Page 35 of Lost Room Lawyer (Room #4)

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Nico

“If getting flowers like this is the result, maybe I should take a few more pills every now and then,” I remarked as I sat down at the kitchen table at home.

Two enormous flower arrangements were on display—one from Grazia, the other from Linda.

“Not funny,” Dominic grumbled, setting a cup of coffee in front of me.

“Wasn’t meant to be,” I replied with a smirk, crossing one leg over the other and taking a sip.

“So, how are you feeling?”

“Good.” The answer surprised me, and I nodded. “It’s like a boulder has been lifted off my shoulder, and everything feels lighter. I see things differently now.”

“Really?” Dominic asked skeptically. “I mean … that’s good. I’m glad for you. And for me. It would have really sucked to lose you, dude.”

“Thanks. You’re a good friend.”

“Don’t get all sentimental now.” Dominic stood up and opened the refrigerator. “Want to eat something? I need to head out later.”

“How’s your new job?”

“Yeah … well … it’s different, but as long as I don’t have a permanent contract, it’s okay.”

“And the hours don’t bother you?”

“At the theater, I’d be working evenings too.”

“Yeah, but now you’re working all night.”

“Pfft … It’s nothing. There are some pretty creepy people, but it’s fine. The ladies are happy to know I’m there. I told them I’m only into guys. That was probably why they hired me,” Dominic said, grinning slyly. “Spaghetti okay?”

“Sounds good.”

My phone vibrated on the table, and a message came through from Hector.

“Is it okay if I come by tonight?”

My heart soared with joy.

“Of course,” I replied immediately.

I couldn’t wait to see him.

“And?” Dominic asked.

I looked up and furrowed my brows. “What?”

“Corvo, then.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Yes … Corvo.”

“Happy for you, dude.” Dominic filled a pan with water and set it on the stove. When I didn’t respond to his comment, he turned to me. “He seems like a great guy you’ve snagged.”

“Yes, really great,” I said. “And … what’s new with you? We haven’t talked about Clarissa and your experiment. Did you meet her?”

The topic seemed uncomfortable for him, as he pulled the salad out of the refrigerator and just said, “Mhm …”

“What ’mhm’? Did it go the way you hoped?”

Dominic set the salad next to the sink and leaned against the refrigerator, stroking his three-day beard in confusion. “Well, it’s a mixed bag. Clarissa kicked me out after I couldn’t perform, and it came out that she was just a test subject for me.”

“Okay,” I said cautiously, stifling a grin. “But that was a while ago. What’s the situation now?”

Shaking his head, Dominic shifted his attention back to the bowl of salad. “I had so much sex last year … Maybe it’s better if I just focus on other things. Three months without talking about sex, thinking about sex, or anything related to sex.”

“You’re working in a strip club,” I reminded him, puzzled.

“As a bouncer,” he said, holding up a finger and turning to face me. “I’m serious, dude. My therapist thinks it’s a good idea too. You’ll have to wait three months before you can share any juicy details about you and Corvo.”

“Got it,” I replied seriously. “I got your back.”

As Dominic focused on boiling the spaghetti noodles, I became aware of the disarray in our kitchen.

Since we had minimal storage space, we had to keep supplies on the additional shelf Dominic had installed above the dining table when we moved in.

I knew I couldn’t do much in the kitchen, but the state of the kitchen reminded me of the filing archive in Canonica’s villa in St. Moritz.

The days leading up to my breakdown had left their mark on my room. I didn’t need Hector’s OCD to tell me that urgent action was needed. So I went to my room, opened the windows, and tidied up. While changing the bed linens, I remembered Hector visiting me in the hospital.

The past few days seemed to have taken their toll on Hector as well, evident from his battered hands. His skin was dry and cracked, and he even had a bandage on one hand.

After dinner, I cleaned the kitchen while Dominic prepared for work. It felt satisfying to engage in such a mundane task. I had been so lost in my thoughts lately. Although my manuscript wasn’t finished yet, it was already shaping up to be another eight-hundred-page book.

Maybe I’ll call my publisher on Monday. She’ll surely be thrilled to hear that I’m back in action.

I felt different. After all these years of writer’s block, the chains had finally been broken, and I owed that to Hector.

Hector.

No matter what I thought about, my thoughts kept circling back to him.

The fact that he would be here soon made me nervous, especially since we were on unfamiliar ground.

Sure, I had guys over at my place before, who had left the next morning without a trace—which was fine.

But with Hector, it was something else. Something entirely different.

Damn, I was terrified!

“Have fun!” Dominic called as he left. “Don’t go too wild!”

I was still in the kitchen when the doorbell rang shortly after—at our apartment door, not the main entrance. Dominic and Hector must have run into each other at the building entrance, and Dominic had let him in. My heart raced, and I could almost hear the psychologist’s voice echoing in my head.

“You shouldn’t overdo it. Take it slow.”

How am I supposed to do that?

I folded the towel and put it aside before heading to the door. My mind was blank, and my mouth felt dry.

How are we supposed to have a normal conversation?

Do I even want to have a conversation?

Do we have to have a conversation?

Can’t we just …?

I opened the door, and there was Hector. Relief washed over me, and all tension dissolved.

Dressed casually, with the top buttons of his shirt undone and his blazer loose, he greeted me with a sincere smile. “Hi.”

I was at a loss for words. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

Hector nervously kneaded the back of his neck. “I just ran into your roommate. He let me in downstairs.”

At least I managed to nod.

“What’s wrong?”

“This …” Embarrassed, I brushed my mouth and gestured for him to come in. “It all feels so … surreal.” I closed the door behind him and turned back to him.

He looked good, but I couldn’t help but notice the changes in him. A few strands of hair fell over his forehead, and a three-day stubble covered his chin. I had noticed the stubble yesterday, but I hadn’t expected him to show up unshaven today.

Of course, he noticed where I was looking and awkwardly twisted his mouth. “I didn’t get around to shaving. Sorry.”

“You have no idea how attractive you look,” I gushed.

For a moment, we silently faced each other. I got lost in his light brown eyes as an attraction built up between us, making it impossible for me to do anything.

But when his eyebrows twitched, I also noticed the sadness in his face. “What’s wrong?” I asked anxiously.

Was he here to tell me he was going to stay with his wife after all?

“Everything is fine,” he reassured me.

But my heart was racing faster, and I took a hesitant step back. “You’re looking at me like you’re here to break up.”

“No,” he contradicted and stepped closer.

“You have no idea how many accusations I’m making against myself.

I’m the one who’s ruined the family, but when I see you like this, here in front of me, and feel the emotions you stir in me, then …

I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been to deny myself.

I can’t go back. Back to all the lies and deceit.

Never. But I’ll need time to come to terms with it. So …”

“I’ll help you.” Suddenly, I knew what I needed to do. Moving closer, I caressed Hector’s cheek. “You’re not alone.” Tenderly, I kissed his lips. “Not anymore.”

He wrapped his arms around me, making all my fears disappear. I kissed him passionately, claiming his mouth with my tongue, and let him pin me against the door.

Feeling his desire for me brought a happiness I had never experienced before.

These must be the butterflies I’ve read about.

“My room is over there.”

Forehead to forehead, we stood there. I felt his breath on my lips, his body against mine, and the heat between us.

“Then let’s go there,” he replied with a mischievous grin.