The Italian

“You could at least act a little excited,” he whispers half annoyed.

“Talk to me, please.” I sit back in my chair and pull my hands from his. “Last week, it was a completely different story. Help me understand this. I don’t understand your thinking.”

He rearranges the napkin on his lap. “I was thinking about what you said about our magnets and why we like each other. Our conversation last week had a deep impact on me. Our wants are what makes us special.”

“Enrico, me reminding you of your old life is not enough to build a future on,” I huff.

“Don’t call me Enrico, and it’s more than that. I can’t leave you alone. I think about you all the time. I can’t drop this, Olivia, I tried. God knows how hard I tried.” He pauses. “I’m not leaving someone I want for something I should. What good is all the money in the world if I can’t have who I truly care for? What we have is sacred…and you know it is.”

I stare at his hopeful face. Unable to help it, I smile softly. “Olivia, I know I’m asking a lot but we can make it work; I know we can.”

“I’m not Italian, Rici.”

“You are if you’re with me.” He smiles. “Don’t you see?”

“It will take me time to learn your language.”

“That’s fine.”

“And besides, I don’t know if I want to even live with you.” I frown.

“That’s non-negotiable. I need you with me.” He squeezes my hand in his.

&

nbsp; I like that he needs me with him. My mind begins to race. There’s so much to consider.

“So, we’d never live In Australia?” I ask.

He purses his lips. “No.”

My face falls.

“But we can have a house there and holiday whenever you want. Your family are always welcome here, too. Olivia, I am under no illusion that this is going to be easy for you. I will be patient and try my best to help you, you have my word on that. I’ve thought long and hard about this and I know it’s what I need to do. There is no other way around it.”

“Rici…” I sit back to distance myself from him. “You’re asking a lot of me.”

“I know, bella.”

I sip my wine. I really want to pick up the whole bottle and start pouring it down my throat.

“What I’m asking is if you care enough to build a future with me.”

I stare at him, and emotion begins to pump through my system.

“Do you?” he asks.

“What about your family?”

“I’ll deal with them.”

“What if I make a bad Italian?”

He grins then breaks a deep belly laugh, and I smile as I watch him.

“I’m serious, Rici. This is petrifying. What if I do all this for you and you leave me anyway?”

He falls serious. “I won’t be leaving you. Nobody will be leaving anyone. We have to make it work, and we both know we have a very strong base to work from. Yes, it will be tough sometimes, but I adore you and you adore me. What we have is precious. You never forgot me. I know you didn’t. I never forgot you.”