Page 12 of Irreplaceable

It was clear she wanted to come with me, yet she wasn’t allowing herself to. It made no sense.

“If I’m staying with you, I’d want to pay my fair share.”

I shook my head. “No. Absolutely not.”

“Enzo,” she chided.

I stood, tired of this conversation. She was exasperating. “Vieni.”

“You can’t just snap your fingers and expect me to come with you. Especially not when you still haven’t told me what uccellina means. Or anything about yourself.”

“I just don’t understand why you deny yourself what you want.”

She sighed. “Ugh. Do you have to be so…Italian?”

“Well, yes.” I chuckled, enjoying the way she scanned my body. “I’ve never been told that’s a bad thing.”

“It’s not. And your offer is tempting.”

“But?”

“It’s too much.”

I shook my head, unwilling to relent. “It’s not enough,” I said, kneeling before her. “Please. I feel awful that I ruined your vacation and caused you to become injured. Let me make it up to you.”

She wavered, and I sensed she was close to relenting. If nothing else, I had to admire her steadfastness and resilience.

“What’s the point of vacation,” I said, “if not to indulge?”

She let out a deep sigh. “Enzo…”

“Or…” I lay down on the bed next to her, making myself at home as I crossed my feet at the ankles. “I could stay here if that would make you more comfortable.”

She huffed. “You’re insufferable.”

I held my hand up to my ear. “Hmm. I’m not sure I understand that word. It must not translate to Italian. Hai detto indimenticabile?”

She laughed, slapping at my chest. “Insufferable not unforgettable.”

“Yes, but perhaps I am both.” I grinned.

“That remains to be seen. Though you are persistent.”

“So, you’ll come.”

She leaned closer, tantalizing me with the prospect of kissing her. “What does uccellina mean?”

I smiled. “Little bird.”

“And what should I call you?” she mused.

“Leone. Pantera…” I listed some of the strongest, most fearsome animals I could think of.

“Tardigrade.”

I jerked my head back. “What is that? A large, fierce snake?”

She laughed, delight dancing in her eyes like the devil. She typed something into her phone then held it out to me. I stared at the image on the screen. Squishy. Ugly.

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