Page 52 of Own Me

Cesare loves me.

But imperfect man that he was, he also ended up hurting me because he loved me.

I guess it really is today that everything becomes clear, God.

Cesare's powerful body jerks when I shakily reach up to clasp his face, and my own heart aches when I see him suck his breath at my touch.

Cesare loves me.

I know this is true now, but even though the thought of taking him back and leaving me open again to pain still terrifies me—-

When I think about the people I've loved and lost, and the ones I could've loved but are no longer here—-

It really is so clear now, God.

I think about the lives I've ended without meaning to—-

I'm so sorry, I'm so, so sorry.

And it drives a simple point home.

Life is short.

And that's when the tears start falling, and a smile wobbles to my lips as I look up.

"Ti amo, Cesare," I whisper.

He hauls me close in the next second—-

"Ti amo, Penelope."

The rawness of his voice tells me I'm not the only one who's crying...because that's just how love is.

Epilogue

THE NEWLYWEDS SAIDtheir goodbyes at the stroke of midnight, and their guests cheered wildly as Cesare swept a blushing Penelope up in his arms before swiftly striding out of the ballroom and carrying her straight into a waiting chopper whose enormous blades were whipping up gusts of wind that had the long train of her gown dancing in the air.

Her cheeks were flushed with excitement as he settled her down on her seat, and Cesare carefully placed a pair of headsets over her ears before taking his place next to her and putting on a pair of his own.

"Try talking," he urged her.

Penelope was visibly startled upon seeing him lips move as he yelled the words out...only to have her headset course the sound to her ear like he hadn't raised his voice at all.

"You yelled, didn't you?"

"I did."

The chopper finally took off, and he saw her entire face glow and her eyes sparkle with excitement when she realized they were airborne.

Ah, fuck.

Even though Cesare was by now well aware of how over-the-fucking-top his need to cherish his wife could get, every time he saw his Penelope looking excited like a kid like this, he justwanted to spoil her rotten and give her the moon and the fucking stars.

Penelope tugged his hand, asking,"Where are we going?"

"I have a place up in the mountains. We'll be there in half an hour. It's very secluded, and our closest neighbor is miles away."

"That sounds lovely."

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