Page 55 of Forgive Me, Father

“So, what did he ask you?”

“He is an idiot.It’s the reason I didn’t answer him.”

“Figures.”

I chuckled.“It’s nothing for you to worry about.Nico is a good guy.He would always take care of you if I’m not around.Just not in that way.”

Her lips curved as a giggle pushed past them.“I doubt he is as good as you, anyway.”

She knew exactly how to stroke a man’s ego, and I couldn’t resist.I gently took her hand from my arm, pressing a soft kiss to her wrist before lacing our fingers together.

As we continued walking, we talked about my Nonna, how much she meant to me.She was probably the most important woman in my life, aside from her, of course.

I could see her soften in my presence, and silently, I prayed to whatever higher power was guiding our lives that we would never lose this connection between us.

It was a passion unlike anything I’d ever known.One so intense, it might just be strong enough to last a lifetime.A love that could see through my bullshit and still choose to stay by my side.A love that might, in time, learn to embrace me for who I truly am.

I knew a love like that still existed; it was just fucking rare.And deep down, I feared that if I was the lucky bastard to experience it, I’d just wonder what price I’d have to pay to keep it.

THE LITTLE RUNAWAY

The Italian restaurant wasn’t just quaint, it had a warmth that wrapped around you the moment you walked in, and everyone seemed to know Alfonso.I knew it had something to do with his Nonna, the same woman who inspired Hotel de Anna.

The owner even let Alfonso step into the kitchen and whip up some of the most amazing pasta I’d ever tasted.

I thought Philip was a catch, but my husband?He was twenty thousand times more than I’d ever imagined.Sure, he had a temper, but so did I, and I figured it was just part of who he was.

His temper was as extreme as his passion.And it was his passion and what he could do, what he could pull out of me, that made me addicted to him.

He let me sample the pasta before he served it.The rich aromas of béchamel sauce, garlic, and fresh basil danced on my tongue, each bite a perfect blend of flavors.

I’d always loved pasta, but his?His was something extraordinary.

“Good?”he asked with his mouth filled with food.I laughed and wiped a spot of béchamel clinging to the corner of his lips.

"Delicious," I purred, savoring the flavor.He smiled, then carefully transferred the contents of the pan into two bowls.Together, we left the kitchen and made our way to the booth table nearby, settling in to make ourselves at home.

A waiter came with wine and poured us each a glass without Alfonso asking.

The wine complemented the pasta, and everything felt like a dream.

Like I was going to wake up any minute and find myself again on the morning of my wedding and this man would be unreachable to me.

I pinched myself, glad that it wasn’t a dream.

One of the owners came over to speak with Alfonso.Though I didn’t understand a word they said, I couldn’t help but smile as I watched their conversation bring a genuine smile to my husband’s handsome face.

It was clear they had known him his entire life, watched him grow into the man he was today, with all the layers that made him who he was.

I touched his hand and excused myself, mentioning I needed the restroom.However, I stumbled upon a unisex bathroom instead.It was lined with cubicles, and thankfully, there wasn’t a urinal in sight.

I found the first open cubicle and relieved my bladder.My head was spinning a little from all the wine Alfonso had been feeding me, but it was a good night, nothing like the night we’d spent at the club.It was hard to believe he was the same man.

I flushed the toilet and opened the cubicle door, ready to wash my hands, only to find Alfonso casually leaning against the sink, his back to the basin.

He walked me back into the cubicle and closed the door, locking it behind me.

“What…”