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“That’s not true,” Caia pipes up. She’s on her feet, closing the distance between her and my best friend. She gently places a hand on his shoulder, and I watch the scene play out before me. “Hope is something that may feel out of reach, but deep down, right here” — she places her finger tips on his chest, right where his heart is — “that’s where you hold the people who matter, and they’re the ones who offer you hope. Drake, Dante, and me.” She whispers the last word, but I hear her. She’s really in this. When she told me in the bathroom and then again in the living room that she wanted this, River and me, I didn’t believe her. I’m not sure why, but I couldn’t bring myself to hold out hope.
River nods, downing the alcohol in one long gulp. He winces, his face screwing up for a second. When he opens his eyes, he meets mine. “I’m going to bed. I need time.”
“Okay.” I only offer him one word because there’s nothing more to say.
Once Caia and I are alone again, she sighs. “He’ll need more than time.”
“I know.” My response earns me her stare. Those beautiful hazel eyes land on me as if she’s seeking more from me right now. But I don’t have anything to give. I’ve just fucked over my best friend with the news of his family, and now I have a girl I’m falling for looking for a knight.
I may have saved her, but I’m definitely not the good guy.
“I think I need to get some sleep,” she tells me. Lowering her gaze to the floor, she smiles, twirling her toes into the carpet. “Thank you for keeping me.”
“You’re not a possession, Caia.”
She doesn’t respond. I watch her leave, the door clicking closed, and I’m alone once more. I wish I had time to do all the things I’d planned, but we don’t have that luxury. My phone vibrates on the coffee table, and I pick it up to see Dante’s name.
“Brother,” I answer easily, leaning into the back of the chair.
“Saturday night, Amoretto is having a party. The list will be there. It could be the only chance we have to annihilate them all in one day.”
“Killing a few birds with one stone,” I offer with a satisfied smirk.
“Indeed, brother,” Dante responds. “I have a show tonight; would you like to watch?”
This causes me to sit up straight. “Please don’t tell me you’re fucking around on Harper?”
“Not at all, dear brother. In fact, my little minx is going to be playing with a friend we found at the local club downtown.” I consider it. A show would be fun, but my mind is filled with one girl and one only. And she’s down the hall, within reaching distance. For the first time in my life, I might attempt to talk to her about my feelings.
“I’m busy tonight, but you enjoy yourself, Dante.”
“Always do,” he chuckles, then hangs up before I can get another word in.
Saturday. That’s two days away. Tomorrow, we’ll plan. But tonight, I need to shower first, then perhaps pay my little bird a visit.
Strolling through the quiet house, I head into the living room, following the soft tinkling of the piano. Each moment I’m around Caia, I find myself more and more intrigued by her. I’m hungry, and she’s the only thing that will satiate me. Leaning on the doorjamb, I watch her at the instrument. I bought it years ago, but never bothered learning to play. Dante is the one who enjoys it, who loves sitting on the bench and getting lost in the music.
I wanted to go to River, but I know he needs time to come to terms with everything he learned. The clock dings at three a.m., and I wonder why Caia is awake. A smile plays on my lips, and I find myself calmer than I’ve ever been. Perhaps on some level, I always knew I’d have her in my life.
Her delicate fingers dance across the keys — the expensive ebony and ivory — creating a melody that’s both passionate and melancholic. A contrast. Just like the girl herself. She hums along with the song she’s playing, and I don’t recognize it. Her eyes are closed, and her head is bowed in concentration.
A memory of a song I’d like to play for her comes to mind. One that talks about devouring her. Where she’s dressed in a pair of yellow cotton shorts, her long tanned legs hide under the piano. The black, form-fitting tank top hugging her soft frame makes my dick hard.
Only a few days have passed, but I can no longer deny it. All those years ago, I told myself she’s just a new toy, but now I know she’s so much more. Each night she was gone, I would still find myself stroking my shaft at night with her on my mind.
