Page 53 of Broken Pieces
My sunshine.
She brings light to my cloudy; dark days. Just like when the sun comes out after a particularly rainy day.
She’s snoring really softly, and a smile escapes me at the cute sound that’s coming out of her. She moves a little, but makes no effort to open her eyes. Deciding she’s probably not going to get up unless I shake her, I opt to swiftly grab her and get her out of the plane myself. Her head is pressed against my chest, and my heart wants to come out at the proximity of us. I walk out of the jet, then gently place her in the car, making sure she’s comfortable, then I get in so they can drive us to the condo.
The rest of the car ride is silent, except for her soft snores and mumbles here and there.
She talks in her sleep, and I’m definitely going to taunt her for it once she wakes up.
As we’re arriving, she opens her eyes softly and yawns. She straightens, looking around confused.
“Wow, you’re awake. Thought you were incapable,” I taunt.
“How did I get here?” she says through a tired yawn.
“Well, I spent ten minutes trying to wake you up, but you sleep like a rock. So I just lifted you in my arms and took you to the car.”
She hides her face with her palms with a groan. “Oh my God, that’s so embarrassing. I’m sorry. I was exhausted.”
“I can tell,” I say with a laugh.
We get out of the car and I grab our bags as she looks up, staring at the building. “Damn, this is a tall building,” she points out.
“You live in Chicago, and you’re surprised to see a tall building?” I ask dryly.
“Whatever.” She rolls her eyes.
We walk up the entrance, where the bellman grabs our bags and goes into the elevator with us as he places in the key and marks the ninety-eighth floor.
“We’re staying on the ninety-eighth floor!?” she whispers-shouts.
“Again, Darling, are you even from Chicago?”
“Well, I’m actually not from Chicago. Been living there only four years, right after college.”
Well, that’s interesting. Also makes me realize I don’t know much about her. Not as much as I would like,anyway. I want to know her likes, and dislikes, what makes her laugh, and what makes her sad. I just want to get to know…her.All of her. Her faults and all. I’ll make it my life’s mission until I know every piece of her, not just the surface-level stuff.
As the elevator doors open to the living room of my condo, the bellman places our bags at the entrance and promptly leaves.
This condo was one of my biggest purchases when I started making money. At the time, I was spending more time in New York than anywhere else, so it just made sense. It’s a two-bedroom condo with floor-to-ceiling windows that looks over Central Park and the rest of the busy city lights. It’s mostly decorated in muted colors—black and gray, with a hint of white. I have a few of the early pieces I started collecting around the apartment that gives the place a more scaled and elegant look.
I grab her bags and tilt my head in the direction of the rooms. “Let me take you to your room.”
The guest bedroom is right across from mine, but the room still has privacy with its own walk-in closet and bathroom. She walks into the room, taking her shoes off and sitting on the bed as she undoes her messy bun, letting her curls fall in beautiful waves.
“Oh my God. I could stay here forever,” she says with a satisfying groan as she lays on the bed and spreads her arms, enjoying the comfort.
“It better be comfortable. That mattress costs twenty-five thousand dollars.”
She sits up quickly, gasping. “Damian, that’s outrageous! Are you insane?”
“Not insane. Just had a really expensive interior designer.” I shrug.
She shakes her head with a laugh, getting up and walking around the room, admiring every detail. “Okay, wow. This closet is insane.” She laughs in awe, going into the walk-in closet and admiring it.
I follow after her as I laugh with her and nod in agreement. “Yeah, I’m not even sure why I got this place. I don’t really have people often. Just my mother, and that’s rare. She doesn’t like traveling.”
“She lives in Italy, right? That’s who you were having dinner with that day at the restaurant?”
