Hope rose in my chest, causing my heart to thunder against my ribs.
“He had a sweet little girl with him.”
My eyes widened. A jolt of something like adrenaline made me jump forward and grab her by the arms. “Where did he go?”
“I told him you were probably down at the beach, helping with the boats.”
I grabbed her face and kissed her quickly, making her giggle. I raced out of the shop and sprinted down the narrow streets lined with whitewashed houses until the beach came into view. The beach wasn’t anything special, just soft, pale sand, smoothstones, and water so clear at midday that you could see the fish swimming between your ankles. I knew Neri would love that. As well as how many children there were always playing in the sand or racing each other barefoot through the village. I frantically searched every child’s face on the beach, jumping the waves and squealing as they raced away from the tide. But I couldn’t see her. Or Finn.
I turned in every direction, panting heavily even though I’d barely run far. My body was vibrating, shaking with an intense need to find their faces, to stare into those dark brown eyes once more. I felt like I was going to faint.
“Anyone know where we can get ice cream around here?”
My hand slammed over my mouth when I heard his deep voice. He’d spoken in Italian, and I closed my eyes at the familiarity of it as I bent over and grabbed my knees to keep myself from falling to them.
“With sprinkles?” Neri asked next, and just hearing her adorable little voice broke me. I spun around, tears in my eyes, and saw them both standing there. Finn in a pair of jeans, a casual T-shirt and a baseball cap, and Neri in a white dress with unicorns all over it.
Our eyes locked, and he smiled. A smile that said a thousand words. I scooped Neri up with one arm and grabbed him with the other, pulling them both into me. Their arms wrapped around my back, and they rested their heads on my shoulders, Finn burying his nose in the crook of my neck and inhaling. Suddenly, the world felt right. They were here. They had come.
“I’ve missed you so much,” I whispered, holding them both even tighter. “I can’t believe you’re both here.”
“Where else would we be?” Finn mumbled into my neck. “Our home is wherever you are.”
“Can I go and play on the beach now?” Neri asked, watching the children with eagerness, more excited by the sandcastle being built.
Finn and I chuckled as we broke apart, and I put her down.
“Go on then. Stay where I can see you,” Finn said, and she let out a squeal, racing over to a group of children busy making patterns with the stones in the sand. I smiled, seeing how easily she fit in here and knowing how much she’d love it.
I faced Finn again and stared. He grabbed my face in his hands and pressed his forehead to mine.
“You’re a crazy, stubborn motherfucker, Enzo Aiani. What were you thinking, getting yourself killed for me? For us? You fucking idiot. You’re lucky I love you so much.”
“I love you too,” I whimpered as his lips brushed mine, then kissed me with all the need and longing I’d felt for weeks. I melted into him, wrapping my arms around his back as our lips moved together, tongues chasing every lost moment. I forced us apart to check on Neri, then grabbed his hand and tugged him over to a rock for us to sit on.
“You look…” His gaze ran over my casual white T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops, and he smirked. “Really fucking good.”
“I feel good,” I said. “Especially now that you’re here.” Then the thought struck me that he might not be staying. He might have come all this way to see me one more time so we could part on better terms and move on with our separate lives. The thought alone was excruciating. I wouldn’t fucking let him go. If he tried to leave, I’d tie him to my bed with those fishing nets over there. “This place is…” he inhaled the fresh air, smiled, and glanced around. “Really something.”
“Are you staying?” The words flew out of my mouth before I could think to be more tactful.
He met my gaze, and I saw his own nerves reflected. “If you’ll have us. But if you’ve changed your mind—”
I grabbed him by his shirt and yanked him into me, our lips smashing together again to put an end to this bullshit. No more walking on eggshells, wondering whether this was for real. I broke the kiss and grabbed his jaw, forcing him to look into my eyes.
“I’m all in, Finn. I wouldn’t let you go even if you wanted to.”
He smiled. “I wouldn’t have left even if you’d asked me to.”
“Then we’re on the same page.”
“Except… it’s not Finn anymore.” I let him go, and he held out his hand to me, offering a handshake. “It’s Ross Tiero.”
My smile widened, my cheeks aching as I took his hand firmly in mine and shook it. “Ross, short for Rossetti, by any chance?”
“Close enough.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Ross. I’m Eli Drake.”
