Page 81 of Our Chaotic Love Affair

“I’m going to educate them. There’s a difference. They’re going to see me living my best life in full technicolor and think that’s the way to be.”

“You think?”

“Absolutely. I’ll be a beloved local fixture. They’ll tell stories about me.” She took another sip. “What about you? What’s old man Cash look like?”

I considered. “I’ve never thought about it.”

“Think about it now.”

I tried to picture it. Me at seventy, eighty. I’d always just assumed I’d be doing the same thing I’d been doing—working, managing, running the empire my father would eventually leave to all of us. But that felt hollow now.

“I don’t know,” I said honestly.

“That’s sad.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah. You should have a vision. Something to look forward to. Something to work toward.”

Luca appeared with another plate, something with prosciutto and figs that I absolutely had not ordered. He winked at Cleo and disappeared.

“You’ve adopted a waiter.”

“He’s delightful. We’re best friends now.”

“You’ve been here three hours.”

“Some friendships move fast.” She popped a fig in her mouth. “God, that’s good. Try one.”

I did. She was right.

I didn’t know what was happening to me. I felt like I was walking in someone else’s shoes. Someone that liked color. It couldn’t be me. I was black and white and, if I was feeling spicy, gray. Never purple.

So why did I want to run out and buy a purple shirt? Purple tie? Purple socks?

CHAPTER 28

CLEO

The sun had set hours ago. The courtyard had transformed into something magical. It took my breath away.

String lights crisscrossed overhead. Candles flickered on every table, and the restaurants that bordered the square had filled with diners who talked and laughed and gestured wildly with their wine glasses. The music from the café had gotten louder, spilling out into the open air, and I could feel the bass in my chest. The lighting was perfect. It made everyone look beautiful and glowy.

I felt glowy.

And I was drunk. Not falling-down drunk, but definitely past the point of sensible decision-making. Everything looked pretty. I had my beer goggles on. The wine had been so good, and Luca had kept it coming. Somewhere around bottle three I’d stopped counting and started just enjoying.

Cash definitely looked a little buzzed too. His hair was a mess from running his hands through it. His shirt was now untucked and another button at the top had come undone. Maybe if I was lucky, he’d pull the damn thing off. That would be hot.

But then everyone would see how sexy he was. I couldn’t exactly claim him as mine, but right now, he was. I was wearing his ring. No one had to know it was fake. I liked hanging out with him. We weren’t talking business or about Melody and Austin. We were just living in the moment, something I had a feeling he rarely did. I liked it too much.

The music changed to something with a faster tempo. It just had that quality that made my shoulders move without permission. I watched as a couple got up from their table and moved to the center of the courtyard. Then another couple. Then a group of tourists who were clearly drunk and definitely not good dancers but didn’t seem to care. I grinned.

“Come on,” I said, standing up.

Cash looked at me. “What?”

“Dance with me.”