“Sure.”
He continues with excitement. “And Reino? He kicks the ball really far, but not as far as you. And Ulysses? He’s the best goalie. Ted too!”
Raising a brow, I ruffle his hair. “Maybe we should just grill burgers in the backyard. That way, you can invite everyone.”
His eyes grow round. “Can we?” He looks at Flash. “Can he have a burger?”
“That may upset his stomach, but he can definitely join us to play.” Going down on my haunches, I grip Noah’s shoulder. “Your mom and I have never been on a holiday together. I was thinking the three of us and Flash could go. Would you like that?”
“Yes! Did you hear that, Flash?” He gives me a high five. “Can we go to Disney World?”
I chuckle. “I was thinking the mountains, but we can talk about it.”
Emily gets to her feet. “It’s bedtime, Noah. Say goodnight to your dad so that he and your mom can get ready for the party. We don’t want them to be late.”
Noah mumbles a halfhearted goodnight and drags his feet. Only Flash seems excited about going upstairs.
“Thanks, Emily.”
Her smile is soft. “You’re good for him, but he’s good for you too.” She pauses. “What’s going to happen, Dante?”
“With what?”
“When she remembers?”
I stiffen. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
Emily doesn’t meet my gaze. She goes after Noah without replying.
Taking the stairs two by two, I make my way to my bedroom. It’s strange, but I still think of it as mine, as if I’m somehow coercing Tatiana in being here. Maybe letting her live in ignorance is a way of coercion. I can tell myself I’m following Dr. Chad’s advice as much as I like, but it doesn’t change the fact that, like Emily, I both wish for and dread the day my wife’s memory returns.
Tatiana stands in front of the mirror in the walk-in closet, dabbing perfume behind her ears. The sight of her in that green dress stops me dead. With her pale skin and jade green eyes, she’s a vision. The silk accentuates her soft curves and tight ass. Her back is turned to me, her scars exposed. The sight of them fills me with both violence and admiration. I want to commit unspeakable acts and torture the man who did this to her to his last fucking breath, but as Jasper told me, I already killed him. Tatiana suffered horrendous pain, and she didn’t break. I know few men who’d last like she did without giving up a name. But she never told her father the name of the man who ruined and impregnated her when she was promised to another. For that, I’ve never admired anyone more.
Emily’s words repeat in my mind.
What happens when she remembers?
She’ll remember that she carries those scars because she protected me, and she’ll hate me with more intensity than ever before for the way in which I used her on the very night she almost bled out for me. No, long before that. Because I used her from the very beginning, even before I bumped into her on the sidewalk in the snow.
“Dante.” She takes me in. “You’ll have to hurry. If we don’t leave in five minutes, we’ll be late.”
Her nipples are visible beneath the fabric that drapes over her chest, and suddenly, I regret telling her to wear that dress. With the open back, she can’t wear a bra. I’m not even sure she’s wearing panties.
I stalk to her, closing the distance in a few long strides. She tilts her head back, a small frown pleating her brow.
My voice is gruff. “You look beautiful.”
Fucking inadequate. But I can’t think of words that will do her justice.
“Thanks.” A smile flirts with her lips. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Turn around.”
“Why?”
She touches her hair, which she’s taken up. Good. It exposes her back better. I want everyone to see how strong she is. I want them to look so that they can stop their whispering. I don’t know how it got out, but rumors always spread like a wildfire in our circles. I want all those cowards to look at her and see how much they’re lacking, that they can never be as brave as my wife.
She glances over her shoulder. “Is there something wrong with how I look?”
