Page 55 of Two Chances With You

“Oh, so now you’re saying it’s my fault! My sister is quite something. Listen, Step, would you do me a favor? Between kisses, could you set this girl straight on a few things?” And he makes his way between us on his way through the front door.

Gin takes advantage of the space and gives me a punch to the chest. “I knew it that with you it was bound to be nothing but trouble all day long.”

“Ouch! Now you’re saying it’s my fault.”

“Who else? It’s also just one more kiss, and another kiss, and one last kiss. What is this, can’t you hold out for a minute? Are you already addicted to me, like a pathetic junkie? Sheesh…”

And she shuts the door in my face.

***

Gianluca walks into my room. “That Step is really something, but you guys are like a steady couple now, aren’t you?”

“What are you talking about? And what do you mean he’s really something?”

“Well, the two of you are constantly kissing.”

“What’s the big deal, just one kiss.”

“Two, actually, if I’m counting accurately,” Gianluca says.

“Oh, what are you doing anyway? Trying to be the poll watcher around here? Okay, I know that you make a little extra money on the side counting ballots.”

“But that’s politics.”

“I’m guessing that Step is even more of a con artist than any politician.”

“Why do you say that?” Gianluca asks.

“Because I don’t trust a guy like him, likable and even funny. But who knows what’s lurking underneath that glib surface?”

“If you say so.”

“I certainly do say so, Luke. From a kiss, you can tell all you need to know. And he’s kind of…kind of strange.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“He doesn’t give of himself, he doesn’t trust, and when someone doesn’t offer trust, then it means that, first and foremost, he’s not deserving of trust.”

“Maybe so.”

“Definitely so!”

Gianluca exits the room and finally leaves me with a little privacy. That’s a relief. Now I want to get my thoughts screwed on straight. I shake my head and fluff up my hair.

Gin, if you can hear me, come back down off whatever cloud you’re on. I can’t believe that you’ve fallen for this hunk of myth, this living legend. Step isn’t right for you. Problems, complications, who knows what lurks in his past?

Plus, have you even noticed? Every time you kiss him, just when things are going perfectly, right at the very best—no, let me be more descriptive and precise—right at the most wonderful, the most fantastic, the most superfabulous and delightful moment, your brother Luke always seems to show up. What’s that supposed to mean? Is it a sign of destiny, a saint sent down from heaven to keep you from plummeting straight down to hell, an anchor of salvation? Or is it just standard-issue bad luck?

Gosh darn it, we could go on kissing for hours. The way that Step kisses. A kiss is everything. A kiss is the absolute truth. Without too many flourishes, without any extreme twists and turns, without any highwire acrobatics. It’s just natural, the finest thing. He kisses the way I like it. Just plain and simple. Confident, gentle, unhurried, relaxed, having fun, no technique, with taste.

Dare I say it? Lovingly! Oh my God! No, not that!

Chapter 18

Ciao, Paolo.”

“Stefano, where have you been all this time? You’ve gone missing.”

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