Page 28 of The Road to You
But Lena is different. I shouldn’t indulge in the comfort of a relationship that leads to nowhere. After this summer, we’llgo our separate ways. But it feels like she’s slipping under my skin in a way no one else has. This is not a summer fling, a relationship, but it feels like more than a friendship. Hence, my desire to know even the smallest detail about her. I have a feeling I’ll regret my life choices when summer ends and reality slaps its ugly hand across my face.
We round the block following the guy who is talking about the recent soccer games and the championship that ended months ago. I tuned him out when he started dissecting the last game when my former team performed a miracle and won the championship. Without me. Lena seems to sense my discomfort, even though the guard is talking to me in Italian and she can’t possibly understand, and she reaches for my hand, squeezing it slightly and giving me a small smile. This is why I can’t ignore the pull between us, even though the most reasonable thing would be to not to get involved. She’s someone you can’t ignore.
We slip in through a service door, and the guy leaves us at the entryway to one of the exhibition’s rooms. I sigh in relief when he goes away.
“Are you okay? You seemed a bit upset by the guard,” she whispers to me softly, avoiding the people surrounding us, eavesdropping on our conversation.
I turn toward those beautiful blue irises that make me feel naked. I smile and nod. “He was talking about my former team as if I were still part of it, and that was a tough rant to listen through,” I confess. I don’t want to keep her out of my life anymore. The sense of relief to talk about these things with someone that doesn’t pity me is both liberating and terrifying. What will I do when she’s no longer here after this summer?
She frowns. “Don’t people know that you’re not part of the team anymore? I thought it was public knowledge.”
I shake my head. “Yes and no. There are speculations, but nothing official. My team is taking their time, so I’m still onthe roster. If I find another team, they can say that I wanted to change and not that they let me go because of the injury, which would mean facing public backlash about my forced departure.”
She scoffs. “Do they have the same publicist as Preston? They sound a lot like a toxic ex.” She raises an eyebrow to underline her statement.
I can’t stop a laugh from bubbling up my throat. This is what I like most about her. She always seems to know how to make me feel better with a joke, without it sounding forced. She is genuinely a good person.
“I have to check, but at this point I think it’s possible.” I smile, putting a hand on the small of her back and guiding her toward the exhibit.
We wander through the gallery, admiring the artwork, the weight on my chest lightening every step we take and every smile she gifts me. But when we step into the sculpture hall, I’m surprised to see Lena light up like a kid on Christmas morning.
“I’ve always dreamed of seeing this in person,” she breathes, practically vibrating with excitement.
She is so thrilled that I can’t stop a smile from forming on my face. I probably look like a lovesick puppy looking at her like that, but who cares? She is irresistible like this.
I laugh. “What?”
She grabs my hand—actually grabs my hand and makes me shiver in pleasure—and drags me through the crowd, stopping in front of Michelangelo’s David.
“Isn’t it perfect?” she whispers, completely awestruck. The grip on my hand tightens, and I’m entirely aware of our closeness. Not that I’m complaining about it.
I force myself to drag my eyes away from her perfect face and toward the piece of art. I tilt my head, taking in the massive statue. It is impressive, more so than I expected. Thedetail is ridiculous, the veins on his hands so realistic it’s almost unsettling.
“I have to admit, it’s incredible,” I say, though my gaze keeps flicking back to her instead of the marble masterpiece. It doesn’t even compete with her beauty.
“And those abs?” she murmurs, her eyes shimmering with appreciation.
She is really into this dude, and I can’t stop teasing her. I snort. “I have abs like that too. They’re not marble, but they’re solid enough.”
She glances at me, her lips twitching. “I’ll give you that. Your physique is…quite the sight.”
A slow, satisfied grin spreads across my face. I’ve never cared much about my looks. My body is a tool, something I maintain for work. But hearing her say it like that? Yeah, I’ll take it. I know she’s checked me out plenty of times, but my ego is pleased that she is admitting it.
I smirk, letting my ego swell just a little more. “If the timing weren’t against me, I’d say I was the model for this statue.”
For a second, she just stares at me. Then, out of nowhere, she bursts into laughter, full, unrestrained giggles that shake her entire frame. Someone turns toward her to see what the fuss is about, and they smile, seeing her enjoying herself. I, on the other hand, am puzzled.
I blink, caught off guard. “What?”
She tries to compose herself, taking deep breaths, but the giggles keep escaping. She laughs out loud to the point of bending over and putting her hands on her knees.
Finally, she places a hand on my shoulder and, between laughs, says, “I just hope, for the sake of all the women you’ve been with, and ever will be, that you’re packing a little more…substance.”
She gestures toward my crotch, then flicks her gaze back to David’s.
It takes me a second. And then I follow her line of sight.
Ah.
