“Forehead?” I suggest.
There’s a beat of deliberation, and her nostrils flare. “Sure, I guess.”
I take my time with it, letting my lips rest.
“I’m not making any promises about Italy,” she warns.
“Understood.” I draw back enough to look at her.
She toys with the hem of my untucked shirt. My handssmooth up her back. I’m afraid if I let go, I’ll never get to touch her again. She’s the fulfillment of everything I’ve not known I was moving toward my entire feckless life. My anticipatory dread of letting go now is like a child with a string tied around a tooth that’s about to be pulled.
“I like this truce between us, Salvia officinalis,” I say, doing my best to keep it light.
“As much as you liked the battle?”
One of my hands cradles the side of her jaw. “Far,farmore.” I touch her lower lip with my thumb, aching for the kiss I can’t have. “You’re the one who was driving to win, darling. Meanwhile, I was madly waving a red flag on the sidelines, hoping to slow you down enough to notice me.”
Her brow furrows.
I can’t believe I said it aloud.Fuck, I’ve mugged myself.
Backing out of my arms, she smirks. “You’re a pile of red flags, all right.” She goes to her suitcase and starts pulling items out. “You’re still making me late and I didn’t even get laid. Shove off, sailor. Text me your address in Ravenna.” Hopping to her feet clutching an armful of clothing, she heads for the bathroom without a backward glance. “See yourself out,” she calls.
I shrug my jacket on, throwing one last glance through the doorway into the en suite, where Sage is shucking her clothes and tossing them over her shoulder onto the floor, shimmying her way into the shower whilst singing PJ Harvey’s “Dress.”
The girl is perpetually in motion. Her mind, body, and spirit are restless, striving, stretching to grasp the next thing.
My God, how I long to be one of them.
When I exit into the living room, Priya is behind the bar faffing with the espresso machine. I realize I didn’t take even a sip of mine and left the cup to join the other detritus in Sage’s room. But it gives me an opening for something to say.
“Thank you for the espresso,” I tell her.
“Tip jar’s on the counter,” she deadpans.
I cross to the bar and lean, watching her make a latte, foaming up a pitcher of oat milk. “I don’t typically carry cash, so my tip will have to be ‘never buy a Rothschild’s orchid.’ Bloody expensive and devilishly hard to keep alive.”
She shoots a bland look at me over her shoulder. “Wow. Useful. I’ll keep that in mind.”
For a minute, the only sound is the whoosh of the steam wand, punctuated with metallic spoon tapping.
I clear my throat. “Is Julian awake? I’d like to say goodbye.”
“Yes.” She pours the foamy oat milk into a wide cup, crafting the shape of a heart. “Now go sit down and get out of my hair.”
As if on cue, Julian comes out of the smaller bedroom, wearing only gray tracksuit bottoms, his hair damp from the shower. “Hey, man,” he greets. “Good to see you. Wanna finish that chess game?”
Priya walks our way as Julian collapses onto the sofa across from mine. The look she sends me as she hands him his latte warns that the only acceptable answer is no if I want to keep my organs intact.
“Must dash, sorry,” I tell him. “But if you’re in London, ring me and we’ll grab a pint.”
With a regretful smile, he puts his feet on the coffee table—I can’t help noticing the missing toe—and reclines into the cushions. “Probably have to be a ginger ale for me at that point. I’m guessing I won’t get to drink anymore if I do this right.”
Priya leans over the back of the sofa and kisses his cheek. “You won’t even miss it,” she assures him. As she’s straightening, he captures one of her braids playfully and draws her back down for a kiss on the mouth.
“As long as I don’t have to missyou.”
Her look is intense. “Never ever,” she assures him. After another kiss, she stands. “I’m gonna get ready so we can head to the airport. We’ll get breakfast on the way.” She fixes me with a wary look, one hand on her hip. “Everything I said yesterday stands. If you hurt anyone I love, I willruin you, got it?”
