Page 24 of Reserved
Chapter 14
Adrian
It’sbeentwodays.Two fucking days.I’ve been trying to get this infuriating woman out of my head, but the feel of her lips on my finger still makes my skin tingle. It might be why I asked Nevaeh’s sister, Nova, for my mysterious woman’s number right before she left the bowling alley with her family.
Now, I’m sitting in the hotel room we’re staying at with Val and Gabriel at the table, playing a card game. Leonard and his wife, Chiara, are also here with their three-month-old sleeping in the grumpy man’s arms. She’s surprisingly silent, smiling like she couldn’t be happier to be with her father. Chiara is currently frowning at the floor, looking more tired than I’ve ever seen her before.
“You alright, Chiara?” I ask, bringing a soft smile to my lips.
Her attention drifts to my face as she slowly nods her head. It’s not surprising that she’s quiet, Chiara likes to keep more to herself, but she looks tired. I know that having a newborn is one of the toughest jobs in the world, but I still want to check in with her to see how she’s doing. I love her. Just like I love Leonard, Gabriel, James, Cameron, and James’ son Damian. In a quiet sort of way, playing it off more often than not, but always being there for them when they need me. It’s very different from how loudly I love my sister.
She’s my favorite person in the world, and I’ll never pretend otherwise.
“Yeah, Leonora was keeping me up all night, and this one slept through her screaming, which means I stayed awake,” she replies as she points at Leonard, her Italian accent strong.
She shoots her husband a vicious scowl, but I grin at the violence in her eyes, a promise to get payback later. Boy, am I glad I’m not Leonard right now. Chiara is a trained fighter, so getting on her bad side is one of the biggest no-nos for me.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, I really am. Next time, kick me awake,” he says with his thick English accent, earning himself the smallest of smiles from his wife, which is the equivalent of the brightest of smiles for Chiara. They’re both grumpy as hell, and it’s cute when they let a little bit of sunshine onto their faces.
“See, this is why you should have married me. I wouldneverdo what Leonard did. I’d be awake for you at all times,” I say with a wink directed at Chiara. Leonard steps in front of me, his daughter safe in his arms as he glares at me.
“Chiara just had our baby. What more do you need to stop flirting with my wife?” he asks, looking unhappy when we both know I’m only teasing.
I’ve been flirting with Chiara from the moment I met her when the two of them were still denying their feelings for each other, and I doubt I’m going to stop anytime soon, not unless she tells me to. Or unless I get a girlfriend, and that’s not happening.
“She’ll wake up one day and realize she can do better than you, also known as me,” I reply with a self-assured grin.
“Hey, Adrian?” Chiara asks, and I twist my head to look around Leonard and at her. “Val told me you had a crush on Robert Fuchs’ daughter. How’s that going?” I can almost feel the color drain from my face.
My eyes shift to where my sister is sitting, but she’s already chuckling at her cards with her pinky raised in my direction.
Well, fuck you, too.
“I don’t have a crush on anyone,” I say through gritted teeth, trying my best not to stare down at my phone again. “Except you,” I add.
Leonard places Leonora in Chiara’s arms so carefully, I can tell he’s scared of hurting his baby. Once his daughter is securely placed in her mother’s arms, Leonard stalks toward me with a murderous look in his eyes. I burst out laughing, covering my head with my arms to protect myself.
“Okay, I’m sorry,” I blurt out, still laughing. Leonard places a hand on my shoulder and squeezes until it’s painful.
“Chiara ismy wife. Mine. Either get it through your head, or I’ll punch it through your stubbornness. Got it?” Leonard asks, a hint of a smile on his face as he stares down at me.
“Empty threats. You love me too much to ever hurt me,” I say and grin at him. I should have seen the slap up the back of my head coming. “Grumpy old man,” I complain as I rub the back of my head, but when he gives me a brighter smile, I can’t help but return it.
“I think you should text her, Adrian. Maybe ask her on a date and give whatever you’re feeling a shot. It’s okay to feel fascinated beyond the physical level with a woman. You’re intrigued by her, and that’s a good thing. Give yourself a chance to like her,” Valentina chimes in, and Gabriel smiles affectionately at her.
“You all need to get off my case. I’m perfectly happy with my life the way it is, I don’t need to turn intothat,” I say and point at Gabriel. “Orthat,” I add, gesturing at Leonard.
“From what you told me you said to her yesterday, you’re already halfway there to becoming me,” Gabriel teases with a self-satisfied smirk.
“The possessiveness comes later,” Chiara says as Leonard strokes his hand over her short hair, playing with the strands as he stares down at her with so much love, I know he’d destroy the entire planet to protect his world: Chiara and Leonora.
This thought stays with me until everyone’s left and it’s just me in the hotel room. My phone is heavy in my hands, and before I know it, I’m typing out a message I never thought I’d sent and hitting Send before I can overthink what the fuck I’m doing.
Me: Hi, this is Adrian. I hope this isn’t weird, but Nova gave me your number in case I wanted it. Okay, that’s a lie, I practically begged her for it. You’re stuck in my head, and I wanted to tell you that one more time. I would love to take you out on a proper date someday, but I will also understand if you block me. I am very charming, after all, and some people can’t handle it.
For the first time in my life, I don’t feel confident talking to a woman at all. Usually, I know exactly what I’m doing. Women love me. I love women. What more do I need? Apparently, I need to go on fuckingdatesnow.
Yikes.
