Page 90 of Tristano

“I wanted to feel closer to you. I knew you spoke it and that meant it was something of yours. I taught myself it right after we met.”

He shakes his head, pulling me into him closer as he kisses the side of my head. “God, I love that.”

My heart skips a beat at the word love.

He didn’t say he loved me, but it felt close enough. The urge to tell him I love him hits me hard.

Before I can say it, he pulls back, taking my hand. “Do you want to drink your coffee here or while we walk?”

“Walking for sure. I’ve spent too much time inside lately.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

I rub his chest. “It’s not your fault.”

“Here you go. You two have a great day,” the barista says as she slides our drinks toward us.

“Thank you,” we murmur in unison.

We head out of the shop and I start walking back the way we came.

“What are you doing?” Tristano asks.

I frown and look over my shoulder at him. “Why did you stop?”

Tristano sighs as he walks up to me. Gently, he pushes me to the side so I’m on the inside of the sidewalk and he’s closer to the curb.

“My woman doesn’t walk on the outside,” he says as he takes my hand.

“You’re ridiculous,” I tell him as we start walking.

“Hey, if some idiot decides to hit pedestrians for points and drives on the sidewalk, I’d rather have them take me out than you.”

“That’s…” I shake my head. “I don’t even know what to say to that.”

“How about you tell me what’s wrong? I’ve been hoping you’d open up on your own, but we only have so long before we have to get back.”

I feel my shoulders tense. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“I’ve known you for years, Serena. I know when something’s wrong with you. Now tell me what it is so I can fix it.” He pauses. “Are you regretting all of this?”

Before he even finishes his sentence, I’m already shaking my head. “No, absolutely not.”

“Then tell me, please,” he pleads as he squeezes my hand.

Suddenly I’m glad I chose to walk instead of sitting at the coffee shop for this conversation.

“I feel lost.”

Tristano’s quiet as I try to gather my thoughts.

“I’ve never not worked. I’ve always been on the go, and suddenly I have nothing of my own. I love being with you, and I don’t regret quitting, but…”

“You feel as if you’re taking advantage of me.” He frowns.

“Yes.” I take a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “I know you don’t think I am but I can’t help how I feel.” I shake my head. “I feel like I have nothing to offer you.”

Tristano comes to a stop and pulls me in front of him. He drops my hand and cups the back of my neck. “You have everything to offer me,” he says as he searches my eyes. “When I realized you weren’t going to check in, a piece of me died. I was afraid I wouldn’t find you again. I didn’t willingly sleep that entire time. Even when I passed out from exhaustion, I only rested a few hours before my mind would wake me back up. I couldn’t live without you.”

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