Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
When I pull back, Hilde’s face crumbles, and she presses a crumpled tissue to her nose. “She spoke so much of you, it feels like I know you. It’s nice to meet you in person, I just wish it was under better circumstances. Elise was so looking forward to visiting you.”
“Me too.” Again I reach for her, rubbing my hand up and down her arm.
She gives Adriano a harsh look, then asks, “Is this the boyfriend? I thought you broke up with him.”
“Oh no!” I squeeze his hand, hoping to all that’s holy he’s not offended. “This is my husband. Adriano Rizzo.”
Hilde’s eyes go wide as saucers. “Elise didn’t say anything about you getting married.”
“I didn’t get to tell her.”
A man takes hold of Hilde’s shoulder and whispers something in her ear, then she gives me a quick smile. “The service is about to start. We’ll talk more over coffee.”
When she follows the man to the front, Adriano leads me to an open seat. Sitting down, his side presses against mine.
“Sorry about that,” I whisper.
He shakes his head. “Don’t worry, mia piccola farfalla.”
As the service gets underway, beautiful things are said about Elise, and as I struggle to keep the tears back, Adriano pulls a small pack of tissues from his pocket. He takes one out and hands it to me before placing his arm around my shoulders.
I stare at the tissues he thought to bring for me.
Such a simple act, but God, it hits unbelievably hard.
When the men in Elise’s family pick up her coffin and carry it up the aisle, I lose the fight and cling to Adriano while I stare at the polished wood.
Everybody gets up, and I wait for most of the people to leave before I climb to my feet and walk to the front where a large photo of Elise stands among pretty flower arrangements.
I stare into her eyes, and everytime my sight blurs, I blink so I can keep looking at her.
You were such a huge part of my life, Elise. God, this is so unfair.
Lifting my hand, I brush my fingers over her cheek.
Thank you for being my best friend and for caring so much about me.
I love you.
I blow out a trembling breath as I try to rein in the tears, and when I turn around, Adriano is right behind me.
He steps forward and pulls me to his chest.
“They’re going to leave for the cemetery soon,” Little Ricky murmurs.
“Do you still want to go?” Adriano asks.
I shake my head and wrap my arms around him, sobbing into his expensive suit jacket.
“Shh…” His hand brushes up and down my back before settling behind my head. “I’m here, amore mio. Take all the time you need.”
Turning my face, I rest my cheek against him while I look at the photo of Elise until my tears eventually dry up.
I pull away from Adriano and hurry up the aisle, running away from Elise’s smiling face that I will never get to see in person.
Adriano
Every day, Laurie seems to be doing better.
I hate that she suffered such a loss, but fuck, I love how she’s been clinging to me. Everytime I’m close to her, she has to touch me.
I took off from work a little longer than I anticipated so I could spend more time with her, which was a good idea because we’ve gotten to know each other really well.
As I put on my watch, I check the time and notice people should be arriving soon for the barbecue. I’m not going to lie, I’m excited to introduce Laurie to Remo, Georgi, and Augusto.
Heading downstairs, I find Laurie sitting on the couch, staring up at the oak tree while her knee jumps a mile a minute.
“Don’t be nervous,” I tell her, leaning over her to press a kiss to her mouth.
When I straighten up again, I hear engines as cars pull up the driveway.
Laurie jumps up, her eyes darting from me to the front door.
Gripping her chin, I force her to look at me. “Stop worrying.”
“I can’t help it,” she mutters. “What if they don’t like me?”
“They will.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “You don’t know that.”
I take her hand and pull her toward the back of the mansion, and when we step out on the veranda, I hear Yuki say, “Oh my God, I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Right, ages being yesterday,” Nina chuckles. “Did you bring that pot I wanted?”
“Shit, I forgot. I’ll drop it off tomorrow.”
Laurie tightens her hold on my hand and inches closer to me, her eyes locked on the two women as they walk down the path toward the barbecue area.
When we pass the pool, I hear Georgi hollar, “Augusto, he’s back here!”
I glance to my left as Georgi jumps over a bed of flowers, coming right at me. “You motherfucker!” Then I’m hauled into a hug.