But now…now his face is something else. Angelic. That's the word. It doesn't even sound right coming from me but it's true.
It's scary how good looking he is.
The lines of his face are sharper, grown. It's the kind of face that should belong to someone in paintings.
Someone untouchable. And yet he's mine. He's right here, in my bed. And I'm supposed to let him leave?
No. No fucking way. I stare at him a second longer, soaking it in. The tiny, faint freckles near his nose that you can notice only if you're too close.
Then I pull away gently, trying not to wake him. Because today, I've got shit to do. I've got a plan to set in motion. My only shot to make him come back. To make him stay here with me. I lean in and press a kiss against his cheek.
"Don't go anywhere, baby," I whisper. "I'll be back fast." He doesn't wake up. Good.
In the bathroom, I splash cold water on my face. Today's not just about him. My mom's coming home. Finally.
After the hospital. After the pain and the waiting and the machines and the nights I thought I'd lose her. She's okay now. She's coming back. And so will he.
I'm going back to the room, to get dressed. Black shirt. I leave a few buttons undone. Rava always plays with them when he's nervous. Or when he's thinking about doing things that'll ruin me.
Jeans.
Chain. Watch. My rings. The ones he turns on my fingers when he's too shy to ask for a kiss. The tattoos on my arms peek through the sleeves. I glance in the mirror one last time.
Good. I look like me.
…
The bar is open early. I spot my interest.
Nicola.
I almost laugh. He looksexactlylike the kind of guy who got punched at private school and told the principal his father would hear about this.
In my case, I punched his brother. At Sophia's party, that night. He fucking deserved it. I take a breath. This is for Rava. I walk over.
"Mind if I sit?"
He doesn't look up from his drink. "You're already doing it."
Right. Off to a great start. I sit. He sighs. "To what do I owe the honor, Fontana? You here to throw another punch or just ruin someone else's day?"
"I need a favor."
That gets his attention. He raises an eyebrow, finally looking at me over the rim of his glass. "This should be good."
"Your mom works at this university. You've got contacts on the graduate board. There's a program in education, starting this fall."
"You want in?"
"Not for me."
He blinks. Then smirks. "Oh."
He lets the silence stretch. "You want your boy to stay."
I nod. "He deserves to." He leans back. "And I'm supposed to do what? Pull strings? Write letters? Call in favors?"
"Yes."
