Page 42 of Untouchable

I take a few steps closer until I am hovering just over her. Not being able to help myself, I reach my hand out and brush the back of my knuckles against her skin. As soon as I brush against her, a feeling rushes up my arm and into my chest. Her skin is literally as soft as silk, how is that even possible? I am stuck, trapped almost, like I am in a trance as I look down at the gorgeous woman before me. I have never seen anyone sleep so deeply, so beautifully before.

She begins to stir gently, and I pull my hand away quickly. Her eyes slowly flutter open as she looks up at me. I see a soft smile grace her lips for a moment before she begins to wake up fully. Her smile then quickly transforms into a frown.

“What are you doing in here? I am mad at you,” she says with a slight pout that I find way more adorable than I should.

I let out a soft grunt as I mask my emotions and nod. “I’m sorry. I was drunk and an ass.”

She nods as she sits up a little. “Well, that covers last night. How about the last 2 years?”

I nod thoughtfully. “How many sorrys do I owe you?”

She purses her lips and tilts her head from side to side. “Not sure. I lost count somewhere around 200.”

I let out a surprised chuckle as I nod, scrubbing my jaw. “Do you want that all up front? Or spread out over time?”

“Spread out. I’d like to enjoy each one, with interest, of course,” she says easily as she peels the blankets away from her before standing up.

A small smile slips across my face. “Deal.”

Her brows furrow as she crosses her arms across her chest. “What is with you? Why aren’t you acting like I am the devil incarnate or wishing I was never born?”

My brows dip as I think over her words. Are those really the thoughts that she thinks I have?

“Because I never should have treated you that way in the first place. There are a lot of bad people in this world Seraphina, but you are not one of them. I was going through some stuff and took it out on you. I took the easy way out and I will never be able to tell you how sorry I am for hurting you.”

Her rigid posture loosens as her arms uncross, hanging by her side now. “I wish you would have opened up to me back then. I could have helped you. We used to tell each other everything.”

“I know,” I nod as I look down at my feet before looking back up to her. “I’m sorry. I broke our friendship, and I will never forgive myself for it. I don’t expect you to forgive me either. But I think we need to be in a better place than where we have been. Besides our lives depending on us working together and you following my directions, I miss my best friend.”

A weak smile pulls at her lips as her big eyes begin to fill with unshed tears. I frown, trying to figure out what I said now that made her cry. Shit, can I not do anything right when it comes to this woman?

“Are those for me?” She asks, clearing her throat softly as she gestures to the clothes in my hand.

I nod as I hand them to her. “They are moms. I don’t know how they will fit but I figured you would want to change.”

She nods and gives me a small. “Thanks. I am going to hop in the shower.”

I watch her walk towards the door, stopping just inside the doorway before she turns to face me. Our eyes meet and my stomach clenches just from that one look. How can she still do that to me after all these years?

“I forgive you.”

Her voice is so soft that I almost miss it. She gives me a reassuring smile and a nod before she steps out into the hall and over to the main bathroom. When I hear the door shut, I lean back and sit on the edge of the bed. She forgives me just like that? After everything that I have done and said to her, she just forgives me? I know I sure as fuck don’t deserve her forgiveness, but I am so thankful for it. I make a promise to myself then and there to dedicate the rest of my life to making it up to her. Even though we will only ever be friends.

Chapter Nineteen

Seraphina

After I shower, I slip into the clothes Alessandro gave me. I recognize the top as one of Aunt Tasha’s. She is a bit taller than I am, so it is a little big on me but fits pretty good. Since I don’t have any makeup or hair products with me, I have no choice but to go all natural. It is definitely not my first choice. In fact, it is my last. I feel naked and exposed without my proverbial war paint. I know it might seem ridiculous that I would even be thinking about something insignificant like foundation or leave in conditioner at a time like this, but I can’t help it. It is just who I am.

We have bigger issues at hand though. More important things that require my attention. Things like Alessandro apologizing after all of these years or Alessandro saying that he misses me. I can’t deny that my heart did a little cartwheel when he said that.

I have missed him, so freaking much, and it makes me feel a little more at peace to know that he missed me too. Though it still brings up the question, why did he ever push me away to begin with? He said he was going through some stuff, but what could it have been that he felt like he couldn’t talk to me?

These questions roll around in my head as we drive towards the store up the road. As soon as Alessandro could drive, we would steal the car and sneak out late at night, loading up on junk food and hard seltzers that we bought with Alessandro’s fake before heading back to the lake house and holing up in his bedroom to watch bad 90’s comedy movies. I can’t help but let a small smile touch my lips as so many childhood memories flash through my head.

“What are you smiling about?” Alessandro asks with the hint of a smile of his own across his face as his eyes flick back and forth between me and the road.

My eyes snap over to him and I shrug. “Just thinking about all those times that we snuck out and headed for this place,” I say as Alessandro parks, quickly scanning over the empty parking lot before getting out of his side and walking around to mine.

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