“That’s fucking insulting,” I said, hurrying to carry her inside. “Are you calling me weak?”
“Well, no. But I think you just implied that I was heavy.”
“A bit heavier than before.”
“Don’t make me laugh!” She bit her lip. “Please!”
“I should, for implying that I’m weak.”
“And I should let you, for implying that I’m heavy!”
“Do what you have to, baby.”
“You’re so gross! Oh, Brando, hurry!”
It felt close to a near or miss thing. She shoved me out of the bathroom after I had made sure no one was lurking, and I took a seat on the bed, waiting for her. Her moans of pleasure echoed in the bathroom.
“I’m not going back out there,” she called, her voice flooded with relief. “Being this close to a bathroom is heaven. I might even have you put a bed in here.”
I laughed to myself.
“Brando?”
“I’m still here, baby.”
The water in the sink turned on, and after she had finished washing her hands, she plopped down next to me on the bed, resting her damp hands over her stomach. Staring down, she picked at the fabric of her purple bathing suit.
“Brandon Stone?”
I didn’t look at her. Not right away. “What about him?”
“He’s dead.”
“I’ve heard.”
Mitch hadn’t told her. He hadn’t had a chance to speak to her yet. I knew we were too far for her to overhear our conversation.
“Juliette told me,” she said, as though she could read my mind. She opened her mouth to speak again, hesitated, and then closed it.
She wanted to ask but didn’t. Whatever she needed to know was fair game, though I’d rather not share details. I used to, at night, when she’d gaze at the stars. But the baby shared her space and had little ears that could hear through the veil of her mother’s stomach.
Scarlett leaned over, closer to me, and placed a soft kiss on the side of my mouth. She took a few deep breaths in and out. It was harder for her to catch her breath these days. Then she placed my hand over her stomach, keeping our fingers entwined.
“Quella bambina è un'anima fortunata,” I whispered to her.That little girl is one lucky soul.
“Because she gets to be your daughter?”
“No.” I laughed, meaning it. “She gets to listen to the sound of your heart beating from the inside.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Brando
Come September, we were in Rome. Scarlett had a doctor’s appointment, one of her final checkups before she delivered.
While we were in town, she had also agreed to attend some event. She hadn’t announced that she was retiring yet, but was going to after the baby was born. The world she belonged to thought she was only taking a hiatus. The famous tiny dancer was still in demand. Even with a week or so until her due date.
The city of Rome burned around us with light. The sky stretched out above in a liquid galaxy. It seemed like someone had tipped over a jar with black oil and blue water.
