I place my hand on his back, unsure what to do. The only person I can show any affection to is Elowen. Other than her, I’m used to Logan throwing himself at me all the time, but I never reciprocate. And as for strangers, I’d kill anyone daring to do something like this. But strangely, I don’t feel like killing this old man.
He pulls away, chuckling. “You’ve only changed your face, your habits are still the same. Do you still need to wear gloves outside?”
“No.”
He smiles, but it vanishes just as quickly. “Do you still see him?”
“Who?”
“The boy.” His voice turns low and gravelly, like he’s talking about a ghost that might return at the mere mention of him. He must be talking about Salvario’s dissociative identity. I don’t have anything like that. Elowen asked me about him as soon as she was certain I was him. And like Antonio, she carries too much fear for that boy.
I shake my head.
His smile returns. “I suppose it’s because you lost your memories.”
I nod.
“It’s time to take what’s yours. I’m old enough to retire now,” Antonio says as we move to sit on the couches. I settle close to Elowen; he takes the single armchair.
“Wen told me you don’t have your memories, that’s why it took me so long to prepare everything.” He slides a small box toward me. “It’s all the details about your Texan.”
Texan is Salvario’s aircraft company.
“Thank you for taking care of it in my absence.”
He smiles. “How could I not?”
Elowen places her hand on my knee. “Antonio, would you like to be a witness at our paper wedding?” She looks at me with that beautiful smile, then back at Antonio. “It’s today.”
“I’d love to,” Antonio replies with a smile.
She looks at me again. “Let’s sign the papers during lunch. Invite Logan as well.”
I nod, returning her smile.
Chapter 21
Elowen
“I have something to tell you guys.”
“Are you pregnant?” Autumn asks. “Everyone’s getting pregnant nowadays. It wouldn’t be surprising.”
“Any other guesses?”
“You adopted another dog,” Lyn says after a moment.
“Whatever it is, tell us before this devil’s spawn wakes up,” Avi murmurs.
She’s the first woman I’ve ever met who calls her son “devil’s spawn.” But watching the way that tiny human keeps their entire mansion on edge with his cries, it’s quite appropriate. When Ma scolds her for it, she simply says “Devil” is Zo’s new nickname.
I lift my left hand to the camera, showing them my ring finger, on which sits a rose gold ring with a small flower on top. Hunter bought it before Christmas.
“Holy shit, he proposed to you,” Avi says before the other two can.
I clear my throat. “Actually, we got married.”
“You got what?” She jumps up, and a loud, ear-piercing cry echoes across all our screens.That kid is really loud.
