I force a smile. “Is he here?” I whisper.
“Uh-huh,” Anna smiles as she pulls me inside. “Safe and sound waiting for you upstairs. He’s been here for over an hour.”
My God….
“Where’s Grandma?” I ask.
“Watching a movie downstairs.”
“Do you think she suspects anything?” I whisper as I take off my coat and hang it up.
“Nope, I left a key out for him and then she and I took the dog for a walk and he snuck in while we were gone. I’ve disarmed the cameras, so we are all good,” Anna whispers in a rush.
Butterflies dance in my stomach. “Thank you.” I hug her, sneaking my boyfriend into her house so that I can spend some time with him really is next-level friendship. “What would I do without you?”
“Shrivel up and die I expect.”
“No doubt.” I smirk as we walk through the house and down to the basement where Grandma has her little apartment for when she stays. “Hi, Grandma,” I say.
Violet smiles over at me. “Hello, Francesca, how are you, dear?”
“Good, thanks.” I kiss her cheek and glance up at the television. “What are you watching?”
“Atonement. Have you seen it?”
“No.”
“It’s great, you should watch it.”
“Maybe we will later tonight.” I look up to Anna for some guidance. “Should we get started on our assignment?”
“Yes, okay, we have so much work to do, going to be at it all night.”
“You girls run along, dinner is in an hour,” Grandma replies.
“I’ve already eaten,” I reply, half panicked, I can’t leave Giuliano upstairs alone while I eat dinner.
“That’s okay, you keep working on our homework. I’ll eat with Grandma down here,” Anna replies.
My scared eyes hold hers. “Okay.”
Oh jeez, this plan could go to hell on a broomstick. If we get caught, I know that death is near.
I’m not even joking, Enrico my brother will go batshit crazy.
Anna leaves the room and I follow her up the stairs, we walk through to the grand foyer and Anna takes my hand in hers. “What the hell do I do now?” I whisper in a panic, this plan seemed genius when we planned it, now it’s plain stupid.
“Just talk to him, you two are crazy about each other.”
“Yes.” I nod. “You’re right. This is fine, totally fine.”
“And you’re not going to get caught,” she reminds me. “I’ll text his number if there’s any sign of trouble.”
“Okay.” I nod nervously. “Make sure you do.” I think for a moment. “What are you going to do all night?”
“I’ll be doing homework with my headphones in.”
“What are you talking about?” I whisper. “You need to listen for trouble, you can’t wear headphones. What are you going to hear over headphones?”
“Oh shit, that’s right. Okay, I’m on it.”
I begin to sweat, please don’t let this go wrong, I really need this night.
We take the stairs up to the top floor, there’s a large living room and two double bedrooms, each with their ensuite bathroom. One bedroom is Anna’s and the other is mine. Not one to brag, but my room has a really cute boy waiting in it for me right now, my heart just might not be able to take it.
Anna pulls me into a hug. “I can’t believe he went to all this trouble…just to see me,” I whisper.
She smiles broadly. “I can.”
I grab the door handle and turn back to look back at my dear friend and give her a grateful smile.
“Good luck,” she whispers. “He’s in the bathroom, knock gently three times and he’ll know that it’s you.”
“Okay.” I screw up my face, walk in and close the door behind me and I flick the lock as I glance around the quiet bedroom. I’ve stayed in here so many times before and never seemed to notice anything about it. I look around to try to see with new eyes, imagining what Giuliano would be seeing for the first time.
There’s a queen bed with a plush navy velvet quilt, a television mounted on the wall and two armchairs with ottomans by the window. Thankfully, the drapes are closed, effectively blocking us out from the world…and my guards.
On the side table that sits under the television, there’s a basket of snacks and a few bottles of soft drink and water. God, I love Anna, she’s thought of everything.
I look over to the closed bathroom door.
He’s just in there.
Okay, let’s do this, I knock softly three times. “Giulio,” I whisper.
No answer.
I knock three times again. “It’s me.”
The door opens and big brown beautiful eyes come into view and my heart somersaults in my chest, my smile nearly beams from my face. “Hi.”
“Hello.”
He pulls me in for a hug and we stay in each other’s arms for an extended time. Connected by closeness.
He’s big and warm and he makes me feel so safe.
He’s just so….
He takes my hand in his and leads me over to the armchairs, he tentatively sits down on one. I frown, it seems like an awkward place to sit, I nervously sit down in the chair beside him.
“Hi.” He smiles as he picks up my hand and kisses my fingertips.
I watch him in a detached state and his face falls. “I’m sorry.” He instantly releasees my hand.
“For what?” I ask.
He puffs air into his cheeks. “I don’t know what happens to my brain when you’re around.”
“Why?”
“I can’t not touch you.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s like….” He pauses as if searching for the right words. “I’m so drawn to you, I don’t mean to be so forward every time I see you, but I honestly can’t help it.” He shrugs. “It feels unnatural not to touch you.”
I get up and sit on his lap, I brush his black hair back from his face and smile down at his beautiful face. “I don’t want you to help it,” I whisper.
“What must you think of me?”
“How so?”
“Last time we saw each other and I dragged you into the bathroom….” His voice trails off as if disgusted with himself. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for that to happen.”
I frown. “You wish that didn’t happen?”
“I didn’t say that?”
“Giuliano, what are you saying? Stop talking in riddles, I don’t understand.”
“I’m saying that I know that you’re not that kind of girl and I’m sorry that I treated you as if you are. I lost my head for a moment.”
I stare at him, confused.
“Like tonight, for instance.” He pulls his fingertips through my long dark hair as he articulates his words. “I haven’t snuck into your bedroom for the normal reason a guy would sneak into a girl’s bedroom, I’m here because….” He pauses. “It’s the only place I can see you alone, and I know how this looks and I don’t want you to think that I’m here to take advantage of you.”