A blush still warms my cheeks from the night before, as I climb out of Alexander’s car at my parents’ house, the cold hits me square in the face.

I offer Alexander a nervous smile and move toward the steps up onto the porch. He joins me, and silently gives me his support as we move into the only home I’ve ever had.

Both Ramon and Noah are in the kitchen sharing a kiss, which they slowly end as we walk in. Ramon holds his arms out and then I’m wrapped up in his embrace. The warmth and strength of him engulfs me, and I know that I will eventually have his support … and Noah’s.

Noah pries me away from Ramon, and gives me the same tight hug and a kiss to the top of my head.

“Alexander,” Ramon holds his handout, and quickly embraces him, followed by Noah. “I guess this talk is long overdue, huh? I mean you can only pussyfoot around for so long before you crack.”

Noah snorts. “Took us a while.”

Ramon squeezes Noah’s arm and then sits at the huge oak kitchen table in the center of the kitchen. “Why are you here when you’re supposed to be in Boston?” Ramon asks, staring straight at me.

Tears suddenly hover on my lashes. “I can’t be around Paige for now.”

Alexander takes my hands and intertwines our fingers in a show of support. Both my fathers’ eyes track his movements, but stay silent.

“Paige is against my relationship with Alexander.” I sigh.

“You both need to sit down and get everything all on the table, and then put your relationship back together.”

I shake my head. “It isn’t going to be as simple as that.” I glance at Alexander and he nods so I continue, “She’s so against us that she’s been encouraging a friend of Jaxon and Dylan’s to hang out at the apartment under the guise that it’s me who really wants him there. Brad’s a nice guy Dad, and he doesn’t deserve to have Paige lying to him. I had to tell him that I’m in love with someone else.”

I let the silence hover, and then add, “She’s being ridiculous, and I’ve no wish to talk to her right now because when I do she isn’t nice. In fact I don’t even recognize who she is anymore.”

“Hmm,” Noah murmurs, sitting back in his seat, “perhaps we need a trip to Boston.” He holds Ramon’s gaze. “Maybe there is more going on with her than what she wants everyone to know.”

“If there is then I haven’t noticed anything else bothering her. This whole attitude started at Charlotte and Tanners wedding.” I bite my lip wondering if I have missed something with my sister because of my distraction with Alexander.

“We’ll head out there and spend a few days.” Ramon smiled. “Don’t worry about Paige, but tell us what’s going on here.” He offers a soft smile, and adds, “Even though it’s been obvious since the hospital in Stowe.”

“Um,” I mumble, feeling my embarrassment flushing my cheeks.

“I can see with my own eyes that you two are in a relationship, but what I want to know is what are your future plans.” Ramon glances at Noah, who raises an amused brow.

Alexander squeezes my hand. “Rachel goes to Italy and finishes college, then she’ll come home to me,” he states, much to my fathers’ amusement. “Although I plan on talking to Olivia, Michael, and the others at McKenzies about taking time off, or moving my office temporarily to Florence.”

I squeak in surprise and jump all over Alexander, which involves me straddling him, and then bursting into tears. He holds me close, caressing back and forth on my back in a soothing motion. I bury my face against his neck, partly with embarrassment, and partly because it’s my safe place: in his arms, breathing in his scent.

Slowly I calm down, and whisper, “I thought I wouldn’t see you for the whole month I was away.” I pull back and smile through my tears. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re coming with me.”

I wrap myself around him and stay settled in his arms.

Alexander talks to Ramon and Noah while I think back to how Paige has been with Alexander and me. It bothers me that I might have missed something going on with her. It doesn’t explain her behavior though. She’s never intentionally hurt anyone before, and that with Brad was hurtful. She’s also made Seth angry, which I’m sure she would have avoided if she’d thought about the consequences first.

Moving back into my chair, I take the tissue Noah offers me.

“Will you tell me how it goes with Paige? I need to know she’s okay,” I ask my dads.

Ramon takes my hand. “Leave it to Noah and I, but eventually I do want you both talking again. You’re more than sisters, you’re twins.”

I nod. “I know. I don’t want to lose Paige, but I’ll always choose Alexander. He’s my heart Dad. Surely that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

“It is.” Noah softly smiles and glances at Alexander. “What do Lucien and Sabrina think of your relationship?”

Alexander tries not to fidget and only just succeeds. “My father knows, and gave us his blessing in a way … as for my mother, like Olivia told me, she will know. My mother doesn’t miss anything.”

“Just like all of the women in the family,” Noah smirks and shakes his head. “Your Aunt Carla will be around here as soon as she finds out. She won’t be happy we haven’t told her.”

“Then call her, Dad. I don’t want to hide anymore.”

“Let me talk to my parents later, and Rachel will message you once we have,” Alexander says.

“Of course.” Ramon squeezes my hand.

I hesitate and then ask, “Are you sure you’re both okay with Alexander and I?”

Noah laughs and Ramon shakes his head.

Ramon says, “You’re our daughter Rachel, and Alexander is our nephew, which means we love you both. It would be stranger if you were blood relations, but you’re not … I promise, we are both happy for you.

“Real love only comes once in a lifetime, and some people are lucky enough to find it twice, but it isn’t something you should ever live your life without.” He holds his arms out and embraces me, kissing me on the side of my head.

“You both have our support,” Noah says, shaking Alexander’s hand.