“Turn around.”
I run my hands through her thick hair, tugging at the strands to straighten them.
“Is Luke coming over tonight?”
I yank on her hair, pulling her head back so I can run my lips over her cheek. “Why?”
She laughs. “I like him.”
“You like him?”
Her hand reaches up to cup my cheek. “I like that he’s someone who has known you for a long time. He must have a lot of secrets to tell about you.”
“Tell me a secret about you.” I move back to separate her hair into three sections with my fingers.
Her breath hitches. “A secret about me?”
“One secret.”
She leans forward. “I was engaged once.”
My hands drop from her hair. I was expecting a confession about a drunken phone call or an obsession with chocolate, not this.
“When?” I ask the question in a low tone.
“Five years ago.” She holds up her hand, her fingers moving in the air. “Our engagement lasted a month. I broke it off.”
“Why?”
She looks up at the ceiling. “He wanted me to change. He wanted the pink streaks and the nose piercing gone before the wedding. He told me that I should have grown out of that phase by the time I was twenty-one.”
“How old are you?” I don’t give a shit what the answer is. I know she’s younger than me.
“Twenty-seven.” She steals a glance at me. “You’re thirty-five.”
“You know this...” I trail my words.
“The internet.”
I get back to work on her hair, smoothing the strands between my fingers. “He’s a fool.”
“I was for thinking I could spend my life with someone like him.” She sighs when I start braiding her hair. “I’m glad I realized before I said ‘I do’ to him.”
I finish the braid, listening to the steady rhythm of her breathing.
“Your turn.” She spins around to face me.
“I tried braids once.” I shove both hands through my hair. “It’s not a look that works for me.”
She laughs. “You didn’t.”
I shrug a shoulder. “I didn’t.”
“Your secret, Rocco. What is it?”
I have a million and a spare. I choose a simple one that I know will keep a smile on her beautiful face. “I told Luke to sleep at Nash’s place tonight if he needs a place to crash.”
“Nash?”