Page 16 of The Almost One

And I suppose wewillsee, but we will also act. I’m not going through this emotional wringer again and I’m definitely not watching my mother suffer the way she has the past several hours since he fell at their dining room table.

Patting my cheek with tenderness only a mother can gift, her attention is stolen by the other most important woman in my life.

“Gabriella.” In that one word, River says everything.

I’m sorry you had to go through that.

I’m happy it all worked out.

Let me give you a hug.

I hear it all in those four syllables.

They hug and my mother squeezing my wife like her own daughter provokes a strange feeling of pride right where my heart beats. But it’s when her eyes meet mine over River’s shoulder that I hear everything she’s not saying.

My mother loves my wife.

I push my hands into the front pockets of my jeans and raise a brow at the woman who raised me, a silent answer in my eyes.

“Anche io, Mamma.” Me too, Mamma, me fucking too.

Lina is burrowed in Enzo’s embrace, watching the scene, when she, too, looks up at me. Except, instead of telling me she loves River, she’s threatening me.

“Don’t fuck this up.” Her silent words are mouthed behind my mother’s back. I wink at her, knowing damn well that I probably will fuck up. My only saving grace is that I will always make it up to her.

“Well, I’m going to make sure the paperwork is settled so your father can have a private room. We don’t want innocent people having to deal with his attitude.” My father is a proud man and being told to lie down and rest is akin to telling him he’s weak and useless.

“Okay, I’m going to get some fresh air with River. We’ll be right back.” River’s fingers all too naturally weave into mine as I lead her downstairs and outside into the crisp spring night air.

“Are you all right?”

Am I? I’m not sure. But then I pull my wife into my chest and inhale the sweet scent of her lavender essential oils and decide that yes, I am okay. It was a close call, but we can fix this. As long as I have River by my side, we can fix anything.

“Oh, I know what you need.” River takes my hand and pulls me to the park across the street. It’s nearly two in the morning, not a soul in sight, with the only lighting coming from the streetlights.

“A blowjob?” I’m only half kidding. No one would see us out here. We could probably even get a little quickie to relax us both.

“No, you fiend.”

Well, that’s disappointing.

I sigh theatrically, like she’s just ruined my entire year, which earns me a grunt and a slap across my chest.

“Behave.” I chuckle at her word choice. It seems I’m rubbing off on her.

“That’s my line.” I stop in my tracks and pull her into me, steadying her when she almost loses her footing.

“I love you, River Fox-Mancini.” My hands frame her gorgeous face as I peer into the depths of her green orbs. Chances are, she’s going to destroy me with her next words, but that's okay. The greatest part of loving someone is offering your vulnerability without expecting anything in return.

“You know, someday I’m going to believe you.” I grin at her admission. She didn’t destroy me, she gave me hope.

“That day can’t come soon enough.” I kiss her then. It’s tender and it’s real. It’s all the words and all the promises.

“Come on, Romeo.” I groan as she leads me to wherever, or whatever, she thinks will make me feel better. Apparently, inside her hot, tight cunt isn’t the right answer.

After walking for what feels like three lifetimes, we are in the exact middle of no-fucking-where, which is the exact place River chooses to stop, turning to me with a huge grin on her face.

“Now, don’t panic.” Fucking Hell, this will not end well.

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