I nod, a real smile lighting my face.
Enzo grins back at me before his face turns serious again. “You’re not to leave my side though.”
“Yes, dad,” I mutter.
“I’m serious, Izzy. Nothing should happen, but I’m not risking your safety.”
I indulge in his protectiveness because secretly I love it. I always have.
“Okay, I won’t leave your side.”Like I would anyway.He’s my safe place. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
“And if you feel even the slightest bit panicked, or unsure, you tell me, and I’ll get you out of there.”
I nudge his shoulder. “I’ll be fine.”
He grumbles but doesn’t argue as we eat in comfortable silence.
It’s only once we’re finished, that I realize I have nothing to wear to go out. I’ve been living in Enzo’s ridiculously oversized clothing for the past few weeks and not once have I thought to complain. But I certainly can’t go out like this, in nothing but Enzo’s shirt. No matter how comfortable I feel in it.
“Any chance you’re a secret cross-dresser who wears a women’s size four?” I ask Enzo with a teasing smirk.
His eyes shine with amusement. “Not last time I checked no, why?”
“I don’t have anything I can wear to go to a club.”
He curses, as if only just coming to that same conclusion.
“Iz,” he says carefully, and my smile drops, “maybe you should stay here.” I open my mouth in protest, but hecontinues. “I can get you clothes, but Izzy, you’d stick out like a sore thumb if you wore anything more than a tiny dress. I can’t imagine you want to do that right now. And I’m worried that you’re going to be scared, being around so many people. Just look at what happened with Dante—”
“Are you done?” I ask, cutting him off. My voice is firm, something I’m incredibly proud of given the way my heart is racing.
His mouth snaps shut in surprise.
“I need to do this, Enzo. It’s been weeks. If I stay here and hide it will only be harder for me later on. I feel so weak and useless being this way. Scared of my own shadow.” My voice drops as a tremor shoots through it. “Please,Tesoro, don’t make me stay here alone.”
“You know I can’t say no to you when you call me that,Cuore mio,” Enzo groans, and I know he’s going to let me come. “I’ll get a dress sent for you, give me a minute.”
He types something on his phone, while I get up to go shower.
An hour later, the intercom buzzes.
Enzo answers it gruffly before telling someone to come up.
A woman with long glossy black hair enters the apartment. Her high heels click across the marble floors, her curvy hips swaying as she moves. Instantly I feel jealous. Inferior.
I look down at myself. My body is thin, no curves, my boobs are too small, my ass flat.
She nods at Enzo but doesn’t move in close to him. They’re familiar, but professional. His eyes hold a darknesses to them that I haven’t seen in him before.
Despite that, some ugly emotion rears its head inside me.
Enzo steps toward me, placing a hand on my back. “Noemi, this is Izzy,” he introduces. “She needs your expertise.”
This Noemi woman smiles at me warmly. “Izzy, nice to meet you. Enzo tells me you need a dress and possibly some makeup for tonight?”
Strengthening my backbone I return her friendliness, despite the jealousy churning in my gut. “Yes, please.”
She turns her back, which is when I notice all the bags she brought with her. My eyes widen and when she looks back atme, she laughs. “We’re going to have so much fun!”
