Page 97

“No.”

He looks at me, and I look down at the pink wood, scratched and dented from everything I hit with it.

“Can I keep it?”

He studies me for a second, then nods. “Okay.”

I don't know why I want it. I just know that the thought of leaving it here among everything else I destroyed feels wrong.

“Jude?” I say as he helps me get out of my suit.

He looks down at me.

“Thank you.”

He nods.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“The truck.”

I stare at him. “Very informative.”

His mouth moves and the tiniest smile appears on his lips as we walk out of the changing room.

“Tomorrow. Be ready by five thirty.”

I stop and stare at him. “What? No.”

This time, his smile grows. “Trust me?”

“Okay,” I grumble.

He smirks. “Five thirty.”

“I heard you.”

Grumpy asshole.

CHAPTER 11

Eleonora

The alarm at four thirty in the morning feels like a little gnome is standing beside my bed blaring a trumpet directly into my ears.

I groan and open one eye, then the other, only to discover it’s still completely dark outside.

Of course it is.

What if I just turn around and sleep some more? Would Jude go without me? Would he knock? Knowing him, he’d probably stand on my porch until I either opened the door or died of old age.

You promised you’d try.

Damiano’s voice sounds so clearly in my head that I close my eyes again.

I sigh and throw the covers off.