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“I'm going to get out here, actually. Thank you.”
“Wait, mam, you can’t just -”
I pass money through to the front and ignore whatever protests he has. I can walk there faster, and this agitation that is building up over my impatience is making me anxious.
At least if I'm walking, I'm moving and getting rid of this nervous energy.
It's a beautiful day anyway, and the taxi took me over halfway, so it's not far.
I glance into the coffee shops and clothing stores as I walk past. If Antonio is going to be living here, would this be a place I'm happy to live as well?
It would. I like it in New York. I’ll just need to figure out what to do for work, something more permanent than that horrible job I applied for before and something that I'llenjoy.
I follow the directions on my phone, and in no time at all, I'm on a street I recognize as being the one the hotel is on.
I slide my phone into my handbag and walk a little faster.
My heart skips a beat as I step into the hotel foyer.
“Good morning, Miss. Aoi,” the receptionist greets me.
I grin. “Good morning. Is Mr. Aoi in at the moment?”
“Yes, mam, he is.”
“Thank you.” My heart flutters. He is here.
I hold myself back from running to the elevator. Once inside, I do a little happy wiggle, feeling so much excitement run through my body that I can’t stand still.
I push open the penthouse room doors and step inside the hotel room, and Antonio rushes over to me with a massive smile on his face.
I'm grinning from ear to ear.
He lifts me into his arms and holds me against his broad chest. I wrap my arms around his neck and snuggle my face into him. He smells like home.
“You came back, my angel; you have no idea how much I have missed you.”
“I missed you too, Antonio. I'm sorry, I just needed a little time.”
He lowers me to my feet and looks into my eyes. I notice the bruise across his eyes. I reach out and touch it, and he pulls his face away. “What happened?” I ask, worried.
“It’s nothing, Just a petty argument with an irate old man who doesn’t seem to accept the new regime,” he chuckles, seeming to be unbothered by it.
“Your family?”
“Yes, my family. They aren’t all like that, though. I'm figuring out who is who and who is on my side.”
“It looks pretty bad,” I say, reaching up again and tracing my fingers over his eye.
“It’s just silly family drama, my angel. But that is how the world works. You can't choose your family, but you can choose who you fall in love with.”
He presses his lips into mine, and all of my worries fall quiet. My mind is silent, peaceful, and beautiful. He makes me feel this way. He makes me feel better just by being near me. I forgot about this calming sense of safety I have when I'm around him, and now that I'm wrapped in his arms again, it's all coming back to me.
“Antonio, you mean everything to me,” I whisper against his chest. Resting my head on his toned, muscular body.
“My love, you are my entire world. I love you more than you understand. I'm sorry that I kept those things from you. I'm so happy to have you back with me. I honestly love you. Please, next time you need space, let’s talk first. Let’s try to work it out."
“I understand, and yes, I agree. I thought about all of that. I want to change how I react to things. I know you give me the space to be myself, and I know you will listen to me if I have something I need to say.”
