Page 178 of Carnal

Pina

A Week Later

"And you aren't havingany issues eating?" Silvio questions.

Bridgette, Arianna, Cara, and Katiya kept encouraging me to let Silvio examine me, but Tristano was relentless. I finally caved today. I shake my head, admitting, "No. I'm starting to be able to finish my plate again."

His kind smile lights up his face. "Great. You should return to your normal weight soon."

"I hope so. My clothes are too big on me."

He nods. "Continue staying hydrated, and let me know if anything changes."

"Okay. Thank you," I reply.

He packs up his medical bag and pats me on the back. "Glad your memory is starting to stick."

Relief fills me. "Me, too." Over the last week, I've remembered more and more about my flashbacks. And now, the visions are longer with more details.

I keep dreaming of Tristano and me. He gifted me a beautiful journal after we talked at the pool. I'm confident I'm at the point I don't need it anymore, but I guess I do it to ensure I'm remembering things correctly. Plus, every time I look at the black cover with a red rose on it, I get flutters thinking about Tristano. Then I look at the dozens of red roses he's given me daily, and my heart skips another beat.

Every day, I quiz myself on the previous day's flashbacks. Then I try to go back to the ones I had the day before that one. Once I'm confident I'm remembering the visions correctly, I'll review my journal.

Tristano's been amazing with me. All the Marinos have, but the level of care and patience he's displayed toward my issues leaves no doubt in my mind how much he loves me.

And I know Tristano's not a patient person. None of the Marinos are patient people. That's one part of my memory that's come back. Yet, the level of consideration he's displayed hasn't gone unnoticed. Everything is about what he thinks is best for me.

I haven't really gone out of the house except to spend time at the pool. The thought of venturing outside of the Marino compound overwhelms me. Tristano keeps asking to take me on a real date, yet I keep telling him I'm not ready to go out. Every time I do, I see his disappointment, but he'll quickly tell me it's okay and change the subject to something else.

He created a few fun nights for us at home. We've had a game night and a movie night. Two nights my family came over to visit. Last night, we stayed up past midnight at the pool, sitting under the soft glow of the string lights, talking and laughing.

When he walked me to my room, he said, "Let's bingeSex and the City."

"You want to watchSex and the City?" I asked in disbelief.

His boyish grin lit up the room and tugged at my heart some more. He stated, "It's your favorite show."

"And you're into that?"

His lips twitched, and he tugged my covers off my bed. "I'm into you. Get changed."

My heart beat faster. I nervously glanced between the covers and him.

He held his hands in the air. "Chill, Pina. I won't try anything, and I'll stay on top of the covers."

Part of me wanted to tell him not to be ridiculous. The other part was relieved. Confused about why I couldn't just kiss him and move forward, I changed into my nightgown and got under the covers.

For the next few hours, I snuggled into him, wanting to pull him on top of me and do naughty things that kept flashing in my mind. But I was too chicken. He attempted to kiss me, but I freaked and buried my head in his chest. Then I fell asleep in his arms, feeling safe and protected. He was still on top of the covers, sleeping peacefully, when I woke up.

I stared at him for over an hour, still fighting the urge to kiss him. Then I chickened out again and got up and showered. When I got out of the bathroom, he had breakfast waiting on the table in the sitting room.

I've had a few meals with the Marino family, but it's overwhelming at times. So I often prefer to eat in my room, yet even that is starting to get old. But I love the private time with Tristano. I'll take a meal with him and no one else around any day.

Dante's patience is another matter. He hasn't come out and said it, but I can tell he's ready for me to get back to work. I'm in a constant debate about if I'm ready or not. Flashbacks of my time in the office come and go. It's not a secret that my job is demanding and stressful. And my gut tells me it's too much right now.

Sometimes I get scared and wonder if I'll ever have my old life back.

Then Dante will come to me in a panic and ask me about different files, how to get the others in the office to get a highly sought-after reservation, or the passwords to different things. They're all issues he knows nothing about, yet I easily rattle off the information without hesitating. When that happens, it gives me more confidence.

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