Page 87 of Two Chances With You

“If only I knew what?”

“No, nothing. I’m definitely not going to tell you.”

It doesn’t matter to me. I pull her close, and I kiss her again. Then she pulls away, cocks her head to one side, and stares at me for a while in silence. Then she says, “Hey, tough guy, you haven’t fallen in love with me, have you?”

“Me? Don’t be silly. You’re not in any danger of that.”

“You see? You’re afraid. You use the worddanger. Actually though, it’s nice to be in love, melt into the other person, belong to each other. Who knows what it might be like between us.”

Then she thinks it over and finally nods. “Yes, when all is said and done, I’d like it with you. I feel as if I’ve known you all my life.”

“Well, I’ve heard that before.”

“Sure, but in my case, it’s the truth.”

“All right, I’m going to go ahead and believe you.” And we go on looking at each other like that, in silence, standing on that bridge, surrounded by people who may just be walking by, or may even be looking at us, but I don’t see anyone, or really, I should say, I see only her. And I see her eyes, glistening, emotional. And then I smile at her. “Now, you’re the one who’s afraid…or are you the one who’s fallen in love?”

“Me? Don’t be silly. I’m tough. Actually, come to think of it, I ought to just go get a pair of bolt cutters and remove that padlock entirely, in case it turns out that this legend really does work, and I can’t shake you loose…”

“Don’t you dare…!”

I try to stop her, but she suddenly leans down and breaks loose of my grip and takes off running, laughing and shouting, along the bridge. She encounters a group of gentlemen walking along together. She tugs on the overcoat of the most serious-looking member of the group, spins him around, and almost forces him to dance with her. And then she’s off again. Behind her the other men laugh. They good-humoredly shove the serious man, who’s red-faced with anger and is trying to scold and berate her.

I walk past the group and spread my arms wide in helpless acknowledgment. They all share in Gin’s happiness. Even the most serious gentleman smiles at me in the end. Yes, it’s true. She’s so full of life that she more or less obliges everyone to rejoice in her presence.

Chapter 30

Ican’t believe it!” Paolo comes busting into my room in the morning. “It’s crazy. I had no doubt. I knew that you’re still the same legend. How the heck did you do it?”

I’m befuddled and baffled; all I know is that the right word would have been “fuck.” I turn over in the bed and burrow into the pillows.

“Do what?”

“The car, how did you find it, and so fast too? It just took you a single evening. You’re unbelievable.”

“Oh, right. I made a few phone calls. And I had to spend the money you know about.”

“What do I know about? No, I don’t know about anything.” Paolo sits down on the bed. “What did you have to spend?”

“Hey, don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. The cash.”

“Ah, certainly. But, no, it doesn’t really matter, you know, it’s worth it. Listen, what did the guy who stole my car look like? Was he an asshole, a tough guy, one of those guys with the face…”

I interrupt this fake hypothesis. “No, I didn’t see him. A guy I know brought me the car, but he had nothing to do with the theft.”

“Well, so much the better. ‘Cosa fatta, capo ha.’ What is done is done.”

“What does that mean?”

“Well, it’s a quote from Dante. It’s just something that people say.”

I toss and turn in bed and stick my head under one of the pillows. My brother. He says things, and he doesn’t even know what they mean. I can hear him get up from my bed.

“Thanks again, Step.”

He starts to leave my room. I sit up. “Paolo…”

“Yes, what is it?”

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