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I shove my surprise away and do just that. I kiss him back.
The kiss is simple and sweet and lingers.
When we part, Theo and I take a moment to look at each other.
“You kissed me,” I whisper, touching my fingers to my lips.
“I know.”
“Why did you kiss me?”
“Because I wanted to.”
I drop my hand and turn away from him, barely able to breathe. No. This isn’t real. Theo can’t like me. This is my dream coming true, but I still can’t believe it.
“Cecilia?” he asks as I start to head for the door.
“Theo, I … I don’t know what to think. You’re hurt. You’re not thinking clearly.”
The intense look he gives me makes me shiver. “I’m thinking more clearly than I haven in a long time.”
“But you told me you only see me as your job. That’s what you said. Isn’t that right? Or am I wrong?”
He doesn’t answer.
I huff. “Right. I knew it. You’re delirious from surgery. You didn’t mean this. You don’t get to get my hopes up and dash them. This isn’t real.” I hurry out of the room before Theo can say anything else that might mess with my mind.
What just happened? Did he really kiss me, or did I imagine it? Have I been crushing on Theo for so long I’m now imagining things? I must be. That’s the only logical explanation.
Because surely Theo doesn’t have feelings for me. That would be crazy. Because if he did have feelings for me …
I don’t let my mind go there. I’ve worked hard to protect my heart from how I feel about Theo. I’m not about to let myself fall back in love with him only to marry Salvatore and never see Theo again.
When I get back home, I’m a frazzled mess.
And when I see Salvatore sitting in my living room, I become an angry mess. My mom is with him. I keep my distance as I face off against him.
“What are you doing here?” I ask him.
Salvatore looks equally angry. “Where were you? I came here to see you, and your mom told me you were out. Out where?”
“Church,” I say immediately, holding up my cross. “I like to go there to pray.”
Salvatore doesn’t seem pleased by my answer. “Church. All right. Well, you’re here now. That’s all that matters.”
I want to snap at him that he’s the one who showed up at my house unannounced and uninvited. He doesn’t get to be angry with me that I wasn’t home.
But Salvatore isn’t a man who ever believes he’s wrong.
“Okay. What do you want?” I ask.
Salvatore turns to my mom. “Giulia, would you give Cecilia and me a moment alone? There’s a private matter I’d like to discuss with her.”
Mom instantly shakes her head. “No. Sorry, Mr. Fontana.”
“Salvatore,” he says through gritted teeth.
“You and my daughter,” she continues as if he never spoke, “are not married yet. I’m not comfortable with you being alone.”
