!"

She raises her eyes and looks at me. "Are you still going to like me when I'm fat?"

"Are you still going to like me when I'm fat?"

I can see a hint of a smile on her face, then she shrugs a little. "Probably."

"Then you have your answer."

We both devour the whole pizza to the point of no return. And I say that cause I don't know how we're going to return to the hotel. I don't think we can even stand up at this point.

We both lean back and sigh. "Well, I'm definitely going to regret that at some point. But thanks for sharing this pizza with me Owen." Claire says sitting up straight again, her manners screaming at her.

"Sure thing. Now, how about I get the check and go back to the hotel?"

"I like that, maybe lie down for a bit."

I pay the check and we're off to the hotel.