I turn to Salvario and loop my arms around his neck.
“Will you take me on a date?”
He nods, grinning.
I bounce away. “Let me go pick my prettiest dress.”
Still dancing, I move upstairs into my room and straight to my gorgeous closet. I find a lavender dress with a thigh-high slit. I strip off my clothes and toss them aside, then pull on a matching set of untouched sexy lingerie and slide the dress over it. I twirl to see it from every angle.
“You’re fucking gorgeous, woman.” I blow a kiss to my reflection, then grab my shoes. I pick silver heels, swipe on lip gloss, run a comb through my hair, grab a bag, and walk out of the closet humming “Next Wednesday.” I take my phone from the nightstand, toss it into my bag, and walk out.
Salvario stands at the foot of the stairs in the same clothes. Well, he doesn’t need to change, he looks drop-dead gorgeous in his black shirt and trousers.
He extends his hand as I reach the bottom of the stairs. I place mine in his.
“You look beautiful, Princess.”
I grin. “I know.”
He chuckles.
Bruno and Rosie come to me as we reach the door. I crouch and kiss each of their heads. “Be good. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
I walk out the door. Bruno barks behind me, but Salvario closes it. I don’t think twice about Bruno and Rosie or anything troubling, and walk with Salvario to the garage. He goes inside while I stay out, basking in the sunlight. It’s not cold enough here for a sweater, but just cold enough that the sunlight feels soothing.
I stretch my arms to the sky, face tilted up, a grin stretched across my face. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this happy. Or have I ever? My brain tries to push up the thought of why this is happening all of a sudden, but the thought blocks itself.
I keep smiling until Salvario’s SUV honks.
I walk to the passenger door, open it, and slide in, flashing Salvario a grin. He returns it.
We ate. We shopped. Now we’re back home, and I’m feeling the dip again. My smile flickers on and off on its own. There’s a mess of thoughts in my head, everything I blocked a few hoursago is now returning, piece by piece. But between them, pulses of happiness fire on their own.
“Make me that tea,” I ask Salvario, irritation in my voice but a smile still on my lips.
“Sure, Princess. You sit here and rest. I’ll bring it to you.”
I nod, flopping onto the couch. Bruno climbs up beside me. I don’t have the energy to pet him, or even touch him. My energy is plummeting.
My phone rings in my bag. I force my hand out to grab it. With a lot of effort, and mounting irritation, I fish out the phone.
Hunter.Why is he calling me?
My heart rate spikes. My hands shake as I press answer and bring the phone to my ear.
“What were you doing with him?” His angry voice comes through the other end.
My breathing turns shallow. I somehow find my voice and murmur the words. “I went on a date.”
“Date?” He laughs, a bitter edge cutting through the sound.
A pulse of happiness hits again, and I chuckle. “Yup, a date. And I enjoyed it. Want to join us next time?”
“What the fuck are you saying?” His voice grows angrier, but I can’t seem to care.
“I’m saying come here and hang out with us. It’ll be so much fun. I’ll buy some nice shirts for you too.”
“Too? You bought shirts for that motherfucker? And why do you sound so drunk? Did you drink?”
