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MARIALENA
THE RAIN IS HEAVYas we’re driving west down Storrow Drive toward my apartment. The radio is playing softly, and we’re both quiet, listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers sing “Californication.”
“You ever been to California?” he asks.
“Not yet. It’s on my list.”
“It’s beautiful. I’ll take you someday. You’ll love it.”
“How presumptuous of you.” I try to keep my tone serious but am not doing a very good job at it.
“Not presumptuous because I know you and I are just getting started.” His words are confident, yet he’s not arrogant. Last night he was polite yet assertive, gentle yet firm. His mannerisms complement each other. Before yesterday, I had never fully experienced the facets of his personality. When he would sit at the bar, he was friendly and flirtatious yet reserved. I always wondered what he’d be like behind closed doors, and so far, I really like what I’m seeing.
“You know?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. He responds with a nod and a sexy lopsided grin.
When he drives up to my house, I’m gathering my things to say goodbye and make a run for the front when Massimo says, “Hang on, I have an umbrella. I’ll walk you.”
“You don’t have to. It’s okay if I get a little wet.”
“I like you nice and wet too.” He winks, before continuing, “But I want to. I’m not ready to let you go just yet.” I can feel the heat rise to my cheeks at his remark. Good thing he’s turning to get out of the Jeep.
He meets me at the passenger door, and I exit, where Massimo wraps his arm around me so we can both be under the umbrella.
Once at the front door, underneath the shelter of the balcony’s roof, he tosses the umbrella to the floor and steps into me, grasping onto my hips.
“I had such an amazing time last night and this morning. I’m not ready for our date to end.” His voice is low and husky. He squeezes my hips and kisses my beauty mark.
“Me too,” is all I can manage to say. His proximity makes it hard to think clearly.
“This is gonna sound crazy, but I’m gonna say it anyway,” he says with a crooked grin. “I know you’re off tonight and then work for the next few nights. What do you think about hanging out again later? I don’t think I can wait until next week to see you, and I can’t just go to the bar tomorrow like I always have. Things are different now, and it’ll be near impossible for me to sit there and just watch you work and pretend that small talk will be enough. Not after last night and this morning.”
“You’re right. It sounds crazy.” His face falls when he hears my words. “But I like crazy, so yes.”
He’s grinning again, rubbing his thumbs back and forth over my cheeks. “Want to come back to my place? We can order takeout and watch a movie.”
“Only if we can watchRocky.”
“Get outta here. You likeRocky?”
Nodding, I say, “It’s one of my favorites. I love them all. If you don’t likeRocky, I don’t know if this—” I gesture my hand between the two of us “—will work out.”
“Like it? I can basically quote all the movies. ‘Together we fill gaps,’” he says, with a big toothy smile.
I’m ecstatic over the quote he chose. “You’re so cheesy!”
“Oh yeah? Come here. I’ll show you how cheesy I am.” He starts kissing me as if it’s the last time he’ll ever see me, and I respond in kind.
“You guys gonna stand outside and make out all day?” Luci asks, interrupting us. I look over at her, and she’s leaning against the doorjamb, still in her sweatpants and T-shirt.
“Hi, Luci. This is Massimo.” I gesture to him, and he’s already extending his hand and leaning in to give her a cheek-to-cheek kiss. I remove my glasses using my shirt to wipe them clean before putting them back on.
“Hi, Luci. It’s good to finally meet you.”
“You too, although I feel like I already know you, Lena talks about you all the time.”
I could kill her! I can’t believe she just said that to him. Of course, Massimo loves it because he’s grinning from ear to ear.
“That’s good to hear. Here I thought I was barely a thought in Lena’s mind.”
