Page 28 of Never Without You
I want to…no, need to spend hours lookinginto his Prussian blue eyes, which have tiny white spikes shootingout from the pupil, while I brush my fingers over his temples, darkbrows, straight nose, seriously tempting full lower lip, wickedmustache, and trimmed beard. I want to grab on to his thick darkhair as he moves that incredible hard, muscled body in mine. I wantto feel his legs tangled with mine when we sleep. And I want to doit all until there’s no breath left in my ancient body.
Nat pokes her head between the front seatsand asks, “Still in your Ethan fog?”
I smile. “I don’t think I’ll ever get out ofmy Ethan fog.”
“Good news for you that I don’t think he’sever going to get out of his Theresa fog.”
“If you don’t mind me asking,” Gio says, “istoday the first time you’ve met? ’Cause it sure seemed like youknew each other.”
Before I really think about who I’m asking, Isay, “Are you two able to keep a secret?”
They looked at each other and bust outlaughing.
Well, duh. Gio grew up with a Don for afather, and Nat had to go into hiding to keep herself safe.
Nat says, “Ah, yeah. We can keep asecret.”
“I knew that. I don’t know why I asked.”
“Go ahead, spill.”
“We met through The Letter Club. We’ve beenwriting to each other for months.”
“Ha,” Gio shouts. “Did you know he’d be atlunch today?”
“No. And he didn’t know I’d be there. But hefigured out who I was when Nat told him about Sofia’s wedding. I’dwritten to him about my young friend who was pregnant and wasgetting married right away. He put two and two together.”
“No surprises there,” Nat says. “He’s a smartguy and a good detective.”
“Yeah. That all comes through in his letters.He has a quick mind.”
“There’s something about reading a person’ssoul before you meet them,” Nat says knowingly.
We fall into a comfortable silence until Isay, “Beautiful wedding. Sofia was radiant, and Matteo isbesotted.”
“Totally gone for her,” Gio says.“Couldn’t’ve picked anyone better if I’d tried.”
“The food was outrageous,” Nat says. “Eventhe cake was good, and that’s not always the case. They look prettybut taste like cardboard.”
I chuckle. “We were so drunk by dessert, I’msurprised you remember the cake.”
Gio slaps his hand on Nat’s thigh andsqueezes. “My Ace always remembers dessert.”
“Was that body shaming wrapped in sugar?” Natsnaps.
“Baby, are you serious? There isn’t an inchof you I don’t love, and I sure as fuck don’t want you to change athing about that body.”
She grins at me, then turns to him and says,“Just checking.”
Now, I crack up.
***
Ever the gentleman, Gio brings my luggage andmy cannolis into the house. Then he and Nat walk with me to myneighbors to get Boo, who jumps up and down when he sees me, andkisses everyone. Gio carries Boo’s stuff into the house, then I gethugs and kisses good-bye. I stand in my doorway watching them driveoff before shutting the door.
After I put the cannolis in the fridge, I getmy laptop and open the letter I started writing to Ethan. How oddto read this now knowing he’s friends with Nat and has probablyheard all about Sofia and Matteo. I’ll do anything to ensureEthan’s safety, and if keeping up the ruse is important, then I’mall over that.
Ross,
