“What’s wrong?” she whispered, taking a seat. “I mean, aside from the mess of the last five days.”
I let go of an uneasy breath and sat alongside her. She pivoted to face me, and I took her hand between my palms. “I want a do-over,” I admitted. “A clean slate. Fresh start.” I swallowed. “I don’t want this to be how our story begins, because it feels fucking doomed if it does.”
“Enzo.” Her free hand went to my cheek, her eyes thinning.
I thought back to the edited version of my sister’s story, the one published. The only version I’d read so far, which clearly lacked the behind-the-scenes details of my sister’s life. “I wish I could edit out everything that’s happened since Wednesday. But since that’s not possible, I’m going to ask you for the do-over instead.”
“What do you mean?”
I tightened my hold on her hand. “I want to take you out on dates. Flirt with you. Take things slowly. Give you the romance story you deserve.”
Her glossy eyes shed a tear, and her lips crooked at the edges. I wasn’t sure if that was a smile or frown she was fighting. “I don’t need that. I already love you. Accept you. You don’t need to do this. I just want us to be together.” She palmed my cheek. “If you’re in my life, my story is complete.”
“I love you so much that it hurts,” I confessed. “But that hurt is why I know we need to do this. The pain of my past is punishing, and I’m so damn terrified I’ll mess up.” My voice was rough. Emotions cutting through. The events of the week hammering my body, mind, and soul. Finally catching up with me. “Maybe it’s me who needs a fresh start. The chance to truly move on from my past, and somehow this reset feels like I—”
“Then yes,” she interrupted, both crying and nodding. “For you, yes. If you need this, I’ll do it. If you’re not trying to push me away because you think you’re a danger or some insanity like that, then yes.”
“You were right.” My brothers were right today. “You’re safer with me.”
“Good.” A heavy breath later, she shared in a shaky voice, “I promised you I’d be there for you to help you escape hell, and if for even a second you still feel like you’re there . . . I’m here for you.” She pulled her hand from mine and slipped her arms over my shoulders, drawing me in for a hug. “I’ve got your back like you have mine.”
“Fuck,” I cried against her neck, surrendering to every emotion I’d once battled to keep hidden. “I really am lost without you.”
“But I’ll always find you.” She offered a similar promise to the one I’d made to Izzy. “Just like I know you’ll always find me.”
THIRTY-FIVE
Maria
One Month Later
“I’m in hell. I mean, there’s no other way to put it.” I pointed at the ground, frustration mounting, my body tingly all over. “Enzo’s driving me insane.”
“Mm-hmm.” My sister tossed a few of her best dresses onto the guest bed for me to try on for my date tonight. “Yes, having a man like Enzo wine and dine you, be all charming and swoony for weeks, was the definition for hell when I looked it up.”
I chuckled and dramatically collapsed onto the bed, probably wrinkling the outfits. “He’s barely even tongued me.”
“Because he knows he’ll put that tongue elsewhere if he does, and he’s trying desperately to take things slow. Give you some type of slow-burn romance.”
I groaned and rolled to my back and let go of an exasperated sigh. “I don’t want slow burn. I want action in chapter one. I want a whole book of hot scenes.”
She laughed again, then tossed a little black dress on top of me. “I know you, missy. And you love the tension and anticipation. I see the looks you share at the restaurant. And I know whenever you get a text from him because your face lights up.”
All true. I couldn’t deny it. And we had exchanged some hot looks and some witty and sexy read-between-the-lines texts that left me super wet afterward. The man knew how to turn me on without using dirty words.
Towels. Freaking towel talk from the man debating the best thickness over a late-night call last night had even sent me over the edge.
“Also,” my sister went on when I was lost in my thoughts, “not knowing when things will finally explode between the two of you is exciting and so, so hot. Trust me, I remember those days with Ryan.”