Page 21 of Enzo (The Amato Family #2)
“ S o, you going to tell me what’s wrong?” Rose asks, cornering me in the room next to the medical office that we use as a breakroom.
“Nothing.”
She doesn’t look like she believes me anymore than any of my siblings would had they asked the same question and gotten my response, but that’s what happens when you know someone so well.
Sighing, I lean back in my chair. “I’m serious, it’s nothing. Just Enzo and me having a bit of a communication problem, but we’re fine.”
“Yeah, you sure look fine,” she comments.
“I’m tired as shit because that fucking cot sucks ass, but I’ll be okay once I go home and get some real sleep.”
“If you need to talk about anything…”
“I know. Thanks. We’ll have to get together soon, now that the chaos is starting to wind down.”
“Yeah. Better take advantage of it while it lasts,” she jokes, though it’s a bit strained.
I know Rose isn’t entirely thrilled about working for the Family when it seems like we’ve been in a constant state of emergency over the last few years, but well, like me this is the life she’s always known.
Her father is one of the Amato Family’s most prominent dealers, so it’s all she knows.
Doesn’t make it any easier some days, though.
“I should go. But we’ll have lunch or something the next time we both get time off.”
“Sure. Call or text me if you need to talk before then.”
“I will. Thanks, Rose.”
“What are friends for?” She grins and I can’t help but smile in return, appreciating having a friend who gets it. Outside my siblings, I didn’t have that before Rose came along.
Leaving her in the breakroom, I check in with Doc before making my way out to my car. I would never admit it to him, but I’m glad for Doc’s neurosis. The drive to the affluent neighborhood he lives in is shorter than the one into the city where Enzo and I actually live.
As much as I’m itching to go home, being cautious and taking our time to let Enzo heal both mentally and physically is helpful right now.
I stumble through the front door and make it to Enzo’s room with my eyes half open. He looks at me with concern from where he sits on his bed, half dressed for the day.
“Come here, darlin’,” he urges.
I don’t protest, climbing right onto the bed next to him.
“You should have slept at the house,” he scolds gently as he removes my shoes and encourages me to get under the covers.
“I wanted a real bed,” I protest.
He snorts. “Then you should have gone upstairs, because this bed ain’t it.”
I hum and mutter, “Smells like you, real to me.”
I’m distantly aware of him pressing a kiss to my head. “Sleep, K.”
“Love you.” I’m not sure if I get the words out or just think them, but it doesn’t matter, the outcome is the same. Even when we’re hurting each other the love doesn’t change between us.
Waking up makes me groan, because I could probably sleep for a hundred more hours and that still wouldn’t be long enough. Enzo’s laugh has me opening my eyes to see him sitting in the chair by his bed.
“You’re so cute when you wake up.”
I flip him off and roll to my back. “Sorry,” I say looking up to the ceiling. “Didn’t mean to kick you out of bed.”
“Eh. I had PT and stuff anyway, you’re fine. Did you sleep enough?”
Sitting up, I run a hand through my hair. “It’s never enough, but I’m fine.” Meeting his eyes, I suck in a breath at the love and care I see there.
Enzo shifts in his chair, uncertainty mixed with…fear, I think, crossing his expression, but he doesn’t look away.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I didn’t mean to push you away, or treat you as if you weren’t traumatized as well.
I just… I got in my head, about what I could and couldn’t do, how this changed everything for me…
It stripped away my identity, and a piece of me broke.
But I swear, I didn’t want to hurt you.”
Swallowing, I move to sit on the side of the bed closest to him. Looking down at my hands, I twist them in my lap, trying to formulate my thoughts.
“I can’t say it’s okay, because it’s not. I know you were dealing with your own shit, but…I won’t just sit to the side and watch as you hurt when I’m here for you. We’re in this together, Enzo; we always have been. It was like you forgot that, forgot me, and it hurt.”
“I know, darlin’. I’m so fucking sorry about that.”
Taking a deep breath, I extend my hands out, and he takes them in his. It’s the softest, most innocent touch between us, but…it means everything to me.
“I’m sorry too. For pushing. For hovering, and for not speaking up sooner.”
“We’ve both had a lot going on, and yeah, maybe we could have cut through the bullshit by helping each other sooner, but this is something I needed to do myself, I think.
I needed to learn how to stand on my…foot, and know I’m still me.
” He huffs and then says, “That might have come from my therapist. I spoke to him a little bit ago.”
I laugh. “He’s helping?”
Enzo nods. “Yeah, he is. You and Doc were both right—not that I’d ever tell Doc that.”
I snort and squeeze his hands. “I love you. No matter what. You could have five legs and a fucking tail for all I care. I’ll love you for as long as I’m allowed to.”
“I don’t know about loving you if you had a tail…” he teases. “But I’ll love you for the rest of our lives, and then some.”
I can’t help the tears forming in my eyes, and he tugs on my hands, encouraging me to slide off the bed and climb onto his lap.
“I’m sorry I’m a dumbass,” he whispers.
I laugh. “And yet I love you anyway, so…it’s not fine, but we will be.”
Enzo kisses me, and it’s like that first kiss all over again from so long ago. Sweet, warm, with the promise of a forever neither of us ever imagined before.