The Italian

I breathe deeply to try and regain some composure. After a few moments, Rico comes back into the room wearing black jeans and a black button-up shirt.

“You ready?” he asks.

“Uh-huh.” I snatch my handbag from the counter. I should really tell him he got a message from Sophia, but I can’t push the words past my lips.

He takes my hand in his and we leave the apartment. We stand in the elevator and he stares straight ahead. He seems off tonight, too. Cold and detached.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Yes.” He glances down at me. “Why?”

I widen my eyes. “No reason.”

We ride the elevator in silence, and then walk out into the underground parking lot.

I glance up to see Sergio’s hungry eyes drop down the length of my body. I

can almost feel him mentally undressing me. The hairs on the back of my neck rise in disgust. I want to tell him off for being so disrespectful to both Enrico and me, but now is not the time. For some unknown reason, my man is angry today.

The car pulls up and Maso is in the driver’s seat, with Marley in the passenger side. Enrico opens my door in a rush, obviously impatient.

I slink into the backseat, and he slams the door shut. He storms around to his side.

It seems everyone’s hormonal tonight.

* * *

Two hours later, we’re sitting at the table. The bar is bustling. Chilled dance music is being piped throughout the speakers, and the mood is loud, filled with laughter and chatter. Enrico is talking to Giorgio, and I to Natalie at the other end of the table. Giorgio’s boyfriend is away for business, so it’s just the four of us.

Giorgio is talking non-stop. Enrico is listening to him but he is quiet and pensive. Every now and then our eyes meet across the table and a trace of a smile crosses his lips.

A warm glow heats my blood every time he lights up. I’ll never get sick of the way he looks at me.

I glance over and see Jennifer at the bar.

“Oh, look. It’s my friend from the gym, Jennifer.” I smile. Jen sees me at the same time and we wave. “Come and meet her. She’s so nice. She’s new here, like us.”

“Okay,” Nat replies.

I look over to Enrico and point toward the bar. “Just going to see my friend.”

He looks to where I pointed and then frowns. His gaze comes back to me in question.

“Jennifer from the gym,” I say.

He nods, and then goes back to his one-sided conversation with Giorgio who is now discussing politics in great detail.

I lead Natalie to the bar.

“Hi.” I smile at Jennifer.

“Hello.” She laughs and kisses me on both cheeks. “What are you doing here?”

“Drinking.” I gesture to Natalie. “This is my friend Natalie; the Aussie girl I told you about at the gym.”

“Oh, hi.” Natalie smiles and shakes her hand. “You’re the one who’s looking for a job?”

“And failing spectacularly.”