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Suddenly, something pulled me from my thoughts, my phone buzzed with an incoming text that brought a smile to my face instantly.
Natalia: Missing you, handsome. When can I sneak away to see you again? I'm going stir crazy here without my favorite rule breaker around.
Her playful flirtation buoyed my spirits. I knew being confined to hiding with Ashley grated against Natalia's free spirit. But I hesitated, unsure if stealing another secret night together was wise while threats still lurked.
Before responding, I made a decision - Natalia deserved more than furtive midnight rendezvous in the shadows. If I couldn't offer real answers about her family's chaos yet, the least I could do was treat her to something normal.
Leonardo: Soon, my love. But for our next meeting, how about we do this properly? I'm taking you on a real date Friday night. Somewhere worthy of your beauty.
I could envision Natalia's delighted smile as she read my invitation, cheeks flushing attractively. We had never had the chance for simple things like dinner dates. It was long overdue.
Natalia: A real date? With no disguises or fake names? I must be the luckiest girl ever! Friday can't come soon enough. But what should I wear?
Leonardo: I'll pick you up at 7. Wear something that makes you feel beautiful and happy. The rest is a surprise.
Natalia: You spoil me, love! I can't wait. Xoxo
I grinned down at my phone, warmed by her infectious excitement. Natalia deserved to feel cherished and adored openly. I would move heaven and earth to give her at least one enchanted evening beyond the shadows haunting us.
After the hell her family's implosion had put her through lately, Natalia warranted far more than I could provide. But for now, planning the perfect simple date felt like a small ray of light piercing the gloom.
Friday night couldn't come soon enough.
Natalia's POV:
I gazed out the bedroom window with a sigh, watching birds flit carelessly between the trees. Almost a week had passed since I'd slipped away for that stolen night in Leonardo's arms. But it felt like an eternity, the hours crawling by tediously once again.
I missed him viscerally - his rugged features and secret tender smile, those strong arms that made the rest of the world melt away. But contact had been sparse this last week. I knew Leonardo was still relentlessly chasing leads on my family's chaos, trying to bring me answers. Still, the separation wore at me.
Padding downstairs in my pajamas, I found Ashley already awake, singing along to pop songs as she made coffee. Her cheerfulness lifted my melancholy slightly.
Ashley took one look at me and asked gently, "Hey, you doing okay? I know you must be missing your guy." Her empathy meant the world to me.
I gave a halfhearted shrug, moving to help prepare breakfast. "Mostly just bored, I guess. Hiding out is never very exciting."
Ashley watched me crack eggs into a bowl, eyes thoughtful. "Maybe you should text Leonardo, see if he's free to meet up soon?" she suggested. "I'm sure sneaking out for a romantic rendezvous would brighten your day."
I considered her idea hesitantly as I whisked the eggs. Contact with Leonardo still felt risky for us both. But the yearning won out. After we ate, I retrieved my phone to compose a light, flirtatious message to him, hoping it would pique his interest.
Natalia: Missing you, handsome. When can I sneak away to see you again? I'm going stir crazy here without my favorite rule breaker around.
I held my breath waiting for a response, giddy nerves rising. Finally my phone chimed with Leonardo's incoming text.
Leonardo: Soon, my love. But for our next meeting, how about we do this properly? I'm taking you on a real date Friday night. Somewhere worthy of your beauty.
I gasped aloud reading his invitation, immediately typing back a thrilled acceptance. Leonardo was planning an actual date night for us out in public, like a normal couple! It seemed almost too good to be true.
When I told Ashley the news, she shrieked excitedly. "You have a hot date on Friday? We have to find you a killer outfit!"
She grabbed my hand, already dragging me eagerly towards her closet upstairs. "This is major, Nat. We need to make you look beyond gorgeous for your dream guy."
I laughed indulgently at her enthusiasm as she began holding up potential dresses for me to try on. But secretly I was just as thrilled at the prospect of looking beautiful and carefree on a real date with Leonardo, leaving our troubles behind for one charming night.
By noon, Ashley had declared none of the outfits in her closet fit for such a momentous occasion. I needed attire worthy of a princess, she insisted. Which apparently necessitated a shopping trip to the exclusive boutiques downtown she favored.
"Trust me, we'll find something Leonardo won't be able to take his eyes off!" Ashley assured me confidently as we pulled up outside the glittering row of high-end shops.
Linking her arm through mine, she led the way inside the most opulent store. Everything looked prohibitively expensive, but Ashley immediately began piling dresses into my arms to try on, unperturbed.
