"Oh, really? Can we?" I can hardly believe that he's giving us the chance. I quickly sanitize my hands and pull two chairs for Vico and me.
Pietro laughs. "Of course. I really need to disappear for a while." He hands me the little one with the funny hair and then gently places the other girl in Vico's arms. He accepts her hesitantly, swallowing hard. "Take good care of them. I don't want the ladies to complain," he says with a raised finger before leaving the room.
Now we're alone again. And although we were alone in the hallway before, something feels different now.
The worries about Camilla and the babies no longer dominate my thoughts, and instead, what was on my mind before the emergency returns.
Since Vico touched my hand, more than half an hour has passed. Yet I still feel his touch unchanged on my skin. A gentle tingling remains, and my intuition tells me that it won't disappear quickly. Just the memory of it brings a blush to my face.
How could I let myself go like that?
And feel so incredibly comfortable doing it?
I sneak a glance at Vico, but he seems so captivated by his niece that he wouldn't even notice an earthquake. With a blissful grin, he holds out his little finger, which she immediately grabs with her tiny fingers. They look unbelievably adorable together.
"Hello, cutie," he babbles repeatedly. There is so much love in Vico's expression.
I shouldn't be looking. I shouldn't feel like I'm carrying sparklers inside me. And I definitely shouldn't think about whether Vico would be a great father. With great effort, I manage to lower my eyes. As soon as he's out of my sight, my stomach knots up despite the adorable baby in my arms.
How can I sit here and stare at Vico while Florian is at home missing me?
What kind of partner am I, cuddling up to another man's chest among vineyards at sunrise and telling him about the daydreams I hide from Florian?
This is wrong in so many ways that it can never be right. Yet I find myself staring at him again.
