“Actually, you need to speak with Joey, so he’ll be taking us shopping today.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. Apparently, there are things you don’t know about your family that he has to discuss with you.”
There was a light knock on the bedroom door. “Well, it can all wait because your food is here.” He tapped his palms on his thighs, and then walked to the door and opened it. He came back with a tray and brought it to me. “Here you go.”
“I can sit over by the table,” I offered.
“Would you be more comfortable?”
“Yes,” I admitted.
“Okay.” He carried the tray over to the small table and then pulled out the chair for me.
“Thank you,” I said, wrapping the sheet around me before walking over and taking my seat. He pushed in my chair and then bent down and kissed the top of my head.
“I need to make a couple of calls, but I’ll only be in the other room. If you need anything, please just call me.”
“Where is my phone?”
“I put it on the charger. The battery was dead last night. It’s been powered down. Were you expecting calls from anyone?”
“My bosses and well…”
“I was hoping to hear from my father. It’s been so long and I’m worried.”
“Don’t be worried. We’ll get down to finding him soon. I promise.”
“Thank you.”
As he left the room, a twinge of pain entered my chest. Would I always be so needy around him? Mesmerizing. He was mesmerizing.
I ate my food in silence for a moment, but then I remembered my phone. I should probably check it and call my bosses. “What was I going to say?”
“Tell them you moved away and you won’t be coming back to work,” Elio answered, stepping back into the room.
“I thought you had calls to make.”
“I do, but I needed this.” He came over and pulled me into his arms and planted his lips on mine. “God, I needed that,” he growled against my lips as he lightly pulled back.
“I did too,” I uttered, clinging onto his dress shirt with my lips grazing his chin.
“Finish eating or you’ll forgo breakfast and I’ll fucking forget we have plans this morning.”
“Can we?”
“Are you trying to stall getting married?”
“I don’t even know when we’re getting married.” I huffed and moved back to my plate tray, taking a long drink of my juice.
“I’m sorry. I suppose you would like to know we’re getting married tonight.”
“Tonight?” I gasped. “So soon?”
“It’s as good as any other.” That’s right. I’m just a pretty prize for a debt. “Unless you want to wait.”
“No, let’s get on with it,” I replied with the best smile I could manage. As attracted as I am to him, I need love. Maybe one day he’ll feel that for me, but until that time I was a perfect wife who killed two birds with one stone.
