Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“Okay.” Diego drops down on his king-sized bed and picks up his phone.
I walk to Carina’s bedroom, and when I step inside, a happy smile spreads over her face. Everything in her room is pink because she’s obsessed with the color.
Taking a seat on the side of the bed, I stare down at her innocent face, a dimple peeking in her left cheek.
She takes hold of my hand with both her tiny ones. “Does it hurt?”
I shake my head. “Not at all.”
“Because you’re strong, right?” she asks. When I nod, she gives me a pleading expression and whispers, “Look under my bed.”
I chuckle as I crouch beside the bed and pretend to search for monsters. Once I’m done, I sit down next to her again. “No monsters.”
Carina moves onto her knees and inspects my lip before she presses a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth. “There. Now it’s all better.”
I give her a lopsided smile. “Come on. Get under the covers.”
“I want to sleep by you and Diego,” she complains.
Shaking my head, I pull the covers back. “You’re a big girl who should sleep in your own bed.”
Giving me a disgruntled look, she sulks as she lies down again. I pull the covers over her and tuck her in. She grips hold of Bella, her stuffed unicorn, and pouts at me. “Please, Leo.”
“I’ll stay with you for five minutes, but then you have to go to sleep,” I try to bargain with her.
Not looking happy, she mutters, “Finnnneeee.”
I bring my hand to her head and brush my fingers through her silky-soft brown strands. “Smile for me.”
Her lips curve up, and the dimple I love so much appears again. It disappears too soon, and she gives me a worried look. “Why does your daddy keep hurting you?”
“Are you eavesdropping again?” I say, playfully narrowing my eyes. She shakes her head, and knowing she’ll just keep asking until I answer, I whisper, “Sometimes people do bad things they don’t really mean.”
Carina’s bottom lip juts out again. “I don’t like when he hurts you.” Once again, she climbs out from under the covers. Her arms circle my neck, and she squeezes me tightly. “You can live here with us because I love you and I’ll never hurt you.”
I wrap my arms around her tiny body and soak in the comfort she’s giving me.
“I love you too, stellina mia.”
“Bedtime,” Mrs. Messina says softly from the doorway.
I let go of Carina and tuck her in again. Leaning over her, I press a kiss to her forehead and murmur, “Sweet dreams.”
“You too,” she whispers as I climb to my feet.
When I step out into the hallway, Mrs. Messina pulls the door partially shut before giving me a worried look, her eyes locking on my busted lip. “Oh, Leo.” She lifts her arms and pulls me into a hug. “I’m so sorry, my boy.”
My emotions spiral a little while I hug her back. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not.” She lets go, her eyes filled with concern for me. “Diego says you’re staying for a few days. Do you want me and Corrado to go home with you tomorrow so you can pack a bag?”
I shake my head. The last thing I want is Diego’s mom and dad going anywhere near my house. “I’ll just wear Diego’s clothes. It will only be for two days.”
“You can stay longer,” she says.
I give her a grateful smile. “I know, but it will only cause trouble.”
She lets out a heavy sigh. “Have you eaten?”
No. All hell broke loose at the dinner table.
Lying, I nod. “I’m good. Thanks for everything, Mrs. Messina.”
She nods and watches as I walk to Diego’s room before she heads back to the main bedroom.
Entering Diego’s room, I walk to the left side of the bed and drop onto the mattress with a sigh.
“I have a date with Donna,” my friend says while setting his phone on the bedside table.
My eyebrow raises. “Yeah? You finally wore her down?”
Letting out a chuckle, he slaps my arm. “It’s the other way around. She wore me down.”
“You keep telling yourself that,” I tease him.
The door creaks open, and Carina peers into the room.
“Mamma’s going to be angry,” Diego warns her, but he’s already shifting to make space for her.
“Just for a little bit,” she begs as she comes in with her stuffed unicorn clutched in her hand.
He lets out a sigh. “Fine.”
“Yay!” She hurries to the bed and climbs on, lying down between us. Her big brown eyes sparkle like stars, and the dimple is out in full force as she grins at me.
Diego reaches for the bedside light and switches it off. “Good night.”
“Night,” Carina replies, her voice filled with happiness as she snuggles her way beneath my arm, her unicorn landing on my chest.
My lips curve up, causing the cut to pull and sting. “Night.”