Myles’s expression softened. “I know.” He stepped closer to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “But I’m tougher than this, Rina; I’ve worked with far dangerous shit. Trust me, I’mokay.”
Be careful, I signed.
He smiled. “I will.”
I will discuss the budget with Avô, I then told him.For premade shelves.
“No, Rina,” he said, and then frowned. “If I wanted to add store-made shelves in this room, I’d have done so days ago and saved us all the time and hassle. I’ve been making things by hand from the very beginning because I want this room, and everything that it’s built with, to be special to you. I want you to sit in here weeks from now, and know that every inch of this space was made for you, and only you.”
Oh, Myles…
As if he hadn’t already stolen my heart by being himself, now he had to go and steal my breath away, too.
I rose a little and gave him a long kiss.Everything you do for me means the world to me, I signed.I appreciate what you said, Myles, but you come first for me. Not this room, not the shelves, not the budget, but…I tapped his chest twice to say,You.
His eyes gleamed a little against the mellow sunlight as he searched my face. “How did I end up having such luck?” he asked, more to himself than me, I realized.
I fixed the collar of his sweater as I smiled at him.I will speak with Avô, and we will think of something together, I signed, then flung my arms around his neck before cupping the back of his head.
“What if he says no?”
I simply shook my head.
Myles sighed and gave me a nod, then brought his face to the crook of my neck before exhaling against it. His shoulders slumped, and his hold on my waist tightened.
I hugged him close to me, and as I began massaging his scalp, I felt him relax further and further in my arms.
“You’re amazing, Rina,” he mumbled against my skin.
I closed my eyes, nuzzled my nose against his cheek as I breathed in the smell of his aftershave, and placed a kiss on his jaw in response to his words.
37. Fuck you, Miguel
Iburped out loud, then coughed at its intensity.
“Sweet baby Jesus, Myles,” Taron muttered as he hid his nose behind his shirt.
Paul simply grimaced as he continued to playAngry Birdson his phone.
I burped again, and then pointed an accusatory finger at Greg as I sat on the floor in the storeroom. “This is all your fault.”
Greg clicked his tongue. “Seriously? I only took you hooligans out for lunch as atreat. I didn’t ask you to store six months’ worth of food in your body like a damn camel or something. So no, Myles, your reeking acidity is notmyfault, but yours, and yoursalone.”
Greg had offered to take us all out for lunch, and because Rina was at the shop and we had no plans of meeting during our respective break times, I’d said yes to his offer. Little had I known, I’d turn into an unashamed hog after enteringEduardo’s Enoteca.
Italian food was brilliant, and I simply couldn’t resist a goodDiavolapizza.
I took a big gulp from the soda bottle – one of the many we’d gotten from the grocery store after leaving the restaurant – before rolling my eyes at Greg. “It’s still your fault,” I told him, and when I burped again, Taron scowled and glared at me.
“You’re disgusting, Myles,” he said.
“Am I, though?” I finished my soda and placed the empty bottle on the floor. “If I’d calledyouthat when you farted right in my face not twenty minutes ago, you’d have thrown a fit and prolly scratched your own beard out in rage.” I stretched my legs out in front of me. “So,deal with it, brother.”
But Taron was right; my burps smelled…toxic, to say the least. I was so glad Rina wasn’t here, because if she was and we’d kissed, she’d most definitely have passed out on me. God, my bathroom was going tohateme in the morning.
Taron walked over to me with his hands fisted at his sides. “You little–” He stopped when three consecutive taps sounded on the door.
I looked towards it, and immediately got to my feet when I saw Mr. Ribeiro standing at the threshold.
