Page 37 of Light It Up Red
“Uh-huh. Sorry it took me so long.” Lili forces a smile on her face.
“Who made you cry, Liliana?” My fists are clenching at my sides. The need to hurt whoever created those tears is strong.
“It’s nothing. Now, come on. Show me that unending energy you promised me.” She removes her coat and lays it over the sofa.
“Lili, you crying is not nothing. I want to know why,” I tell her.
“It’s really not a big deal. I’m just tired, and when I’m tired, I get teary-eyed,” she says.
“Humor me then. What made you cry?” I wrap my arms around her tighter. Pick her up and walk us over to the sofa. Where I sit down before placing her legs on each side of my thighs.
“I have to go to Italy for a month with my family,” she blurts out.
I blink at her. “Babe, most people don’t cry over having to spend a month in Italy.” My fingers wipe the stray tears that fall down her cheeks.
“It’s not Italy that’s the problem. It’s… the whole month that I won’t be able to see you, Travis. I don’t think I want to go a whole month without seeing you,” she says.
“Lili, there are things called jets, phones, video chats. I promise you, wherever you are in the world, you will never have to go a whole month without seeing me. Because I couldn’t fathom not being able to see you for that long either.”
“I’m sorry,” she says.
“For what?”
“For my family. For the way they’re treating you. For having to leave for a month. It was my Nonna’s idea and, well, my grandfather makes sure she gets whatever she wants. But I also think…” Her voice dies off.
“You think what?” I press her.
“I think there’s about to be some—how do I say this? Um, company restructuring going on in the family,” she says.
“Meaning your dad’s taking over for your grandfather?”
“Something like that.” She shrugs. “I think so at least. It’s weird… for all of us to be going to Italy right now.”
“It’s only a month. It’ll fly by, babe. And I promise you’ll see me so much you’re going to get tired of looking at this face.” I gesture a circle around my head for emphasis.
“Impossible,” she says, leaning forward and melding her lips with mine.
I pick her up and take her into my bedroom, gently placing her in the middle of the bed. Lifting her right leg, I remove her heel before doing the same with the left side. I want to take my time, slowly unwrap this woman like it’s Christmas morning. I grab hold of Lili’s hips and flip her body over so she’s lying on her stomach.
“Shit, warn a girl next time,” she squeals.
My palm lands on her ass. “Shh, you’re ruining my gift,” I tell her.
“Your gift?” she asks, while looking over her shoulder at me.
“You, babe, are the best goddamn gift I’ve ever received. And, right now, I’m trying to enjoy unwrapping you.”
“Well, don’t let me interrupt you then.” Lili lowers her head to the mattress.
My fingers pinch the zipper of her dress, slowly pulling it down the middle of her back. Exposing her smooth, tanned skin. Inch by inch. When I reach the bottom, I flip Lili over again and slide the straps along her arms.
“Fuck me, I think God sent me an angel I didn’t deserve when you fell from heaven.”
“Well, it’s a damn good thing you caught me then.” Lili smiles.
“Quick reflexes, babe. We can thank years of hockey practice for that,” I tell her as I continue to glide the material of her dress down her body.
“Travis?”
