I want to kiss you.
“Something completely different,” I reply, purposefully being obtuse.
Romeo and Maribella bring our second course out. Handmade tagliatelle with a rich wild mushroom ragù drizzled with truffle oil.
“This looks delicious,” Elizabeth says, dipping the tines of her fork in the sauce and tasting it. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Depends on the question,” I reply, knowing it will get a reaction.
Just as I’d hoped, a grin flashes across Elizabeth’s face.
“Seems that they’re still your four favorite words.”
I spear a mushroom. “What’s the question?”
“It’s more like I need a sounding board about something.”
“Not the best person to ask for advice, but go for it,” I reply.
“Charlotte wants to have sex.”
I start choking on the mushroom I just ate.
“That was exactly my reaction, too,” Elizabeth says a little too happily.
I guzzle the rest of my beer. “A gentle lead-in would have been appreciated.”
“Ididn’t get one,” she replies, enjoying my obvious discomfiture.
“Isn’t this something better suited for Meredith to help with?”
Elizabeth laughs. “Meredith would be running to the store to buy her condoms.”
“Or Aurora or Tati?” I add, since Elizabeth is tight with them.
“They have boys. I’m dealing with the hormonal maturity of a fifteen-year-old girl.”
With all seriousness, I reply, “Have you forgotten what I was like in high school?”
My teenage years were lost mostly to oblivion as I used drugs, sex, and alcohol to escape the world and numb myself from the abuse delivered by my father’s fists.
Elizabeth blinds me with an overbright smile. “That’s why you’re the perfect person for me to talk to about this.”
“Grant wouldn’t pressure Charlotte, so I wouldn’t worry too much.”
If Charlotte was with any other guy, I’d happily send someone to beat his ass before the little fucker could even touch her.
“And the fact you know that Charlotte and Grant are dating infuriates me because it confirms what I always assumed—I’mthe only person you cut out of your life.”
The fairy lights catch in her eyes and magnify the hurt in them. Shit. She’s upset again. As soon as I make her smile, I piss her off a second later.
“And we’re back at fighting.”
She pushes her plate away, apparently done with the pasta. “Trust me. If we were fighting, you’d know it.”
Romeo and another server, Donatella, come out with the main course. They work with precision, presenting each dish like a work of art. Romeo can’t take his eyes off Elizabeth, and even though he’s harmless, my territorial instincts flare to life, and I stare him down.
“Continua a fissarla e avremo problemi.”
