Page 110 of Tristano

“Coffee?”

“Yes, please,” she says as she steps forward, shoulders relaxing.

“How did you sleep?” I ask as I make her coffee.

“Could have been better. You?”

“Same.”

I finish her coffee and slide it toward her.

“Thank you,” she says as her hands wrap around the cup. “Tris…we’re okay, right?”

I lean back against the counter and really look at her. Her hair is in a haphazard bun on top of her head with hair falling around her face. Serena’s eyes are sadder than I’ve ever seen them before. She’s wearing a tiny pair of silky shorts and a tank top, nipples on full display.

She looks like a beautiful disaster, and I can’t help but want her.

“Yes,anima gemella.Everything between us is fine. I was hurt last night, and that won’t disappear right away, but we will work through it. That’s what couples do.”

Serena shakes her head. “I’ve never actually dated anyone. I’m not sure I’m good at it.”

“You haven’t had any examples to follow. I get that. You were constantly put down and gaslit before now. I’m not them though. I know you know that, but I think you need to work through the framework of your brain which tells you that you can’t trust me. Until you do that, we are going to be rocky.”

She nods solemnly. “I called my old therapist this morning. We had a good conversation. We are going to start sessions backup once a week. My first session is Friday.”

Walking around the counter, I pull her into my arms. She wraps her arms around my waist and buries her head into my chest. Leaning down, I kiss the top of her head.

“That’s good, baby. Real good. I meant what I said last night. You’ll never fuck this up enough for me to walk away.”

“You mean everything to me.”

“Same,anima gemella. We’ll figure this out.”

My phone starts ringing, sounding like a siren going off.

“Fuck,” I say as I pull away, fumbling for it on the counter.

“Could you have picked a more annoying ringer?”

Ignoring her teasing, I unlock the screen. The message fills me with dread.

Bash: 911. Family meeting now at the house.

“Hey, are you okay?” Serena asks as she lays a hand on my arm.

“I gotta go. Something’s happened, and a family meeting has been called.” I hesitate. “You can come. You’re part of the family.”

She shakes her head. “I’m still new, and I’ll be honest with you. I scared myself a little last night. I think that’s what really pushed me to call the therapist. I’ve never hurt another person on purpose before.”

She flexes her hand as she looks down at her fist. Watching her take charge last night turned me on, but seeing the conflict on her face now, I wish she hadn’t done it.

“I can stay if you need me. You’re priority. Always.”

She smiles up at me as she steps into my arms. “No. You go. I’m going to be okay. We have all the time in the world to worry about my problems. They need you now.”

Serena moves to step back, but I grab her by the back of her neck and pull her into me. Leaning down, I kiss her hard.

Pulling away, I rest my forehead on hers. “Text me if you leave today. I don’t know what’s going on or when I’ll be home.”

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