Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Once I reached her floor, I noticed only two doors. Fancy as fuck. I knocked on hers, wiping my hands on my jeans. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been this nervous. Maybe when I’d called her mother earlier today. We’d been on the phone for over an hour, talking about the future, my plans with her daughter if she'd have me, and her vision for the future now that Giuseppe was gone. It had been an emotional and enlightening conversation. When Lenora finally opened the door, my heart felt like it might pop out of my chest. She was so fucking beautiful. She was wearing a short summer dress and no shoes. Her hair was in waves and her makeup was minimal, her brown eyes twinkling as she opened the door wider and let me walk inside.
“You got a haircut.” She took in my hair and face along with the rest of me.
“It was time.” I handed her the box I’d been carrying under my left arm. “This is for you.”
“You didn’t have to get me anything.” she said, taking the box and looking at it, then at me. “Did you wrap this yourself?”
“I did.” I kept my eyes on her face, even though I was dying to look around to calm my fucking nerves. “It’s no big deal.”
She glanced up at me, eyes watery. “It is to me.”
I swallowed, not trusting myself to speak. Thankfully, she moved away and walked further into the apartment. She set her box on the kitchen counter and crossed her hands over her stomach, as she waited for me to say something. I took in the place. It was perfect. Perfect in general, and definitely perfect for her. The kitchen was nice, modern, and much bigger than mine. It was an open concept, so from the kitchen, you could see everything. She had a small bar, where she’d already set up two pitchers of premixed drinks next to martini glasses. The rest was simple, with nice couches, and a television that I was sure one of her brothers picked out for her. Probably Gabe since it looked just like his. I didn’t dare walk into any of the rooms. When I’d taken it all in, I turned back to her.
“This is really nice.”
“Thanks.” She smiled, looking around. “I love it. Do you want me to show you around?”
“If that’s what you want.”
“Come.” She turned and walked to the door on the right, showing me a guest bedroom. It was already fully furnished. The bathroom and closet were both a nice size. Then she turned and opened up a door with a set of stairs. I followed her up. I tried not to peek under her dress, but even I didn’t have that kind of willpower. I couldn’t see much, just the tips of her ass cheeks, which was enough to create a problem in my pants, so I looked away quickly. We reached a door. She opened it and stepped outside. My jaw dropped when I followed.
“This is huge.”
“It’s my favorite part.” She sighed happily as she looked at the city.
It was a huge space, similar to the one Gio had back in Chicago. The feeling it gave was what everyone felt when they stepped off the airplane and into this city. Like you could conquer anything. She had two outdoor couches, a table, and some trees.
“It’s perfect.” I smiled over at her. “I’m really happy for you.”
She turned around and escorted me back downstairs into her bedroom. It smelled like her. I took a moment to inhale the scent as I walked in behind her. She had a big bed with a white comforter and white pillows, and a television mounted on the wall in front of it. The walls, like the ones in the rest of the apartment, were eggshell. It was the same one I’d used at my own place. The wall that faced the city was all window. She had light beige drapes covering it. She showed me the large walk-in closet. All of her things took up one side of it. The left side remained empty, and for a fraction of a second, I let myself pretend my shit was in there. The bathroom was also nice.
“It’s amazing,” I said once she was finished, and we were standing in her room just steps from her unmade bed. My fingers itched to make it for her.
“Thanks.” She smiled. “Can we talk now?”
“Here?” I looked between her and the bed.
“I’m comfortable here.” She laughed lightly. “What, you can’t be in a bedroom with me and just talk?”
I blinked hard. Could I be? Yes. Did I want that? No. “Let’s get to it, then.”
She sat near the pillows. I sat at the foot.
“Do you want a drink?”
“Not right now.”
She gave a nod and leaned against the upholstered frame. “Are you here to explain why you left me and didn’t want to reach out to me?”