Page 26 of In the Cover of Darkness

“If you don't leave in the agreed five minutes … then I'm moving out of our bedroom into the spare room. Also, Nova's already told me I can use the empty apartment she has upstairs if I ever needed to."

“Sunshine,” he growls a little louder.

I can tell I've hit a sore spot for him. We never really spoke about our sleeping arrangements but I know he loves it as much as I do. The way we just kind of fell into this pattern. I guess it could all backfire on me and he doesn't leave. Which means I'll be forced to follow through and move into the spare room. I definitely don't want to move out but I also need him to step back when I ask him to. To have enough faith in me to know when I'm okay.

He hasn't moved an inch or made any motion to talk, so I'm going to help make this decision for him. Leaning in, I gently kiss his cheek whispering, “Thank you,” in his ear, before I slowly remove myself from the booth and return to where Nova is standing behind the counter.

“He will go, just give him a couple minutes to realise that's the option he's going to choose,” I say quietly. She passes me a tray of cupcakes from the back kitchen, nodding at my explanation, and we start restocking the cabinet after the morning rush. Thankfully there's only one other person in Beans at the moment, and they are currently sitting on the opposite side to Dante, completely immersed in a book, so our little drama is for the most part going unwitnessed. Beans and Pagesis the ultimate book escape and I'm in heaven that I get to work here. Nova started with a small coffee shop and then when the business next door came up for sale, she purchased it and started Pages, knocking down the wall that separated them. What's left is the perfect combination of a cosy coffee shop and a book nook where you can read all day if you want to. She has a little bit of every book genre and can order anything if someone wants something particular. She gave Dante a mouthful when she found out he purchased my books from an online store, and not from her directly. In his defence, he did look a little remorseful, and promised once I'd finished reading what I had, that he would get the next hundred from her store, no questions asked.

A couple of minutes later I feel him standing behind me, a small shiver running down my back. His arms gently come around me, pulling me into a hug from behind so my back is flush against his front. His head nestles into my neck as he takes a deep breath in, keeping himself pressed against me a moment longer than what would be considered appropriate for people not in a relationship. Pulling his head away slightly, his arms still firmly placed around my chest and waist, he murmurs into my ear, “I'll be here to pick you up when you finish your shift,” before he moves away from me, nodding his head in goodbye to Nova as he leaves.

???

“Oooohhhhh, that man has it bad,” Nova says, a big smile forming on her face once Dante had driven off. “Spill Mila, have you climbed that mountain? Have you dabbled in an afternoon delight? Knocked boots? Bought a one way ticket to pound town, stopping off for a visit in fuck’sville on the way?” wiggling her eyebrows suggestively at me.

Laughing, I try to relax my face a little, but it's almost impossible to not have this ridiculous smile on my face.

“Stop, Nova. It's not like that.”

“Wait. What? What do you mean it's not like that?” she says, mock gasping, placing a hand on her chest.

“I mean, I think he likes me. We kind of almost kissed one day but then he hasn't really done anything else. I don't really know what signs I'm meant to be looking for?” I say, shrugging my shoulders at her. “It would be easier if he just told me exactly what he wanted.” Attempting my best growly man voice, I say, while pretending to beat my fists on my chest, “Me man, you woman. You,mywoman now.”

We both start laughing, getting lost in the complicated humour of it all. “See, if he just told me that's what he wanted then I'd quite happily agree. I like him, Nova, but I also don't want to ruin whatever it is that we're doing. He means something to me,” I say, a little exacerbated.

I like Dante a lot, and I'm really trying to not get attached and let my crush on him get out of hand. The last thing I need is to overstep and make things awkward. So for now I'm happy just to wait and see if anything else happens.

“Anyways, you're one to talk with Ace practically drooling over you the other day. If he's always like that then there's definitely something you're not telling me.”

“Saved by the bell,” she says as a rather miserable looking man, no older than 22 or 23 walks in, ringing the bell attached to the door when it opens.

“Nova, thank gods you're here. I'm desperate and I don't know what to do,” he says, taking the hat from his head and twisting it in his hands in front of him.

“Mila, this is Sam. He and his dad own the mechanics down the road on Wisteria Street.”

“Hi Sam, it's nice to meet you. I can see that you need Nova's help so I'll let you two talk,” making a move to give them some privacy.

“No, don't go. You might be able to help too. I'm having … shit … I like a girl and it's her birthday and I know she likes to read. We've talked a bit and she's mentioned she comes to Pages for a new book practically every other week. So I thought I could get her something from here for her birthday.”

“Are you talking about Olivia?” Nova asks gently.

Sam nods his head vigorously, “I really like her, but I don't know if she could see me as more than a friend.”

Nova looks at Sam and me before slapping him on the back, saying, "Sam, you have come to the right place, Mila's also trying to get out of the friend zone so we can figure out some solutions for you both together."

Smiling, I follow behind them as we walk toward some of the books on display, wondering if I'm hoping for too much, that Dante and I could start something romantic after everything we've already been through.

Chapter 23 - Mila

The day has finally arrived and Dante and I are heading down the mountain to get my cast removed. It is so itchy all the time that I’m almost giddy with excitement at the thought of being able to shower without it getting in the way, or even just put clothes on easily. Several nights ago Dante and I were sitting on the couch watching a movie, and I think he was getting frustrated over how itchy my arm was. He grabbed a spoon from the cutlery drawer and gently pushed the handle in between the cast and my skin, moving it in and out, scratching the itch. I let out the biggest involuntary moan which ended in him placing a pillow on his lap and not making eye contact with me for the rest of the night. I couldn't help but feel a little pleased that I could elicit a response like that from him, but yet again, nothing further happened between us. Maybe I do need to talk with Nova about making the first move, or even what that would look like.

Walking into the medical centre I'm met with familiar smells, and memories flood back faster than I would have liked. Dante must have known something was wrong as he led me to thewaiting room, helping me find a seat while he talked with reception.

There was a short wait before we were called back and greeted with the smiling face of Dr Johnson.

“When I saw you had your appointment today I swapped with the other doctor so I could see how you're doing, but from the looks of things you're doing rather well,” he says, looking between Dante and me.

“Hi Dr Johnson, it's good to see you in better circumstances too, and in better condition,” waving my hand up and down my body.

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