Page 97 of Rivals
There’s a small line of people waiting to place their orders. The flavors are relatively simple. This is not like an ice cream shop at home. I decided to go with the lemon because I heard Italian lemons are the best in the world, and Lachlan gets chocolate.
After we pay, Lachlan leads the way home. “Is it good?” he asks as he watches me take a lick. I nod and hand it out to him. He tastes my gelato and makes a face.
“Chocolate and lemon aren’t a great flavor combination.” He coughs and eats more of his.
“I’m going to pass on yours, then,” I say, smiling into my gelato. I try to hold back my laughter from the look on Lachlan’s face and take another lick.
“Who said I was sharing it with you, little bird?” My smile drops into a scowl, and he chuckles. “I can think of other things to lick, though.” My eyes widen, and he chuckles, strolling down the street. “It’s too easy to fluster you, Revna,” he says, slowing his steps so I can catch up.
“Well, maybe you shouldn’t say dirty things in public.”
“Or maybe you should live a little.” He says, dropping a kiss on my cheek.
When we get home, I cut up the meat and cheese and lay some crackers on a plate. Lachlan sits on the couch, fiddling with the TV. I take a bite of the cheese and moan. Lachlan turns and glances at the cheese in my hand. “What’s that?”
“Cheese,” I say with my mouth full.
“Let me have some,” he says, holding out his hand. I give him a piece, and he tosses it in his mouth. “Whoa, that’s good.” I hum and take a bite of the meat, groaning again.
“Revna, you have got to stop doing that, or dinner is going to become a very different experience.” I shrug nonchalantly, pretending I don’t know what he’s talking about.
“Payback’s a bitch.”
“I guess it is, isn’t it?” He smirks. I make myself comfortable on the couch next to him, and we watch ItalianGolden Girlsbecause we can’t find the button for subtitles since the labels are rubbed off the remote.
“Did you have a good day?” he asks. The food is long gone, and I’m tucked into his side while his arm rests around my shoulders.
“Yeah, I did. It’s weird having your dreams realized, you know?” I leave out the thought about my mom. My chest still hurts from it, and I don’t want to think about her. I wish I could erase her from my mind, but I can’t, and I just have to live with that.
I think about popping a few OBA that I don’t have. I know it would quash the feeling. I might feel like I’m underwater or sitting in the middle of a rainbow in the sky, but at least I wouldn’t feel like I’m suffocating while my lungs are being slowly, painfully ripped from my body.
He looks at me with longing in his eyes as he plays with the ends of my long hair. “Yeah, it really is.”
Chapter 58
Lachlan
Today,wearescheduledto go to the Vatican City, where the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Square are. I don’t know much about these places besides what I learned from school. Of all the High Renaissance art created, I focused more heavily on sculpting.
Revna, on the other hand, is practically bouncing up and down in her black Chuck Taylors as she waits for me to finish getting dressed. I swear she didn’t sleep at all last night. “Did you make coffee, muse?” I ask her, hunting for a shirt in our shared dresser, which is already a mess. We should have thought that one through a little bit more.
“Yes, it’s sitting on the counter for you and probably getting cold.”
“Thanks, babe.”
“Can you hurry up? I don’t want to be late.” I glance over my shoulder, and she’s standing by the door.
I look at my phone and we have another fifteen minutes before the bus is supposed to arrive. I finally find a shirt, but I toss it on the bed just to mess with her. I don’t have socks, so I grab a pair of them and put them on our unmade bed.
“What are you doing?”
I sigh, strolling over to my espresso, and lean up against the counter, leisurely taking a lukewarm sip. I hear her groan and watch her out of the corner of my eye, fidgeting in place. I look out the window across the street. It’s just another building wall, but I’m looking at it like the most incredible view ever. “Lachlan,” she stomps her foot.
“Hmm?” I say and face her. Her arms are crossed, and her expression darkens. I chuckle and down the rest of my espresso, sauntering back to the bed to put the rest of my clothes on. She chucks my boots at me, and I narrowly dodge them. “Hey!”
“Hurry up!” she yells. I pick the boots up and sit on the couch, taking my time sliding my foot in and tying it. Once I’m done, I saunter over to the door, knowing we’ll still be early. I grip her elbow and lean down to kiss her cheek.
“We better hurry and get there early,” I say, messing with her a little more. She rolls her eyes, and we head downstairs.
