“Deal.”
He shakes my hand for a moment too long, but I revel in the warmth of his touch and the roughness of his hands. When he releases me, I get into the car without another thought of how well we’re getting along.
* * *
Mammaall but licks her plate clean. Leonard and I managed to make a delicious vegan meal in his kitchen without arguing once, a win in my book. I’ve also been mesmerized that I don’t miss meat, dairy products, or anything related to it since moving in with Leonard. He takes his diet very seriously, and I’m loving everything he’s prepared so far, not that I would ever admit that to him.
Benz lies down next to me halfway through dinner, and I smile at her with my mouth full. As soon as she notices my attention is on her, her tail starts wagging from side to side. When I look up again, I find Leonard’s eyes on me. Something lingers in his gaze, but I can’t quite identify what it is. My first guess would be fondness, but that’s impossible. He’s never looked at me with any emotion even similar to that one.
“There is something I have to discuss with you,tesoro,” Mamma says once we’re all done eating. Leonard hurries to his feet immediately, collecting the plates. I attempt to help him, but he shakes his head at me, telling me to stay put.
“What’s going on?” I ask, my heart now racing. Mamma smiles at me, easing some of the fear camping in my chest.
“I’m moving back to Italy to be with Nonna,” she says, and I swallow hard. “It’s time. I found a job there, and Nonna needs me to help her out, even if it’s only a little. You know how stubborn she can be,” Mamma explains, and I nod along to her words. I do know how stubborn Nonna is. She’s the one who made me that way as well.
“Okay, I understand. When do you plan on moving?” I try to hide how much this bothers me, how sad it makes me. Mamma is my favorite person in the entire world, and now, she’s leaving. I won’t be able to go see her and be with her whenever I need it. Graham just left, not even two weeks ago. Why does she have to go now?
“I’ve already started packing. My flight is in a week,” she replies, sending a wave of pain through me.A week…
“Do you need help packing?” I ask, trying to keep my voice from cracking. Mamma doesn’t seem to notice what her words are doing to my heart, but I don’t point it out either.
“No, no, I’m almost finished. Don’t worry,” she assures me, and I nod, my eyes fixated on the table. “We will still see each other. You can come visit, and I will be back,” Mamma goes on, but my brain isn’t processing anything anymore. It’s still trying to swallow the fact that the two people I’m closest with will no longer live near me.
“Are you happy?” I ask because that’s the most important thing about this whole situation.
“Yes. I miss my home. I can’t keep living with Tim either. It’s time. I think we both knew I’d move back sooner or later,” she says, and I give her one more nod.
“I’m happy if you’re happy,” I reply, and Mamma gets up to give me a hug. I don’t return it because if I do, I will break down in tears, and I can’t make Mamma feel guilty about this. “I love you,” I add, and she gives me a kiss on the top of my head.
“I love you more,” she says and strokes my short hair once. “I like what you’ve done with it. It suits you.” I force a small smile, swallowing down the tears.
It’s always been Mamma and me. For most of my life, we’ve been a single unit, taking on the world together. She’s been my other half in many ways for as long as I can remember, and the thought of her not being in the same country as me breaks my heart. I will miss her so much.
“I should go. It’s getting late,” she says as she lets go of me. I give her another small nod before bringing her to the door and waving her goodbye.
The second I close the door, I feel him behind me. His warmth collides with my body, and there is no use trying to hold back the tears. There is something about Leonard that tears down all of my restraints. He brings out every type of emotion inside of me. So, I lift my hands to my face to cover it and then let my feelings fall down my cheeks. A sob leaves me, which is when Leonard’s hands move to my shoulders to spin me around and into his arms.
“I’m not cryingagain,” I blurt out while he presses his cheek against the top of my head, cups the back of my head with his hand, and holds me close.
“Who said you were?” he asks, and I can’t help but let out a little laugh. Then, another wave of sadness overcomes me until I’m sobbing and crying even harder. “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” I hear him say while tightening his arms around me. “You really can’t catch a break, can you?” he asks, and I shake my head. “See, that’s what you get for being a major pain in the arse to me the last twenty years,” Leonard teases, and I smack his chest, feeling and hearing his chuckle. “I’m just kidding, Starling. No one deserves to have all of this happen to them, not even Satan’s daughter,” he goes on, and I step out of the hug to smack his firm left pec. He’s merely smirking at me like he’s never been prouder of a joke he’s made.
“You’re an asshole,” I blurt out, and he leans back a little, running a hand down the length of his face.
“That’s deeply upsetting. I mean, to have you call me that, it’s not only a surprise but also utterly hurtful,” he says, scowling at me before one corner of his mouth tips upward.
“Shut up,” I reply, and he squeezes me ever so slightly. “Apart from your stupid jokes, why are you being so nice to me?” I ask, and all amusement leaves his face as stares at me with nothing but comfort in his eyes. He cups my cheeks and wipes away my tears, easing the pain in my chest.
“Because it’s you and me now, little demon.”
CHAPTERNINETEEN
leonard
“Can you please get rid of this box of shit?” I say when Chiara’s car, Delilah, doesn’t start. Starling lets out a hurt gasp.
“You call her that again, and I will punch you,” she warns, but I’m massaging my temples with the tips of my fingers now.
“Starling, I know you love her, but this can’t keep going on. This is the third time this week that Delilah won’t turn on,” I remind her, and she gets out of the car, putting her hand on the hood and patting it while whispering something I can’t hear. “Come on, sweetheart. I will buy you a new car,” I blurt out without thinking the words. Am I crazy? I already spent thousands of pounds on her. I’m going to keep spending more, and that’s fine, but I cannot buy her a bloody car.
