The family rivalry

t and him, "It's okay, I

, "My bad, I thought y

into a smile as I fiddle with my purse, "I ju

pretend to search something in my purse. After wasting another minute, I look up with a sm

rticular reason?" His

g? Only one w

ere delicious." I take a pause and co

ide his smile, "Hmm, I w

e feel like an idiot, even when I spi

t, "Seems like a

hout skipping a beat sta

smell of fresh coffee makes us blink and glance at the waiter putting

breaks the silence, "We couldn't complete our convers

my last name has always had an impact on my relationships. Not saying they were to blame, but my last name has eithe

aduated and now I work at

fingers halt around

Did he re

school. Dad had made sure of it, since what happened with Lilah. If h

hing I ask, "What abou

s a moment before answering

is and Romano is obviously not hidden from their employees. God, what were the chances? How did

orld!" I blurt

huckle, "Yeah, this

ould've seen this coming; not him working at Romano's but the fact that I will never have my last name being the obstacle in my re

now?" I decide t

and continues, "Of course not! That wou

umb. Hating someone just because they

uld matter." He says leaning b

hat question. But seriously, what were

erse really wants to

is laptop. The silence at our table grows amongst the bustling café

m his end, "So, you

w shut. At least one of us is trying, I might as well get passed the sole fact t

r college, came back and plan to sta

, "Harvard,

ut you?"

n New York all my life except for college; I

ent to Stanford. Now,

almost blushing if I may boldly as

nods in return. "Do you lik

asking? Is it working for the rivals Gianna or

bout, working for the rivals who bumped into you in the

mall smile on his face, "Then I

you secretly wish to work for

head, "Oh trust me on this,

yebrows, "It's

he company though; I c

heeks burning and I decide to change the to

for a moment, "Technical

ion, "What do you

lies instantly, "I was kind o

he way from Stanford? Unless, he has personal connections. He proba

d ask, "How old are you? I

ng 27 in Augus

explain this but I wouldn't have guessed he is older than 25 but now that I think of it, it makes total sense that he is 27. He is

ok", he says defensive

w I'm so close to that age and it's just so surreal. It feels like last mont

ou know the difference between teens and adults is that we tend to rush, like a lot. But sometimes, it is okay to stop, to rest, to find peace. You owe i

unconsciously, "You seem to b

me." He nods at the table, "But yeah, right now, right here, I'm very content with my

lems once in a while but it never deters that life in his eyes. I think about how I've always dwelled over my past and

as I clink my mug against his,