Page 52 of Audiophile

Suuuuuurrrrreeee. I’ll ask Livi for the full play-by-play after.

I shower and shave without allowing myself to consider why. I also refuse to let Mama’s words haunt me as I put on nice underwear and a blouse that dips between my breasts and highlights my complexion. And I certainly don’t contemplate impressing Reed while I swipe on mascara, blush, and a light lip-stain that’s hopefully not too noticeable.

I’m debating on whether I have time to straighten my hair when Tommy raps loudly on the bathroom door. “Forgot to tell you your boyfriend’s here!”

“Forgot?For how long?” I ask, yanking open the door with zero grace and running down the stairs. “And he’s not my boyfriend!”

When I get downstairs, Reed is in the kitchen talking quietly with Papa, while Mama and Aunt Carla sip wine next to a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers and greenery. It brightens up the room, making the kitchen joyful and cozy instead of the muted brown and beige colors it usually is.

The whole room is a scene out of someone else’s life. Reed is handsome and charming. Undeniably, uniquely Reed. He’s freshly shaven, in black pants and crisp, white shirt, with sleeves that are casually but expertly rolled up to his elbows. The stark white deepens his tan and brightens his amber eyes. My heart stumbles and picks up speed.

It’s hard to avoid comparing him to Nate. Nate didn’t make a bad impression—he was boyishly charming, though immature. The true difference? Nate didn’t spark this need in me.This heart racing, kiss-or-be-kissed magnetic force between us. At least on my part.

When Reed glances up at me, I forget to breathe. The corner of his mouth pulls up, dimple and all. I’d give anything to know what he’s thinking. He sobers when Papa murmurs something in his ear, and then he’s walking toward me with such soft affection that I nearly melt. Before I do, Reed leans in close to kiss my cheek. He’s wearing a woodsy aftershave that makes my knees weak.

“You’re gorgeous, Petra.” His praise is honey and velvet in my ear. “I can’t wait to see how stunning you are when I make you blush. Want to time me?”

I flick his shoulder, and he has the nerve to chuckle.

“Petronia!” Mama scolds. “Don’t hit dinner guests.”

Tommy laughs as he walks past us and picks up something from Ma’s cutting board. She slaps his wrist so fast that it drops back down before he can bite it. “Hey!” Tommy protests. “Don’t hit dinner guests!”

“You still live in my house, baby boy. You are not a guest.”

Reed watches their exchange with avid interest. “You didn’t mention your mother is from the East Coast.”

“New York and Boston,” I admit, and he laughs. “What?”

“Thank God you don’t live there. You’d be the shyest girl in Boston.”

“I’m not shy,” I protest, frowning.

His half-smile is soft as his knuckles stroke down my arm. “No, you’re not.”

I want to ask what that means, but the front door bursts open. Livi spills in with a baby on her hip, husband and twins in tow. “Reed!” she yells—God, Livi is loud—and pulls him into a hug as if they’ve been friends for years. “You owe me details.”

“Standing right here,” I interrupt. Livi releases him to hug me, but I dodge her and pluck Hailey from her hip. “Hi, sweet girl! How’s my little Hailes?”

“I’m chopped liver,” Livi grumbles and kisses my cheek. “Nice makeup, Petra.” I steadfastly avoid her gaze, glad I can dote on Hailey as a distraction.

“Hi Darin,” I greet Livi’s husband with a smile. “Darin, this is my…friend. Reed. And these little gremlins are Antonio and Lilly.” Tony and Lilly both roll their eyes at me and run to Papa, who pulls lollipops out of his pocket and exchanges them for a handful of kisses.

“Tomasso!” Mama yells, as if this is new behavior. “You’re going to spoil their dinner!”

“They know to save them for later,” he reassures her, giving Tony and Lilly a wink. “Anita, why don’t I keep the kids busy before dinner? We’ll go for a walk, right kids?”

“Right!” they agree, but they giggle and unwrap their candy before they even open the front door.

Reed shakes with laughter beside me, amused by our routines. Though it seems innocuous when Darin joins Tommy at the bar, I know better. Mama, Livi, and Aunt Carla take up residence near the stove, and their hushed conversations mean they’re all waiting for the inquisition to start.

“Your family is hilarious. And you’re a charmer, Hailey,” Reed tells her, giving her his finger to grab onto. She grins at him with a wide mouth and only four teeth. My traitorous heart melts in my chest.

“It’s not cool for you to be handsome, funny,andgood with babies,” I grumble. “Go make an ass of yourselfright now.”

Reed steps closer to me and wraps his arm around my waist so naturally that it appears as if he’s simply showering attention on Hailey. “Putting you in a baby-making mood, Pet?” he murmurs. Though his eyes aren’t on me, his grin is smug.

Hurt sweeps through me, and my necklace is heavy against my skin. But as it passes, it’s easy to imagine what a baby with Reed might look like. Our child might have his beautiful, honey eyes and my curls. My heart pounds faster.

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