Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 122206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
“That was sweet, kid.”
I smiled. “Ready to eat?”
“Am I ready?” He licked his lips. “Ye bet your fine arse I am.”
Without another word spoken, we picked up our cutlery and dug into our meals. I watched Dante as he took his first bite. He scooped up a large portion of the lasagne onto his fork, making sure to get every layer coated in the thick white sauce before he put it inside his mouth. His eyes fluttered shut, and a deep groan rumbled up his throat, making my thighs clamp together. I took a small bite of my food and focused on the taste, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Dante, who looked like he was experiencing heaven as he ate the food I cooked.
Realising I fancied him was probably the worst thing I could have done because the man was just enjoying his dinner, and here I was, imagining very dirty things as he groaned and swallowed. I looked down at my plate and focused. I was being a pervert. I knew I was, but God, it was hard to look away from the man … especially when he was making sounds of pleasure like that.
“I, um, take it ye like it, then?”
“I have never”—he swallowed another bite—“eaten somethin’ that tastes this good.”
The compliment gave me goosebumps on top of goosebumps, and it filled me with pride. “I’m glad ye think so.”
“Are ye a good cook in general?”
We fell into a comfortable conversation as we ate.
“Not to toot me own horn, but I am. I kind of had to be good at it since I was the only person who cooked at home.”
I was also the only person who cleaned, washed clothes, and ran Daddy’s business, but Dante didn’t need to know all of that soul-crushing mess.
“Your ma wasn’t there?”
“She left not long after I was born, then passed away a few years later from suicide,” I explained. “She has never been in me life.”
“Christ, Ina.” Dante’s jaw dropped. “I’m so sorry, love.”
“It’s okay. I don’t remember her.”
“Still, I’m sorry.”
“Thanks, what about your ma? I haven’t met her yet. I bet she’s a hell of a woman to deal with you and your brothers.”
“Me ma passed a long time ago, specs. Complications durin’ the birth of me little brother Gavin.”
My heart hurt for him. “I’m so sorry, Dante.”
“Thanks.” He smiled. “D’ye have any siblings?”
“Nope, just me.”
“Are ye close to your other family?”
“No,” I answered honestly. “Me granda, who was me best friend, died when I was ten. He was everythin’ to me, and that was the only good relationship I had with a parental figure. I’m estranged from Daddy. I wasn’t happy at home with him, so I decided that bein’ on me own was what was best for me. At this point in me life, I need to put meself first, so I moved here.”
“I’m sorry about your granda and your da, but I’m happy ye’ve made this decision to branch out on your own. I’d probably be stuck with another neighbour if ye didn’t ... one who probably wouldn’t make as much noise as you do.”
I laughed. “The night we met wasn’t me finest hour.”
“Seemed pretty fine to me.”
I giggled and we ate the rest of our meal, chatting about a variety of things before it circled back around to work.
“I get health insurance with this job since I earn over the wage cap for a medical card. I know it’s not all that common for workplaces to do that, so I’m extra thankful for your daddy.” I beamed. “I looked it up online today at work, and your daddy is honestly the greatest. I had to call the company to activate it by givin’ them all of me information and talkin’ it through with a person over the phone, but it’s all set up. I’ll get a card in a few days with me name and policy number on it just in case I ever need it. One of the high points of the plan for me is that it covers a lot for people who are hearin’ and visually impaired. Aids are expensive when ye want a good quality set, glasses too.”
“How expensive?”
“Me glasses aren’t too bad, a couple of hundred if I stay away from the designer frames. For aids, the ones I’m lookin’ at are nearly four and a half grand.”
Dante’s jaw dropped. “For one pair?”
“Yup. They’re not even the dearest ones there are, but I really like the ratings on this particular set.”
“What about the cochlear implant I’ve heard about? Would that help you?”
I shook my head. “I’m not a candidate right now because me hearin’ aids help me hear really well, but me hearin’ loss has progressively gotten worse over the years. Right now, it is considered severe, so it’s likely that in time, me hearin’ aids won’t help me anymore. That is when I would consider gettin’ a cochlear implant. That kind of implant is what people try when nothin’ else works for their hearin’.” I took a fork full of food, chewed it, and swallowed. “Are ye sure ye want to talk about me hearin’? I know it’s not the most lively conversation. I won’t be offended in the slightest. Please, don’t feel like ye have to ask any questions.”