Gio shrugs. “Honestly, Cara? I’m a creative person. I just wanted to give you something I made.”
My jaw drops. “Oh my God. Youpenguinedme?”
He raises an eyebrow. “What about penguins?”
“The male penguin gives the female penguin little pebbles when he’s courting her. Like gifts. I saw it in a documentary that Grace made me watch once.”
Gio’s brows knit together. “I’m not a penguin.”
I point a finger to his chest. “Admit it. You penguined me.”
“Fine. I penguined you.” He glances down for a moment, before looking back at me. “Did you, ah, keep them?”
I smile. “I kept every one. Just like the female penguin does with the rocks.”
“I guess youpenguinedme, too, then.” He checks his watch. “We should get going.”
We get up and grab our things. He locks the door behind us and reaches for me. The journey to his shop is quiet as we walk hand-in-hand, and I wonder if we’re each reflecting on what it was likebefore. I check in with myself. No nerves, no dread, no anger. No need to channel inner peace.
Once we arrive at Cattaneo’s, he unlocks the door and holds it open for me.
“No bell?” I ask, wondering where the above-the-door chime went.
“I took it down before we left. Didn’t seem worth the hassle anymore.”
I grin and walk further into his shop, thinking back on all of his small moments of thoughtfulness early on in our relationship.
After so long in Italy, the familiar scent of the shop welcomes me home. Laundered clothes, leather, steam, cedarwood. I take a deep breath.
“It feels good to be back,” Gio announces, opening up the two front window blinds. After turning on the lights, he runs his hand along one of the wooden racks. He stares at his fingers, presumably for dust, and appears pleasantly surprised to see that everything seems to be up to his standards. I trail closely behind him.
Gio’s gaze softens as he faces me. “You know something? A perk of the job now is being able to do this.” He leans forward for a kiss.
I meet him halfway, and it feels sosatisfyingto be wrapped up in each other. Our lips fit together perfectly, his full and soft. It’s all so effortless. When I pull back, he has the cheesiest smile on his face.
All the kissing leaves my lips gloss-less, so I reach in my dress pocket for my favorite tube and reapply. “Are the garments for the shoot next week in the back?”
Gio’s gaze shifts to my lips. “Yes, I can go get them.”
I shake my head. “No way. I can finally wander around your shop without feeling like I’m breaking the law. I’ll get them.”
He laughs, then reaches up and swipes at the corner of my mouth with his thumb. “You have a little extra gloss here.”
“Thanks.” I smack my lips together.
He sucks his now-glossy thumb into his mouth. “Peach flavored, today.”
I nod and give him a peck on his cheek. Then, I head toward his work space. It’s hard not to smile when I think about how Tessa of Two Months Ago would’ve neverdaredto come back here if Gio wasn’t with her.
I quickly spot the garments hanging on hisLamontrack and grab them before walking back to Gio.
When I reach the front of the shop, he seems to be wrapping up a phone conversation—wait. Is thatmyphone?Who’s he talking to?I mouth the question to Gio, but he just smiles and waves me off.
“No, thankyou, Chris. I’m really looking forward to meeting you. I’ll confirm with Tessa, but I know we don’t have a meeting Saturday.”
Chris.But it couldn’t possibly bethatChris.
“Ah! Yes, I’m still learning about American football, but if Dan’s in town attending a game next weekend, then it works perfectly for everyone. I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting him. He’s great.”
