“I’m not, Noni. It’s that big yellow ball in the sky beaming on my face.” I could feel my cheeks warm, not from the sun but because of my grandmother’s judgmental perusal.
“You should know by now there’s no fooling me.” She nudged my side with her elbow. “You and Reed are no longer faking; something’s happening between you two.”
Her all-knowing, Spidey senses were on point.
“Oh, Noni.” My smile couldn’t get any wider. “I’m falling for him all over again.” I rested my head on her shoulder. “Is that a bad thing?”
Noni raised my chin and peered into my eyes. “Like I’ve said years ago: you and Reed needed to spread your wings to love each other even better than before.” She took my hand in hers, squeezing it lightly. “They say love walks more gently with smaller steps the second time around. Don’t be afraid to fall all over again. You both deserve it.”
I allowed her advice to steep, my brain soaking up every word.
Noni had always been my go-to for words of wisdom. Whirlwind stories she’d share of her and my grandfather—who’d passed long before I’d been born—were the epitome of relationship goals.
She taught me that loving unconditionally is what shapes our hearts. That nugget of wisdom led me to forgive my mother for abandoning us, knowing that her mental illness kept her away. It’s also why I’d agreed to be Sofie’s maid of honor when I really should’ve just slapped her.
“I want it to work, Noni. But I’m scared.”
She cupped my face, her touch soft and comforting. “Bellita, you must learn to follow your heart, not your fear.”
* * *
Reed and I ducked out of the reception early and spent the rest of the day exploring each other.
We didn’t speak of the past and simply took time to get to know who we werenow. We ate lunch on the hotel-room deck, packed since we both had relatively early flights to catch the next day, and lounged around half-naked in between our toe-curling times. When Reed made love to me, my heart felt alive, like nothing mattered, even though part of me still felt flawed.
“We need to eat,” he said, nibbling my ear.
“You’ve eaten already,” I teased. “At least four times.”
“I meant dinner, sexy smart-ass.” He squeezed my side, and I giggled. “I’ve been feasting on dessert.”
He kissed me, then rolled out of bed, his naked body like a Greek god glowing in the moonlight as I watched him strut across the floor to retrieve a room service menu from the desk.
He handed it to me, switched on the light, and said, “Decide what you’d like,” before excusing himself to use the restroom.
As I perused the Caribbean food choices, my phone chirped.
When I plucked it off the bedside table, fully expecting to see a funny message from Stacy, I realized I’d grabbed Reed’s phone, not mine.
Message after message bombarded the screen.
Scarlett: I miss you.
Scarlett: ??????
Scarlett: When will you be home?
Scarlett: I love you.
And my heart died.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Reed
Someone once said good things fall apart so even better things can come together.
It reminded me of Giana and me.
