Page 23 of Inescapable Ties
Our bodies fit together like puzzle pieces, and I let out a contented sigh as he nuzzled his face into my neck. The tension of the past few nights dissipated as we finally found comfort in each other’s arms.
“Go to bed, Jaws.”
Chapter twelve
Emilio
LucianaandIslowlyfell into a pattern. We’d wake up, I’d take her to go get Starbucks, and she’d wish me goodbye for work. Then I’d get home at God knows what hour and she’d be asleep in our bed.
Today was one of the few days I had off, and I decided we should spend it together.
“So, where do you want to go today?” I asked her.
Luciana raised her eyebrow at me, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
In our short amount of time together, I had learned she was a whirlwind of spontaneity and adventure.
“How about we go on a road trip?” she suggested with a playful smile, seeing if I would resist her wild idea.
“A road trip? We only have like, eight hours.”
“You’re right; it was a dumb idea. I’m not sure how I’d fare sitting next to you that long.”
“Well, now we’re definitely going,” I said mischievously.
Thus began our impromptu adventure. She threw together an assortment of snacks, some clothes, and other essentials in a bag while I grabbed the keys and fueled the car. We threw caution to the wind, deciding not to set a destination. We would simply drive where the road took us, and that was all part of her charm; the unpredictability, the thrill of something new.
The winding roads led us deep into a part of New Jersey that I had never laid eyes on before. The scenery was a lush tapestry, with vibrant green trees and rolling hills stretching out in all directions.
“What’s that?” Luciana asked.
“Hm?”
“Ooh, turn around! It looked like there was some fun little farmer’s market back there.”
I did as she asked. It was not a little “fun little farmers’ market.” It was a flea market labeled as an antique show, and I felt like I was going to get bed bugs just looking at the items they had for sale.
“We can keep go-” I started.
“It’s amazing!” Luciana said simultaneously.
Before I could respond, she was out of the car and meandering through the sea of vintage furniture and unusual knick-knacks. With a reluctant sigh, I followed her into the realm of the old and the bizarre.
I stopped trailing behind her when she started circling through the endless racks of vintage clothes. It had an overwhelming scent of mothballs Luciana couldn’t smell or ignored.
I perused the haphazardly displayed trinkets at the vendor’s stall. Among the array of odds and ends, one delicate doll caught my attention. Its porcelain skin bore intricate cracks and its once vibrant eyes had faded with age. A haunting aura surrounded the antique toy, evoking memories of a bygone era. Despite its worn appearance, the doll exuded a certain charm that was hard to resist.
The corner of my lip twitched upwards as I thought of a particularly devious idea. I looked through the sea of clothing and spotted Luciana browsing through a rack, her back turned toward me.
I crouched down as I walked between the rows, walking towards her much like a lion hunts its prey. As I neared her, I made sure my footsteps got even lighter so she wouldn’t hear me.
“Ah!” I said, jumping out of the coatrack, the doll between my hands.
In a flash, Luciana whirled around, her eyes wide with surprise. For a split second, she seemed frozen in fear but then she broke into an infectious laughter, almost collapsing into the rack of clothes.
“You’re insufferable,” she said, shaking her head.
Yet there was no real bite to her words, only the ring of shared amusement. She took the doll from me, and I watched as she held it delicately in her hands, her fingers tracing the porcelain face thoughtfully.
