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My mouth fell open. “Giovanni, I can’t take all this goodness without paying for it!”
His eyes stared at me hard. “You go home and think about what you just said.”
“I need to pay you,” I repeated softly.
“Your money no good,” he repeated back.
My heart warmed. “Can I give you a hug?”
He came around the counter and opened his arms. “Not too tight. My wife, she little bit jealous and she watching me.”
He pointed to the heavens, making me laugh.
Belying his words, he hugged me tightly. “You a good girl, Hope. You gonna find your way.”
Bitter cold stung my cheeks as I trudged across the parking lot to my car. Closing myself inside, I blasted the heat and rubbed my hands together while I waited for it to kick in.
I debated picking Brayleigh up from daycare, but she was wound up tight from being kept home for three days and needed to play with her friends. Besides, she was at Lucky’s this week.
I rewarded myself with a treat from Giovanni’s bag.
What did one do at noon on a Wednesday when they should be at work?
Other than a few scattered texts, I hadn’t seen Ares since the night he broke down. The night I told him I loved him. Now that I suddenly had a free afternoon, I sent him a text and headed over to his place.
Which I hoped might one day be our place.
It was soon.
Too soon to contemplate, and yet, I could see it all so clearly.
Even if we never got married, we would be a family. And I wanted time with my family more than I wanted a bigwig corporate job.
I smiled and squeezed my shoulders up to my ears, tickled as I imagined Maeve’s reaction to my news. Maybe I’d go to Bonny Cove for a few days. I laughed. I certainly had the time off. The world was my oyster. For a few months at least.
Ares leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, waiting for me.
I swung my legs out of the car and hurried up the path. “It’s cold!” I yelled. “Why are you waiting outside?”
He looked worse than he did Sunday night. I ran the last few steps until my hand met his chest. I looked up into dark eyes awash with pain. How did I ever think he was hollow? “What’s wrong?”
“I was going to come to your place tonight,” he answered gruffly.
“That’s not an answer,” I countered softly.
He sighed and pulled me to his chest, still not letting me in. “I didn’t want you to find out like this.”
My entire body seized. “Find out what?” I bit out.
Keeping one arm around my shoulders, he turned and led me into the house.
The front hall was lined with suitcases, a baby carrier, stroller, and Sia’s baby bag.
Immediately, my brain caught on, but my heart refused to believe. I raised hopeful eyes to his. “Are you coming to my place for a while?”
Sorrow and regret lined his face. “Come sit down in the family room with me.” He led me by the hand and settled with me on the couch, twisting his body toward mine.
I tilted my head and murmured, “What is happening? Are you breaking up with me? Is that a thing at our age? Breaking up?”
