Page 80 of Electric Touch

“I’m sure Nash will see her home,” Dafni links Hank’s arm. “We’re heading upstate and staying at a hotel.”

Adrestia pauses, putting her coat on, her eyes moving between her mom and Hank. Adrestia told me Dafni married a younger guy in Vegas. There is no sign of him and no one has mentioned his name. Hank is a handsome guy. Shorter than Dafni by a couple of inches, but he’s genuinely happy around the women in his life. I wonder about Dafni’s husband and clearly Adrestia is too. Given it came across like Dafni and Hank are getting a room together.

“It’s been a long day,” Hank says, diverting attention from Dafni’s statement. “After that drive, it’s easier to stay over.”

Ariella gives her sister a sidelong look. Both of them reading more into that. No one comments on it. And it’s really none of my business. The thought of it doesn’t sit right with me, not after what I’ve been through. Adrestia is watching me, but I keep my face blank. She and Ariella look just as perturbed. For different reasons.

“I’ll go get the car,” Hank says. He reaches out to shake my hand. “Nash, it was a pleasure to meet you, and thank you again for everything today. It’s not something the girls will forget. Tia, you be good,” Hank gives her a hug, then helps Dafni into her coat.

“I’m glad you had fun today,” I tell Ariella.

She pats my chest. “You keep pulling surprises like that, and Dafni is going to start talking about wedding bells.”

“Ari!”

“What?” she winks at me again, turning to her sister. “You’re on to a good thing. Don’t fuck it up.”

“Oh my God,” Adrestia covers her eyes. “Shut up.”

Laughing, I accept the brief hug from Ariella.

“I’ll see you soon, won’t I?” she asks.

I’m not sure. I can’t presume Adrestia will want me around her family again.

“Get out of here,” Adrestia hugs her sister. “Before I have to kick your ass.”

“No ass kicking, please.” Dafni comes over and cups Adrestia’s cheeks. She stares into her daughter’s eyes before kissing her forehead. Dafni grabs me and pulls me into a tight hug. Adrestia and Ariella are busting a gut laughing behind Dafni as I have the life squeezed out of me. I narrow my eyes at them before pulling back and getting my cheeks pinched.

Outside the restaurant, Hank is already waiting with the car.

“So, am I alright to get a ride?” Adrestia asks as I step back.

“Of course, you don’t need to ask.”

She smiles and waves to her family as they drive away. We head to Ciro’s car and I get the door for her. Before I get in, I take a deep breath. Now we’re alone, I’m not sure what to say.

“Shocked into silence?” she asks, clicking her seatbelt into place.

“Kinda… But they were pretty cool.”

“Including Mama?”

“Yeah. She asked me to download all our music to her phone while you were in the bathroom. That makes her awesome in my book.”

“She’ll be telling everyone how close you guys are.”

“I’m not gonna get mad about that.” I start the car and put my hand on the back of her headrest and reverse out of the parking space. Once I’m on the road, I glance her way. Shit, I’d forgotten how beautiful she is. Especially biting on her damn bottom lip as she tries to find something in her purse.

“So, your place?”

Her head comes up and her eyes meet mine. “Yes. We need to talk.”

“Yeah, we do. We can go to a bar or something.”

“My apartment is fine, Nash.”

“Okay then.”

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