“I’ve never been better. Honestly.”
“I know the feeling. Hang on.” I heard some rustling in the background and then a door close. “Rebel is still asleep.”
“Again, I’m sorry about the time. I can ring you back later.”
“No, no. Tell me why you called, Grinder.”
“It’s about Rile.”
“The bloody wanker.”
“Right. About that…”
The ring I’d commissioned the jeweler to make was even more beautiful than I dreamed. The perfectly round, four-carat diamond I’d chosen, was edged on either side with five rubies. One for each year I’d loved Pia Deltetto.
29
Pia
“What time is it?” I asked, stretching my arms above my head.
“It’s early,” Mylos answered, leaning over to kiss my forehead. “Go back to sleep.”
“Wait,” I pleaded, reaching out my hand when he stood to walk out of the room.
He came back and sat on the edge of the bed, brushing my hair from my face. “You are so beautiful.”
“Tell me what else I am, Mylos?”
“Let’s see.” He brushed my lips with his finger. “You are very sexy.”
“Not romantic?”
“Definitely romantic.” He nuzzled my neck. “And you smell bloody fantastic.”
“You remembered!”
He lifted up the bedclothes and crawled in next to me. “I remember everything, Pia.”
I rested my head on his shoulder and put my arm around his waist. “We haven’t talked about how long you can stay.”
He shifted and turned on his side. “What do you mean?”
“You know, when you’ll have to go back to your…other life.”
“Hang on a minute.” He got out of bed and rushed out of the bedroom.
“Where are you going?” I shouted after him.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Bring un caffè!”
“It’ll take too long, and besides, it isn’t good for the baby.”
“It isn’t good for the baby,” I mimicked under my breath. I missed coffee more than anything, even wine.
When Mylos came back, he had a bouquet of flowers in one hand and something I couldn’t see in the other. All I knew for certain was it wasn’t a cup of coffee.