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I tip my head back to smile up at him, and he gives my shoulder a squeeze.
“Have you told Antonio?” Mom asks. I shake my head, hating the disappointment I see in her eyes. “Honey, you need to tell him.”
“I know. I’m going to tell him when I see him next.”
“I think you should tell him before that,” Dad urges. Miss Ina nods her head.
“He’s working the next two days. It’s not something I want to share with him over the phone, but I do plan on telling him as soon as I see him again.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Mom says quietly.
Fear fills my stomach and chest. I have no idea what I’m doing. I should have told him after our first date, but I stupidly didn’t. Every time I’ve tried to tell him since then, I’ve gotten distracted by his kisses and touches. Or he’s completely shut me down when I’ve brought up the shop.
“It will be okay. He’ll understand why I didn’t tell him before,” I say, hoping that uttering those words out loud will make them true.
“Okay . . . ,” Mom agrees reluctantly.
“Do you want me to set the table?” I ask, needing something to do.
She nods.
I give my dad’s waist a squeeze, then let him go so I can set the table. I help Mom put out the food. After dinner, Miss Ina insists that we catch a cab back into the city, and I make it to the shop in time to help Hector close down the pizzeria.
“Hello?” I answer my cell phone, bringing it under the covers with me. I got into bed a while ago. Even though I’m beyond tired, I have had a hard time finding sleep.
“Hey, baby.”
Antonio.
“Hey,” I say, feeling my stomach get warm. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine. Just missed the sound of your voice.”
Oh my god.
“You did?”
“Yeah,” he says.
I can hear the smile in his voice. I’ve missed the sound of his voice, too, which is ridiculous since it’s only been a day since I’ve heard it. Actually, if I’m being honest, I miss him.
“I miss you . . . I mean . . . . I . . . uh . . .”
“It’s okay.” He laughs, but I groan and cover my face with my hand. “Good to know I don’t even have to be in the same room with you to short-circuit your brain.”
“I don’t know that that’s a good thing,” I mumble, feeling Pool walk up my body and then stop on my chest. Opening my eyes, I see him in the dark, staring at me. He falls to his bottom before lying down.
“How’s our cat?”
Our cat? I like the idea of Pool being our cat.
“He’s good. Settling in. I left him today to go have dinner with my parents and came home to my house being just as I left it, so that’s good news. Also, I found out that Miss Ina is actually my landlord. She said I can keep him, so I don’t have to worry about giving him up or finding a new place to live. I don’t think I could give him up now that I have him.”
“I would have kept him at my place if it was a problem for you. Pets are allowed in my building without much of a deposit.”
“That’s good to know.”
“I’ll have to pay that anyways since I liked having you in my space. When you stay over, you can bring him with you.”
“Oh,” I whisper, not sure what to say to that. I liked being at his place, too, and I like the idea of staying with him again.
“What’s that ‘oh’ about?” he asks quietly.
“I guess I never really thought about staying over there more than once. I . . . I like the idea. It was nice going to bed with you and waking up with you.”
“Good,” he says, and I snuggle deeper into my covers. “Are you in bed now?”
“Yeah. I have to open the salon tomorrow, so I’m trying to get to sleep.”
“Get some rest, Princess. I’ll call you tomorrow evening when I have a chance.”
“Be safe,” I whisper.
“Always,” he whispers back before hanging up. Setting my cell down on my side table, I squeeze my eyes closed.
“Pool, I really, really like him. Do you think I’m an idiot?” I ask, running my fingers over his soft fur. He starts to purr. “I need to tell him what’s going on before this ends up like a really bad romance movie and my heart gets splattered all over the place,” I tell him, having no idea how right I am about that.
Chapter 12
PROVING A POINT
LIBBY
When I hear the knock on the door, my stomach flutters. Even though it’s only been two days since I’ve seen Antonio, I’ve missed him like crazy. Swinging the door open, I don’t greet him or even give him time to open his mouth. I jump into his arms. Luckily, he’s quick, so he catches me. His hands go under my ass as I wrap my legs around his hips and my arms around his shoulders. Then I drop my mouth down to his as he walks us back into my apartment, kicking the door closed once we’re inside. He carries me to the couch, and we both go down, with me still attached to him.
