His tongue winds into my mouth, tangling with mine in a delicious way, and I let out a low moan, unable to help myself.
“I thought the main reason I earned your forgiveness was my oral skills,” he teases, forehead and lips still pressed to mine.
“That definitely helped,” I laugh. “Good night, Nero.”
“Good night,Little Fae.”
***
I find my mother pacing back and forth in her bedroom, pulling clothes from the wardrobe and stuffing them into a travel bag open on her bed. The level of panic in every nervous step of Rosa Marchesi makes my stomach drop.
“Mom?” I call, stepping into the room, worried.
“Thank God you’re here! I was about to call you before I left.”
“Leave? Leave where, Mom?”
“ Joaquina fell in the bathroom, Nina! I’m rushing there—you know she has no family, no one. When her neighbor told me, I nearly had a heart attack.”
“Joaquina—the one who used to live here and now lives in Athens?”
“That’s her. I call her every day. I worry sick about a ninety-two-year-old woman living alone. Today when I called, she didn’t answer. About ten minutes ago I decided to call her neighbor, Gaia. And then I got the news. She’s alone at home, can’t even get out of bed. I’ve been running around since.”
“But, Mom—”
“I need you to take care of the shop on your own this week, my daughter. You already know how things work, and if you need anything, just call me. But I won’t have peace in my heart if I don’t go help. Imagine if it were me—at ninety-two? Oh, Christ. There’s no way I’m leaving Joaquina alone!”
She zips the bag closed and bolts from the room. I follow when I hear her voice coming from the bathroom.
“No, no. Absolutely not.”
I meet her halfway, coming back toward the bedroom with her arms full of basic toiletries. I walk back with her.
“Will you keep me posted?” I ask, knowing there’s nothing else to do but let her go.
“Of course, my daughter. Of course! As soon as I get there, I’ll let you know.”
CHAPTER 21
NINA MARCHESI
“So—which one of them are you actually seeing?” a customer asks while I’m turned away from the entrance, restocking the honey shelf behind the counter.
I turn only my head, looking at her over my shoulder. Her young face and sun-kissed skin tell me she’s probably close to my age, but the expression on it is one I sincerely hope I never wear myself.
Her dark, straight hair falls loose down her back, two long strands tucked behind her ears. Her dark eyes wait almost eagerly for my answer, and I grow tired of looking at her once I notice the blue dress she’s wearing—and the magazine tucked under her arm, which leaves no doubt about the topic she’s referring to.
Besides her, two other women watch me expectantly. Apparently, for this trio, the gossip they read in today’s newspapers and magazines wasn’t enough.
One thing I’ll never get used to is just how far Khione’s residents will go for fresh gossip.
My face made the papers again this morning. But today’s headlines didn’t show photos of just Nero and me.
The images captured the moment we returned to the marina last night—Nero, me, and his friends. I spent the entire day hearing whispers about what that might mean, because once again, the audacity of this island knows no limits.
I lost count of how many people came into the shop today without buying a single thing—only to make conversation, hoping to dig up something new.
Thank God my mother is away. This would’ve driven her insane.
