A flash of anger, brief and contained, crosses her face as she pries my hand from her arm.
I pull a breath in and change tactics. Anything to keep her here. “My gnocchi. Why isn’t it on the menu?”
She holds my gaze. She knows exactly what I’m asking for. “The last time I served it,” she says carefully, “it was prepared and served in a very specific way. That level of service is not available to just anyone.”
The air between us changes.
“I loved that preparation, that… level of service.” My voice drops, and I can’t help but almost smile. “If you were willing to serve it again, I promise you the reviews would be stellar.”
For just a moment, the sparkle in her eye matches her smile. “Stellar reviews, huh? That’s very tempting. But we have a bit of an audience, I think.” Her eyes sweep the packed restaurant. “I didn’t think you were into that.”
“I’m not. But I will empty this restaurant in three minutes if that’s the only thing stopping you. Just say the word.”
She laughs and starts to turn, and I don’t think. I grab her shoulders, step in closer to her, lower my voice so only she can hear.
“I’ll do it, Soph. I’ll do anything.” The words come out raspy andharsh. “I’ll do anything you want. I fucking need you. Ineedyou, Sophia. Please.”
She goes still. I watch her look past me to the table where I’m sure Matti, Tommy, all of them are watching. Then she looks back at me.
“Vincenzo.” She’s so sincere it fucking kills me. “I love being used by you. But it’s no longer enough.”
“No. That’s not— Sophie, I’m not talking about that. I’m not just talking about fucking you. I don’t know exactly how this would work but I know for a fucking fact that you are mine.”
“I know.” She looks at me like she does know, like she’s always known. But also like that’s exactly the problem.
“You know?” Relief floods through me, and I pull her in closer to me. I almost have her in my arms. “Then—”
She raises her hand and presses it to my cheek and it’s like the whole fucking world evaporates leaving just her and me. I turn my face into her palm, and for a half second I close my eyes, feeling nothing but her touch.
“Vincenzo.” Her thumb traces the line of my cheekbone. “Cuore mio.”
My heart.
She’s never called me that before. My breath shuts off completely.
“I love you with every breath in my body.” She says it like it’s a given, like it’s something that’s always been true.
I feel like I can’t function. She fuckinglovesme.
“I’ve loved you since I first laid eyes on you, maybe longer. Our love began with our ancestors and took generations to create.” Her hand is still on my cheek. I’m immobilized. “There was a time I would have done anything you asked, including sabotage my own restaurant on opening night just to cook for you. But we are not together. You forced me to let go of the idea that we ever could be.”
Her eyes are steady and dark. “Now you have to letmego.”
I don’t know how long I stand there. Long enough that when she gently steps away, I don’t realize it’s happening.
I’m processing her words in slow motion, on half speed, until time races to catch up and zips me back to the present.
I reach for her hand, barely snagging it before she moves out of reach. “Are you saying we’re done,regina mia? For good?” Just the thought of it, of not touching her again, of not being with her, has me fucking ruined.
Her smile softens now revealing a glimpse of something like grief underneath.
“My answer to you is always yes.”
Then she’s gone. I stand where she left me and do not move for a long time.
My answer to you is always yes.
Yes to everything except the one thing I need. Yes, she loves me. Yes, she means it. Yes.
