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It was the kind of hug that made a little piece of my soul untwist. Like a knot was being removed.
Finally he pulled away. He cleared his throat and said, “I know we’ve been trying to keep our distance because of the distancing rules, but I just thought… You needed that. I won’t do it again if you don’t want. I’m sorry about your parents.”
“I don’t want sympathy,” I said. “I just wanted to tell you. So you know.”
He gave me a sad smile. “I’m glad you did, Molly.”
Donovan strained the pasta and added it to the sauce. We carried our bowls out to our respective balconies to eat while watching the sunset. Neither of us talked for awhile—we just savored the comfort of each other’s presence. It felt the way it had when we watched TV together in the lobby, but on an entirely different level. More intimate, somehow, even though we were just making dinner.
“This is the best pasta I’ve ever made,” I said.
One of his dark eyebrows rose. “The best pastayou’veever made?”
“Yes, I’m taking full credit for it.”
“It would be better if I could make the sauce from scratch,” he muttered while stirring his food. “I hate using pre-made sauce in a jar. If I could get fresh ingredients…”
“I think it’s fantastic! The fresh pasta makes ahugedifference, regardless of the sauce,” I said. “When you get back, you’ll get a job wherever you apply.”
“I don’t know…”
“Just make them this and they’ll hire you on the spot,” I insisted. “I’m certain of it.”
He smiled to himself while eating. If I didn’t know any better, my flippant compliment meant a lot to him.
“Want to go out?” Donovan asked as we finished up.
“Go out where? The front door is locked.”
He swept his hand at the hotel behind us. “We’ve got the entire Residencia Al Gladiatore at our disposal! Let’s get into some trouble. But I’ll warn you now: we might have to ignore aclosedsign. If you can handle that.”
“You know what? I think I’m in the mood to live dangerously. What did you have in mind?”
14
Molly
The Day I Broke The Rules
We went down to the lounge on the second floor. It extended away from the main building, which allowed it to have a vaulted ceiling with glass that showed the night sky high above. It was decorated like a cigar room from the nineteenth century, with dark wood and earthen tones. There were two pool tables, some leather couches and chairs, and a projector aimed at one wall.
“They host movie nights in here when things are normal,” Donovan explained. “I didn’t go to any of them, but the concierge told me about it. Drinks are free.”
I went to the bar and gently pulled on the glass. “They’re not free now. The bar is locked.”
Donovan came over to check them. He pointed. “Damn. It looks like the pool cues and balls are locked away, too. I don’t think I’m desperate enough to break the glass.”
“Maybe when we run out of wine,” I said.
It felt like the wind had been taken out of our sails. We stood around, not sure what else to do.
“Seinfeld in the lobby?” Donovan suggested.
I frowned while thinking about our options. “Do you know how the supply delivery guy gets in every day?”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“The front door is locked,” I said, thinking out loud. “He must have a key. Maybe he has a key that can unlock this, too.” I tapped the bar cabinet. “We can ask him tomorrow.”
