Page 104 of Worship

“Maybe a shower sounds good after all.”

Luca smiles and opens the shower door.

“Lose the bra, Angel. I need to play.”

Round two, here we come.

He’s gone when I open my eyes. But my body can still feel him inside of me. He thoroughly worked over every piece of my sore-as-hell body. I feel like Jell-O.

My limbs stretch away from each other, and the crisp linens rub against my sensitive nipples—sensitive from being sucked, licked, and bitten last night. I may die if every night is like this. Kicking my feet over the side, I sit up to see a note on the nightstand.

I love you, Angel.

I’ll be back as soon as I clean up a mess.

I hold the note in front of me and narrow my eyes. I don’t like the feeling that’s churning in my gut. I know there’s more than what he’s telling me, but I promised to trust him. I won’t break it this time. The concern settles inside me, refusing to leave, especially when I think about last night’s late phone call.

“Hey, what’s up?” Luca nods his head, his body becoming visibly tense. “No. It’s the right call.” He begins pacing; whatever the other person is saying is making him unhappy. He’s in problem-solving mode. “Non posso parlare. Chiamerò per la mia strada, finisce stasera. Se lei è con lui, avremo bisogno di una soluzione più permanente di un biglietto aereo.” I can’t talk. I’ll call on my way. It ends tonight. If she’s with him, we’ll need a solution more permanent than a plane ticket.

He disconnects the call and looks over his shoulder to me.

“Hey, what’s up?” I ask. The expression on his face is worrisome when his eyes meet mine.

“This is when you choose to trust me.” His words are solemn and wary, but purposeful. He asked me this once before, and I didn’t listen.

I gnaw on my lip and then tell him what I should have said in the beginning. “Okay, I trust you.”

Breaking the memory, I walk into the closet, throwing on some loose jeans and a T-shirt before making my way to the kitchen for coffee. The smell of roasted coffee beans permeates my nose, and I know Rose is already awake. I wonder if she knows where Luca is? Ella sits in her high chair, noshing on some fruit as I enter the room. And I suddenly feel like the third wheel.

“Good morning, Ms. Andrews.” Rose smiles, greeting me.

I return her greeting.

“Good morning, but call me Gretchen. The coffee smells amazing. May I steal a cup?” I ask, pointing to the Keurig pods in front of me.

“Will do and of course!”

She opens the cabinet adjacent to me and tilts her head in the direction of the mugs.

I help myself.

After starting my coffee, I fidget with the hem of my shirt. The moment it’s brewed, I take a welcomed sip, and we stand in awkward silence.

Don’t be a coward, Gretchen. Luca said she was amazing.“Rose, do you feel as awkward as I do?”

She laughs. “No, Gretchen. I was quite enjoying the silence.”

Her honesty makes me laugh, and it’s then I decide that I like her very much.

“Fair enough.”

I chuckle and hold my coffee mug up to her with a tiny salute and take another sip.

Rose’s wise eyes scan my face, and she places an elbow on the counter, leaning onto it.

“You will never have anything but my support and loyalty, Gretchen. I saw you with Ella when you arrived. She clung to you. And I saw how much you wanted to keep holding her when you handed her over. That’s a natural maternal instinct. I also see the way you and Luca look at each other. I’m happy to be of help to such a beautiful family.”

Holy shit, Rose may be my favorite person, ever.