Page 10 of Be My First

Chapter Three

Juno

“Ithought you saidit was a villa,” I say when I step inside. I turn around slowly. “I’m pretty sure this is a palace.”

Maggie steps forward and gives me a hug. Declan just laughs. “We were in a villa in the city center, but we figured we needed more space with everyone here.”

“I need to hold Ian.” I motion for Declan to hand him over. “Come to Aunt Juno. Oh, my god, you just keep getting cuter. How is that even possible?”

I walk over to the window and look out back. “Wow. The gardens. It’s beautiful out there.”

Ian babbles, and I bounce him on my hip. He giggles when I pretend I’m going to drop him. When I look up, I see Bode watching me from the corner, looking annoyed as usual. He’s wearing his sweatshirt again. I didn’t want to give it back this morning. It was cozy and smelled like him.

“When does everyone else get in?” I ask pulling my thoughts away from Bode.

“Kip and Brooklyn are coming tomorrow. Will and Olivia are meeting us in Rome. James and Elizabeth are still trying to figure out exactly when they can swing by.”

“What’s the plan for today?” I ask.

“Pizza,” Keene says as he walks passed me.

Eli points at him. “Yes.”

“We know this great little place. I was thinking we could see the David statue. It’s not far from the pizza place.”

“Sounds great,” I say.

“We’ll show you to your rooms and then let’s leave in an hour,” Declan says, taking Ian from my arms.

––––––––

“Why does this pizzahave a hard-boiled egg on it?” Keene asks, leaning closer to the pizza in the center of the table.

I laugh. “Just one too. And one giant piece of prosciutto.”

“Don’t care. It smells amazing,” Eli says, grabbing a piece.

Keene shrugs and picks up a piece.

We all grab a slice. Bode waits until we’ve all taken some. He hasn’t said a word since we’ve been here – at least around me. Was he really so traumatized by our kiss that he can’t even talk in my presence?

“Oh my god,” I say after taking a bite.

“Fuck,” Eli says.

I hear Bode groan just a little, and it causes a stirring in my core. Good lord, I really need to get laid. I’m getting turned on at lunch.

Keene shakes his head. He has a piece of pizza in each hand. “This is the best fucking thing I’ve ever tasted.”

“Who got the egg?” I ask.

---