Page 17 of Offside Rule

“Arianna? Are you there?”

“Yes.” I bit my bottom lip.

What was I going to do now? Giulia was asleep, and my mother was at work. I couldn’t leave, but I also couldn’t tell him to leave. He’s in a foreign country, and he came here forme.

Butterflies came to life in my stomach at the thought.

“Do I tell him to leave?” my mother asked when I didn’t say anything.

“No!” I found myself saying a bit too loud, a cough sneaking its way up my throat.

“Then?”

I sighed. “Tell him to come here.”

Xavier, what am I going to do with you?

THIRTEEN

XAVIER

Ishifted my weight from one foot to the other as I stood in front of her door, seconds after I’d rung the bell. I kept the basket in my right hand and arranged my hair with the other, then quickly fixed my summer shirt.

A mirror would’ve come in handy right about now.

When she’d left without looking back that day, I’d known we couldn’t be over that quickly. No. Not before I got to learn what her favorite flowers were, not before I knew what song her mother used to sing before she slept, not before knowingher. Some might call me crazy for this inexplicable need to find out more about this woman who was a stranger to me not long ago, but even if I tried to explain, I couldn’t.

The only thing I knew was that I wanted more from her, and life was too unpredictable and short not to fight for what I wanted.

When the door creaked open, I sucked in a deep breath, lifting my gaze from my shoes to her face. She had puffy red eyes and a runny nose; my fire girl couldn’t even say “hello” before she coughed.

My chest constricted. She looked tired, but I didn’t miss the gleam in her eyes when she looked at me.

“Xavier, what are you doing here?” Arianna asked, her throat bobbing.

I looked down at the basket in my hand and handed it to her. “Just came to bring you these.”

She frowned, analyzing it. “You came all the way here just to bring me sweets, flowers, and toys?”

“Yes, with the hope that it might make you and Giulia feel better.”

Arianna’s gaze collided with mine, and I wasn’t sure if she wanted to kiss me right on the spot, or slap me.

“Xavier …”

“I’ll go, I know you already have enough on your plate.”

“How did you …” she started. “How did you even know where to come?”

“You mentioned your mother’s flower shop.” I shrugged, like it was no big deal. It truly wasn’t.

She coughed again, her eyes watering before she frowned. “How on Earth did you remember that?”

I smiled, because it was an easy question. “I remember every single word you said, fire girl.”

Her eyes nearly bulged out of her head as she took another look at me. It was like she was seeing me for the first time—that I was honest, and being sincere.

“I got you some calming cream for your nose, snacks, tea, heating pads, some sweet-flavored vitamins for Giulia, and a few toys. I haven’t been around kids much, but I hope she’ll like them,” I said, pointing to the brown basket in her hands.

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