Page 35 of Something Blue

“Yip. Fifteen minutes.”

“I’ll be there.” The best thing for me to do right now is to get out of here and clear my head. I can’t help with any of this because they won’t let me, and it’s driving me insane.

I don’t bother telling anyone - I head out to my car and start making my way into town. If they need me, they can call me - but I know they won’t.

Da’Vinci is a quaint restaurant near the docks. It overlooks the water and serves the most amazing pasta dishes. The real deal. And the best, rich strong coffee. They roast their own beans and the moment I walk through the doors into the restaurant that is what I can smell.

Fresh coffee.

I arrive before Dalila and find a seat near the widows.

Opening my phone I flick through social media for a second, regret it because everything is horrible, and set my phone face down on the table.

I think better, and I put my phone in my bag. I don’t even want to look at it. It’s a portal to mayhem and chaos.

Dalila slides into the seat opposite mine and grins at me.

“You look terrible.” She smirks.

“Well - gee - thanks.” I shake my head, but the moment she arrives I’m smiling. She has that way about her. Some friends are like medicine, you can spend five minutes with them, and you feel better - Dalila is that friend.

A server comes over and stares down at us with an expectant smile.

I pick up the menu. “Ah—” I stammer, not in the mood to make choices.

Dalila eyes me, raises one brow and looks at the server.

“We’ll have a bottle of the house white, semi-sweet. One mushroom risotto and one tagliatelle butternut and pistachios.”

“Would you like a cream sauce on the side?”

“Yes. Thanks. And please hurry with the wine. You can even put a second bottle on ice for us.”

The server nods and takes our menus from us.

“Thank goodness for you. It would have taken me an hour to figure out what I wanted to eat.”

“I know, I can see that look in your eye.”

“What look?” I laugh.

“The one that says -if someone makes me think my head might explode.”

I sigh and press my fingers into my temple. “My head might explode.”

She reaches across the table and takes my hand. “Hey, it’s going to be ok. No matter what happens - it’ll be ok in the end. Your father’s actions are his own, Neve.”

“He’s such a difficult man, but he’s still my father.”

“Don’t worry - I know exactly how that is.” She smirks, rolling her eyes.

The wine arrives and after the server has poured us each a glass Dalila lifts hers and touches it against the edge of mine.

“To the best friend in the world.”

I nod. “To you.” I smile.

“How lucky am I?” His smooth, rich voice brushes over my skin and runs down my spine like a heat wave. Turning I find Celso standing next to our table looking as divine as ever.

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