A man who cares enough about me to show up without asking questions. Not a man who shows up armed with a team of lawyers and confidentiality agreements.
I look at Catherine and let the first real ray of hope I’ve felt since I moved to Star Falls brighten my smile. “I have childcare,” I say. “What do I need to do?”
“Oh, wonderful.” She taps a message into her computer and then prints off a form for me. “I’ve alerted the instructor through our messaging portal, but take this to class.”
I take the form and tuck it into my diaper bag then tap out a message to Vito.
Me: Meet me at my place around 6:15? I can’t wait to pay you back for this.
I add a whole line of kiss emojis, and I toss in a couple of eggplants and peaches just for fun. Then I thank Catherine, double-check I have the form I need for tonight, and head to my car with a stupid grin on my face.
Who’d have imagined when I packed up and moved away from the noise and hustle of LA that my dreams weren’t where I always thought they were?
If you’d told me four years ago that taking a community college class would get me feeling so hopeful, I would have laughed. But now, I’m about to have the home of my dreams and a plan for a possible career. And that’s got me feeling giddy.
The life I’ve always wanted has never been closer.
* * *
“I fedher dinner and changed her diaper.” Vito is holding Junie in his arms, following me through the maze of boxes in my hotel room. “If she cries or drools a lot, try a teething ring from the freezer first.”
I am moving at warp speed through the instructions, but as the minutes tick away, I’m feeling less and less confident in this plan.
All the excitement of the afternoon comes crashing down as I realize that just because Vito may be willing to do this doesn’t mean I’m ready.
“Teething ring first,” he repeats, a small smile on his face.
He looks more gorgeous than ever, wearing a soft gray T-shirt under a well-broken-in blue flannel shirt. He’s got on distressed dark blue jeans and running shoes, and he smells so good, I seriously rethink my whole plan.
“You know what?” I say, backpedaling so fast I’m feeling dizzy. “This was too much. I’m closing on the house tomorrow, and Junie is teething. I’m not going to go.”
Vito slides a hand along my hip and gives me a reassuring squeeze. “First of all, I am trained in lifesaving procedures,” he says. “Your daughter will be safe with me. But you still haven’t told me what’s got you so frazzled. Where are you going? Why do you seem more terrified to leave me alone with your daughter than you did to put in an offer on a house? I’ve been alone with kids, Eden.”
“Oh no. It’s not that. I trust you completely.” I’d told Vito what time to come by, but I haven’t yet explained where I am going and why. “I’m feeling super insecure about this all of a sudden. It’s stupid. I was excited all day, but now that it’s, like, real…” I sigh.
He sets Juniper down on her playmat and makes sure she grabs a toy before pulling me close. “Babe,” he says, his voice low against my ear. “Whatever this is, I’m here for it. Babysitting, moral support.”
I peek over at Junie, who is calmly playing by herself. I loop my arms around Vito’s waist and rest my head against his chest. “I feel so stupid. So much is changing so fast. We’ve been living out of boxes forever, Vito. I’m tired. I’m confused.”
He holds me firmly, and I let the warmth of his muscled chest support my weight. I duck my chin and hide my face in the spicy cologne that clings to his shirt.
“You wanted me here for something. Whatever it was mattered. If you don’t want to share it, you don’t have to. But why don’t you try to go and just see if you feel better. Sometimes the hardest part is getting out the door. Once you’re in the car, you aim for the destination, and don’t stop until you get there. I’ll be right here with Junie when you get back.”
I’m suddenly struck by an idea. It seems foolish, but I’m blurting it out before I can talk myself out of it. “Come with me?” I ask. “I’ve been looking into taking some classes at the community college. I got a guest pass to sit in on a class tonight. I’m not going to stay the whole time. I’ll leave as soon as there’s a break—or sooner, if it goes too long. I can’t bring Junie into class, but maybe we could bring the stroller and you could walk the campus until I’m done?” I lift my face and look into his gorgeous eyes. There’s a thick dusting of stubble on his chin, which he’ll shave before he goes back on shift Saturday. I reach a hand to stroke the roughness.
He takes my fingers and brings them to his lips. “I’m not normally one for signs and shit,” he says, “but I’ve been thinking about checking out the community college myself. Been talking myself out of it for months now. This might just be the sign I need to give school a little more thought.”
I hold his face with both my hands. “Are you serious? You’ve been thinking about going back to school?”
He chuckles. “I wouldn’t say go back. I haven’t spent one second of my life on a college campus.” He slides his hands under my hair and sighs. “Not having a degree has held me back in the department. I’ve been passed over for countless promotions. The last two were just a few months ago,” he admits. “It might get me feeling inspired, being on a college campus. You never know. Maybe I’ll look around and be like, yeah, this shit’s not for me. Either way, I’m down to go, Eden. You got the stroller?”
I nod. “It’s in the back seat of the SUV. I took it out of the trunk to make room for all the boxes.”
“All right. Do we need to pack anything, or is she good to go?”
He’s still holding me, and I feel a strange sense of relief flood my chest. “Vito,” I say. I pull back from him and look into his beautiful eyes. “Are you sure about this? Maybe it’s all too much, too soon. I’m about to move into a house, and I’m…”
He leans forward and plants a kiss on my lips, a light, teasing one with a gentle sweep of his tongue against mine.
