I pout. “How’d you know?”
Tony rubs a thumb across my bottom lip. “You only pout over the ones you love.”
“I just don’t like feeling like we’re a secret. She’s my best friend, and I feel sick keeping this from her. Especially since you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
“If you keep saying things like that, I’m going to break theno-fly zonerule you’ve implemented for this week.” He presses a bruising kiss to my lips. When we finally come up for air, he says, “There’s no use in worrying yourself sick. At this rate, we should probably tell her after—uh, I mean—”
My eyes widen. “After what? Is the engagement happening any day now? Oh God, it is, isn’t it? We need to get our nails done so hers are ready for the moment it happens. I also need to gently recommend the right outfit for the occasion. What kind of timeline am I working with here?”
He rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “I’m not gonna be able to keep this from you any longer, am I?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Nope. So spill.”
“It’s happening in about two weeks. Maybe less.”
I shriek.
“Simmer down.” He chuckles. “He’s doing it at our mom’s one-year celebration of life party. So we might as well wait until that passes before saying anything. Wouldn’t want to be the center of family gossip and take away from her moment.”
I lean in and kiss him on the cheek. “You’re such a loving and thoughtful brother. Amelia is so lucky to have you.”
He wraps an arm around me. “And now you have me too. So let’s just lie low for the next couple of weeks. We’ll find a way to tell Amelia after she’s engaged. I’m sure she won’t even care once she sees the ring Evan plans on getting her.”
I open my mouth to demand more information. Obviously, I need pictures. But he silences me by placing his forefinger on my lips. “That’s enough chatter for tonight. Let’s wrap up out here so I can hold you in bed. I still don’t forgive you for making me sleep alone last night.” He kisses my exposed collarbone.
“Did you miss being the big spoon, love?” I tease.
He nips my neck with his teeth, causing me to giggle. “Yes, I did. I vote for never spending another night apart. It’s overrated, in my opinion.”
“Is this your subtle way of asking me to move in with you?” I ask jokingly.
Tony leans back, assessing me with gentle eyes before he speaks. “My home is wherever you are. The apartments we lease? Those are just the places where we keep our stuff. But wherever you go, I go. Simple as that.”
And in that moment, I know that I may be able to move anywhere in the world, but with Tony, I have found my forever home.
40
Antonio
As soon asNikki heads off to work, I shoot Evan a text to meet me for lunch.
He’s taken time off to take care of my sister during her time of healing, so I know he should be available.
We meet up at our favorite Chinese restaurant on the Upper West Side. We’ve never been the kind of friends who dabble in small talk, so Evan jumps right into it.
“Anything you want to tell me about your time away with Nikki?” He gives me a knowing smirk.
I knew he would be quick to catch on to us, but I promised Nikki we would wait until after their engagement to talk about it, so I need to keep it vague. “I’m not here to talk about Nikki. I’m here to talk about some stuff that has been going on in my work life.”
Evan immediately straightens and gives me his full attention. All playfulness vanishes from his features, overtaken by the billionaire businessman.
I give him the rundown of everything that has been going on in my work life since Amelia’s kidnapping. I’ve purposely kept Evan in the dark, since he’s had enough going on with being Amelia’s full-time caretaker and, unbeknownst to her, soon-to-be fiancé.
Evan listens diligently as I recount my meeting with my superiors and my therapy session, along with all the revelations that came out of it. I even mention my dreams of owning a brewery and creating my own IPAs.
I’ve had a day to let it all sink in, and the more I think about it, the more my decision solidifies.
“So you’re quitting the force,” Evan states, rather than asks.
