Page 53 of His UnBearable Touch

“Zack? If you want to ask Valerio out”-

“Whoa!” She heard him pace back a few steps and then return to the doorway, his voice lowered into an energetic hiss. “I’m not after him.”

“What, then why…” the answer kind of popped up in her head, “wait… are you saying that-”

“I was just kind of hoping that you guys weren’t… exclusive. You know?” His voice lowered a bit, becoming strained. “Maybe you’d like to go out with me. Maybe dinner,” he started, “a concert, a movie- oh wait. That’s stupid, Zack. Good one. I mean-”

“Zack?” She waited a moment but he kept talking. “Zack?”

His rolling comments stopped short. “Yeah?”

She bit her lip for a moment and then let it go. “I don’t think we’ve discussed exactly what we are,” she didn’t like hedging around the truth. Allegra didn’t think she could explain the whole ‘mate’ thing without letting too much out of the bag. “But, I’m totally in love with Valerio.”

He sighed. “Yeah, I thought I’d totally missed out, but I just had to ask. Just in case.”

She shook her head. “No worries, Zack. Really, I’m tickled. Shocked, but tickled. I’m glad you did ask.”

“Hey,” he sighed, “I’m always too late.” His voice dimmed at the end. “If you want I’ll come back and take you back to your chair in a bit. Maybe after you read the note on your table.”

“Note?”

Zack moved passed her into the room, stopped at her makeup table and then back to her. “Hold out your hand.”

She did and felt the crisp envelope in her hand. “Thanks.”

“You want me to read it?” He sounded a little more nervous now.

Testing the outside of the envelope, she felt the raised braille letters on the paper inside. “No, I think I have this, thanks.”

Zack mumbled his goodbye and stepped outside.

Allegra leaned back in her chair and opened the envelope. She was expecting a letter from her physical therapist and was eager to hear the news from her old friend. Dropped the envelope down on her lap she set the paper on the seat cushion beside her and started to read.

Call off your dog, Allegra.

You better tell him to leave my parents alone.

I’m tired of you ruining my life.

Don’t make that mistake again.

Chapter Thirteen

Allegra heard someone call her name when she stepped out onto the street.

“Allegra! Wait there.”

Smiling, Allegra waited for Natale to reach her side.

“What are you doing here?”

Taking her arm, Natale gave it a squeeze. “Salvatore and I came to pick you up and bring you back home.”

“Salvatore? Really, why?”

“Because you’re family.” The low rumble of sound beyond the warmth of Natale against her side. “Unless you have any errands that we may help with, we can bring you home.”

Home.

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