The room is tense for a moment before Elio releases a booming laugh. I cringe away from that too – because it’s clearly fake. Too loud, too brash – just meant to break the tension in the room. We all turn towards him, Christian’s threat still alive in the tense lines of his body. “Oh, you two ne
I stand up straight, a little spooked at what’s going to come next. “Do you think you could brew a pot?” Slowly, a little smile comes to my mouth. And I nod to him, pleased to be included, pleased to have something to do, pleased to help. Pleased that he knows that I need something to do with my
The day passes quickly, mostly because I get caught up in the chaos of Giana’s life – helping her and the children pack for their mini vacation, sorting through the wreckage of the children’s room for lost bathing suits and sunglasses, ordering the fast delivery of sunscreen and other final touches.
Frankie just nods, perhaps intuiting that I’m in a mood. When I’m finished, I turn sharply towards the stairs and start towards them. “You gonna eat that in bed, Iris?” he calls. “No,” I call back over my shoulder, moving swiftly before I lose my nerve. “I’m not hungry.” If Frankie has anythin
“Iris.” There’s a hand on my shoulder, giving me a soft shake. Drowsy, my eyes slowly open and I frown, confused, looking around. But when I see who it is, I sigh, and press my eyes shut again, and turn over in the bed. “Go away, Christian.” “Iris,” he says again, sterner this time, a sigh o
I stay still, still looking hard at him, waiting for this to get better. “Lucy is well aware,” Christian continues, “that when she lost Tony, she lost her tie to this family. If she wants to stay under our protection she…needs a new one. Her offer to me – to become…a woman whose company I…enjoy…”
The next morning I wake up in Christian’s arms, my head nestled warm against his chest. But even if I am incredibly cozy here with my husband, my stomach growls deeply, letting me know that it has plans beyond me continuing to lay here. I sigh, closing my eyes, trying very hard to ignore it. But
“I did,” he says, leaning against the counter, still watching me. “What, do you have a problem with it?” “I just prefer a darker roast is all,” I murmur, stepping a little closer and standing up on my toes as I pull open the cabinet where I located the coffee yesterday, wondering if I can just…acc