Page 51 of Burn for You

The line of hate drawn between us since day one is wobbling, fading, whatever you’d like to call it. In fact, I don’t know if I hate her at all, not anymore. That part of me that wasn’t sure whether I wanted to know more about her? That part of me is gone now. I find myself needing to know more about her, sure that I need to know what she keeps hidden away, the things that she has under lock and key.

A knock sounds at the front door. I slide my laptop off my lap and set it on the coffee table before walking over to the door. I flick the lock and yank the big door open. Caio stands on the other side, running a hand through his hair.

“Hey.”

“Hey, can I come in?” I nod and hold the door open for him. “Is May here?”

“Yeah, she’s in her room. Why?”

“Can you get her?” He’s rubbing his hands together, his brows furrowed together.

I nod again, walking down the hall to May’s room. I rap my knuckles against her door. It swings open and her eyes are confused as she looks at me. Her nostrils flare like she’s mentally preparing herself for what I might say. I can’t say I blame her. I’ve been keeping my distance since our night out. And I don’t think I’ve ever knocked on her door.

I’m scared of what I might do in her presence. It’s clear that I can’t control myself anymore. It seems she’s got all the control here, even if she doesn’t realize it. When she threaded her fingers through mine that night, I froze. It’s the last thing I expected, but the best thing that could’ve happened, and her small hand fit so perfectly in mine.

“Caio’s here, he’s asking for you,” I say, remembering where I am.

“Okay.” She floats out of her room, leaving the door open and letting the music drift through the house.

We both come back out to the living room to see Caio rubbing his hands together nervously. Since when did he start doing that so much?

“Hey, what’s up?” May says.

“Can you guys sit down?” He gestures to the couch across from him.

My stomach does a flip. I’ve never seen Caio like this. Eight years is a long time to know someone and not see them this stressed.

Caio and I have been friends since he first came to town. We just clicked. He’s been there for me even when he’s had his own shit going on and I’ve tried my best to do the same.

When Nonna died, it was hard for both of us. I turned into a raging asshole, using anger as a way to take out my emotions. Caio did his best to help me, but he was in a dark spot himself. He used to get so engrossed in his work, trying so hard to prove himself that he would forget about the outside world for months. We helped each other out of it, leaning on each other when we could and sharing some harsh words when there was nothing else to say.

But what really drew him out was Isla. I’ve never seen him care about anything more than the hotel, not until she came around. She was like the spark of light in his darkness, and he followed it out, and he came alive.

“Alright, what’s going on?” I ask.

He lets out a long breath, rubbing his palms across his thighs.

“Spit it out, Caio!” May snaps.

“I’m going to ask Isla to marry me.”

May jumps up, standing on the couch. “What! Are you kidding?” Her hands fly to press over her heart.

“Dead serious,” he smiles nervously. She squeals, catapulting off the couch and into his arms. I laugh at the sight of it.

“Congratulazioni, fratello mio.” I get up off the couch to give him a hug.

“Are you smiling?” May asks. She turns to Caio. “Is he smiling?”

He laughs. “I think he is. Take a good look while you can.”

I swat my hand at him, but May looks bewildered, like she’s never seen something so wonderful, and it makes me want to do it again.

“Ew! You’re weirding me out, stop it!” Caio and I just laugh at her as she puts her hands over her eyes, but I see the way she splits two of her fingers so she can peek through.

“Alright, so when, where, how, and what do you need?” she asks Caio.

“That’s why I’m here.”

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