Page 51 of Light It Up Red
Alessandro:
Love you.
I set my phone back down on the table and catch Travis’s eye. “Everything okay?” he asks.
“Uh-huh, perfect.” I roll over, crawl my way up his body, and close my mouth over his.
Chapter Twenty-Two
This has been the best break I’ve ever had. And it one hundred percent has to do with the company. Spending an entire week alone with Lili has cemented the fact that I do not want to live without her. I want her in my bed every fucking night. I want to start every day with her.
Which is why, now that I’m driving her back into the city, every fiber of my being wants to turn around and go back. I know as soon as we hit the city limits again, the reality will kick in. She’ll want to go home to her parents’ house and she has to return to work in the morning.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Lili says, looking at me from the passenger seat.
“Mhmm.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to give you back. I want to keep you to myself and not have to share you with everyone else,” I tell her.
“You’re not sharing me with anyone, Travis. I’m yours.”
“I have to share you with your family.” I know I sound ridiculous. I can hear how unreasonable it is the moment the words leave my mouth. None of that changes the fact that I mean it.
“It’s only another six weeks, and we’re both going to be in Vancouver. Together,” she says.
We decided that I’d settle in first, and Lili is planning on coming up when the season starts. I didn’t like the idea. I wanted us to leave New York together, but she insists she needs to give her job more than a few weeks’ notice.
“I’m also going to fly out and see you every weekend,” she adds.
“I know, but I don’t want to spend one day apart, babe.”
“I’m sorry…” Her voice dips and her eyes drop to her lap.
“It’s not your fault.” I pick up her hand and bring it to my mouth. “I had a really great week.”
“Me too.” She smiles, and I swear I will do anything and everything in my power to see that smile on her face as often as I can.
“So, when are we telling your parents you’re moving?”
“We’re not. I am. After you leave town. It’ll be safer that way.” She laughs.
“I’m not scared of your father, Lili,” I tell her. It’s a lie. I’d be stupid not to be a little afraid of the man, but I’m not ever going to admit that out loud or show that fear to anyone. She needs to know I’m here for her. That there’s nothing her family can do to run me off.
“You’d be the first,” she says. “He’ll be fine. Besides, he has Josie to focus on now.” Lili beams. “I always wanted a sister, and now that I have one, all that attention can go to her.”
While we were away, Lili found out her parents adopted her cousin’s girlfriend. She mentioned something about Josie being in the foster care system and not in a good place. Her mother and father wanted to help the girl, so they adopted her. I was shocked. Adopting a teenager is a lot, but they seemed to not even second-guess the real commitment of taking on another kid.
“You’re not jealous that you’re not the only princess of the palace anymore?” I grin.
“First, I’m not a princess and I don’t live in a palace.” Lili narrows her glare at me. “Second, I’ve been spoiled my entire life. Josie deserves to have a turn.”
“I’ve been to your family home. It’s a fucking palace, babe, and you are most certainly a princess,” I tell her. “Do you want to come back to my place?”
“I do, but I should go home first. I’ll come over later, though… if you want.”
“I always want you there,” I tell her. I pull up to the Valentino estate a few minutes later and turn in my seat. “I can’t fucking wait to start our lives in Canada.”
