Her eyebrows furrow, then she rests her face in her hands, rubbing her temples.
Today is April twenty-first.
I can sense the gears turning in her head and then suddenly, a light bulb turns on. She gives me a smile that tells me I have not won this bit of banter we’ve had.
“I need to use the ladies’ room.” She stands up from the table and grabs her little purse.
I grab her wrist before she can go anywhere, knowing damn-well she isn’t going to the restroom and has some scheme in her mind instead. “Don’t wander off too far. This island is small enough that I’d know if we had any enemies on it, but you never know.”
She leans down and kisses me on the lips. “I won’t be gone long. I’m just going to make a phone call.”
Chapter 30
Sofia
“Thanks,Anna.”Ihangup the call on one of the crew members, satisfied with myself.
After having a mini-panic attack about Alessandro choosingtodayas his birthday, I was able to collect myself and come up with a simple plan, and all I needed to do was make a simple phone call.
And be in a financial position where a handful of people can drop everything they’re working on to help me out with this type of last-minute request. But Alessandro will pay them well, so it’s a win-win for everyone.
I asked the crew to delay our boarding and give us an extra couple of hours on the island. All so that the chef can prepare a birthday cake. I also gave them a list of a few gifts they should be able to acquire on this island.
I get back to our table pleased with myself.
He looks up at me in exaggerated horror before I take my seat. “What did you do?”
“You’ll see.” I flash him a coy smile. “Shouldn’t have picked today. If you had done something reasonable, like chosen a date a week or two from now, I wouldn’t have needed to get so creative.”
On cue, his phone vibrates in his pocket.
“That’s probably the captain.”
He pulls his phone out of his pocket and looks at the screen, then shakes his head and laughs before answering.
The phone call is brief. He flashes me a look that says he’s planning his retaliation for tonight in the bedroom.
He clears his throat to grab the attention of the table.
“The crew is having issues starting the tender. We’re stuck out here for another two hours.”
Sal snorts next to him. “Told you we should have flown somewhere instead.”
Alessandro elbows Sal’s side, accidentally making him spill his drink. But neither seems angry with this exchange. Sal tilts his head back, not a care in the world, and laughs along with Alessandro. I sense those two have gotten closer on this trip, and I can’t help but wonder if being able to socialize with these men without Marco and Vincenzo messing with him is helping.
Gio speaks up, some of his words slurring. “I’m happy with it. Time for another round or two.”
“Alessandro?” Sal asks. “Call the captain and tell them to bring a wheelchair for Gio. I’m not dealing with him tripping down some stairs and breaking his face again like at Elio’s bachelor party. We’ll fucking wheel him back.”
Everyone laughs at the table. Sal’s wife, Giorgia, catches my attention and playfully rolls her eyes at her husband’s comment.
I notice Elio’s gaze before turning to face Alessandro again. He looks just as plastered as Gio does. His dark eyes glassy. His shirt unbuttoned a hair too much as he casually leans back in his seat. “I’m worried Sofia isn’t having any fun.” He nods towards my glass of water. “At least have a coffee to perk up.”
At first, I figured he’d just blurted that out because he's drunk. But my blood goes cold as he looks pointedly at my stomach. I quickly turn away and ignore him, annoyed that Alessandro hadn’t caught that interaction. Was that a threat? No, I’m sure he was just joking and has no filter anymore because of all those gin and tonics. As much as I find Alessandro’s overprotectiveness hot and comforting, it’s times like these thatI resent it. I’d like to tell him what happened and get his opinion on whether that comment was anything to be concerned about.
But I loved spending time with Aurora today, and the last thing I need is for him to go nuclear because of some dumb, off-handed comment that Elio won’t even remember tomorrow.
The next couple of hours go by quicker than I thought they would. We spent the time talking to Sal and Giorgia. I enjoy talking with her; it’s like I’m spending time with one of my aunts back home. I am so happy that I have her to distract me because Alessandro is using this boat delay to torture me. Slowly rubbing his foot against my leg. Occasionally shaking his head slowly at me, faking being angry with me.
