Our eyes widen in horror, Antonio.
2
Francesca
I jump off his lap and Giuliano pulls my dress down and smooths it.
“Yes,” I call.
“Is everything alright?” Antonio asks.
Giuliano puts his finger to his lips to signify silence.
I wave my hands around in a panic. “I’m not feeling well.”
“Can I….”
“I’ll be out in a moment.” I cut him off. “I would like some privacy, please. I’ll meet you out the front, we should go home.”
“Okay.”
I put my head into my hands in dismay, my body is still pumping with arousal.
“It’s okay, just go out there and act natural,” Giuliano whispers as he straightens my hair and kisses me softly. “Call me when you get home.”
I nod sadly as my eyes fill with tears.
His face falls. “What’s wrong?”
“I just wanted ten minutes alone with you,” I whisper.
“I know.” He kisses me softly. “Me too.” He turns me toward the door. “But now, you need to go.” He stands behind the door and I steel myself. I walk out and close the door behind me and I hear him flick the lock. I storm down the stairs and glance over at Anna who is now back sitting at our original table, she looks like she is about to pass out. I walk over and kiss her cheek. “I have to go.”
“Did you get caught?” she whispers.
“No.”
She puts her hand over her chest. “Thank God.”
“I wish I did,” I whisper angrily as I pack up my books. “I just wanted to be alone with him, is that too much to fucking ask. I’m running away.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I’m running away.”
“You can’t run away, what are you talking about?”
“Well, I can’t live like this. Prisoners get more freedom than I do.”
“I’m sorry,” she says sadly. “This is so crap.”
“Where’s Valentino?” I ask as I look around the library.
“He’s gone up the other set of stairs in case Giuliano needed him.” She smiles goofily and widens her eyes. “Ahh, forget to mention how hot his fucking friend is, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t even know he was coming,” I gasp. “What were you two talking about, anyway?”
“I don’t remember, he was talking and I was too busy staring at him to reply.”
I smirk. “Can you wait for Giuliano and see if he’s, okay?” I whisper, “He’s locked in the bathroom upstairs.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks.” I bend and hug her and then make my way to the front door, Antonio is waiting and I glare at him and storm past toward the car. “Is everything alright?” he asks as he follows me.
“I would just like two minutes’ peace, Antonio, without you following me everywhere. I was in the bathroom, for Christ’s sake,” I snap.
“Just doing my job, Miss Ferrara.”
I turn toward him, infuriated. “Do not enter this library again. Do you hear me? Unless you hear me scream, I don’t want to see you.”
He steps back, surprised by my venom. “It has never bothered you having security before.”
“Well, it bothers me now.” I open the car door and get into the back seat and slam the door hard.
The two guards get into the front seat and drive off into the night. Through tears I stare out the window as the scenery flies by.
I’m not joking…I am running away.
I want to be with him.
It’s late at night and I lie in bed with tears running into my ears.
I’m embarrassed.
Ashamed that my own family don’t trust me enough to date. I’m not asking for the world, I just want to be normal.
I’m seventeen.
I think of my beautiful Giuliano and how understanding he’s been and how he deserves so much better. I picture his face when I left him, flushed with arousal.
Hiding in a fucking library bathroom while we make out…it’s pathetic.
My body is still throbbing from his touch.
I need more. More of everything, but most of all, him.
A text comes in, the tenth one tonight.
Call me
And say what?
I’m sorry I left you in the bathroom? I’m sorry you’re dating a child.
Another text.
I’m getting worried, Chesk
Call me please.
I exhale heavily and dial his number.
“Hey,” he answers softly.
Hearing his voice instantly brings tears to my eyes and I angrily wipe them away. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“What’s wrong, are you crying?” he whispers.
“I hate this.” I sob.
“It’s okay, baby. Don’t cry.”
“How can I not, Giuliano, I’m so embarrassed.”
“About what?”
“You know what.”
“About what we did?”
“No, not that,” I scoff.
“What are you talking about?”
“What must you think of me being treated like a child?”
“Francesca.” He sighs. “It’s okay.”
“I’m running away.”
“No. You’re not.”
“Yes. I am.”
He stays silent for a moment. “I can’t run away yet, I need my university degree to support us.”
My mouth falls open in surprise. “You would come with me?” I whisper.
“Well, you aren’t going without me.”
I smile through tears.
“Anna and I have come up with a plan,” he says.
“A plan?” I frown.
“I’m going to sneak into Anna’s house on the weekend.”
“What?”
“You’re staying there, right?”
“Yes.”
“And her parents are away.”
“But her grandmother is staying, my guards sit outside all night, there’s no way in,” I stammer.
“If Anna keeps her grandmother busy and I get there before you do, I could hide in your bedroom.”
My eyes widen, a whole night with him would be a dream. “But…what if we get caught?”
“It will be worth it.”
I bite my bottom lip as I listen to his plan unfold.
“I’d do anything to be alone with you,” he whispers.
“Me too.”
We fall silent for a while.
“Giuliano,” I whisper.
“Yes.”
“Do you think it’s possible to fall in love with someone you hardly know?”
“I wouldn’t have thought so before…but now…maybe I do.”
I smile hopefully.
“Good night, my beautiful Cheska,” he whispers. “Dream of me.”
Always do.
My eyes well with happy tears. “Good night.”
Saturday night, I glance over my shoulder to my guards, I give them a wave and walk up the front steps of Anna’s house, she opens the door in a rush. “Hi.”