Page 129 of Shades of Grey & Gold

And didn’t get enough time.

I hate this.

The tile slips under my hands where my tears have fallen.

A soft knock that must belong to one of the sisters comes from behind my back.

I’ve been in here too long.

“I, um,” I sniffle and try to wipe the tears from my burning cheeks. “I’ll be right out.”

A man clears his throat, and a gruff voice muffled by the door says, “I thought you might want to leave… Can I take you home?”

It’s Nico’s voice.

My chest tightens and I sob again just thinking about how he smells, like the penthouse must still smell.

“Unlock the door,sorellina.” His voice is lower now, like he’s bent down and whispering through the crack at the bottom.

I scoot away from the door and flip the lock on the handle as the tears fall from my jaw and the door cracks open.

Nico is sitting back on his heels and he sighs.

“Come.” He stands and closes the space between us in two steps.

I move to push myself from the tile, but the smell of cedar and leather and gunpowder hits me, crippling me as I crumple to the floor again.

But my face doesn’t hit the tile. Nico’s arm is under my head in an instant.

I grasp at him. I feel my tears soak into the rough linen of his fancy shirt, no doubt leaving a watery stain on the blue fabric. I feel his other hand loop under my legs and he lifts me.

“No, no, they can’t see me like this,” I choke out the words into his shoulder and put both my hands on his chest.

The smell is overwhelming, but I remind myself it’s Nico.

Nico is sharper and colder where his brother was soft and warm.

His shoulders aren’t right and despite the smell that is undoubtedly his brother, I remind myself again that he is Nico.

He freezes in the doorway of the bathroom.

“Tell me what to do, Max,” he mumbles, but not in a normal Nico exasperated way.

I move my feet and he sets me down, holding me under the arms while I get my balance. I wipe my cheeks, swipe my fingers under my eyes and take a deep breath.

I just need to say goodbye; I can fall apart as soon as I leave, but I can’t do this to his mom, to Sophia and Maggie, it’s not fair,I think slowly.

“I just—” I look up at Nico and take another deep breath. “I just need to say goodbye, then Gio can take me home.”

He nods, pursing his lips together before rolling them in a way that screams he has something to say.

He steps aside and gestures for me as I take another deep breath.

Just say goodbye and go.

I walk on wobbly feet to the entry to the kitchen. Maggie and Sophia sit at the table and their mom is at the sink. She looks up and her hands wring the towel she is holding.

“I’m going to head home but thank you so much for—” My voice cracks and I swallow. “For dinner, it was so amazing.”