31. QUINN
31
QUINN
“Laurie, can you check again?”
Laurie laughs as she opens up my zipper bag for the tenth time. “Yup, the drive is still in there.”
“No, can you connect it to the TV and see if the file is working? I don’t want to take any chances.”
Inside the drive is the recording of my phone call with Liam.
My flight to Italy is in a few hours, and I want to double check—quadruple check—that everything is there before getting on that plane.
“You’re being a bit paranoid.” Laurie looks at me with a weary expression but does what I ask. “It’s all there, no need to worry.”
“Good.” I sigh. “I’m sorry, I’m just making sure that everything goes right. I’ve backed everything up to the cloud, too.”
“The recording is just fine. You’ve got everything under control, don’t worry.” Laurie purses her lips, sitting down next to me. “Now, have you thought about how you are going to tell Enzo? Are you prepared to see him again?”
I open my mouth to respond, but I’m stumped.
“ Exactly. ” Laurie grins at me. “So? What will you do?”
“I’m hoping to let my instinct guide me for that part,” I mutter as my cheeks burn.
The last time I let my instincts guide me regarding Enzo, I ended up in his bed.
Heat pools between my legs as I consider the possibility of that happening again.
I’ve certainly thought about it.
Enzo has been a regular feature in both my nightmares and my wet dreams these last four months. I’ve lost track of how many times I brought myself to a release imagining his hands on me.
Laurie, oblivious to my entirely inappropriate thoughts, carries on unfazed. “Don’t try to shut him out if he wants to take things forward with you. I have a feeling he must have missed you, too.”
“You’ve never even met him.”
“Sure, but you told me everything there is to know about him.” She winks. “So, in a way, I kind of have.”
Since hearing that they had called me back to Italy, Laurie is convinced that Enzo has been secretly pining for me all this time, and we are two lovers about to live our second chance romance with a happily ever after.
As much as my heart might be crying for that to be true, I need to be realistic.
Unfortunately, I can’t help the sliver of hope that shines in my soul.
“What if he refuses to have anything to do with the baby?” My nails scrape the inside of my palm.
“From what you’ve told me, he seems to love his children. And that baby is there is as much his as the other three.”
I shake my head. “Those children are from his marriage to a dead wife he is still in love with. This is different.”
Laurie raises an eyebrow at me. “Regardless. You are telling him about his child, not demanding retribution or marriage. It’s normal for people to co-parent without marrying. Though, I have a feeling he might just want to marry you, too.”
I smack her arm lightly, “Can you stop giving me unrealistic hopes?”
“I have a gut feeling about this.” She shrugs.
Her words stay with me as I finish packing. The proof I need to show the Marchettis is packed away tightly in a small bag and stowed in my hand-luggage so I have access to it at all times.
Laurie, being the amazing friend she always has been, drops me off at the airport.
“Take good care of yourself and the little one,” she instructs as she kisses my cheek for a final goodbye. “I’ll keep my phone with me at all times. If anything goes wrong, you call me straight away, okay?”
I nod. I can’t thank her enough for the things she does for me.
As I make my way to my gate, I am finally alone. The nervousness envelopes like a vine.
How should I tell him?
I’m pregnant, Enzo.
Enzo, I am pregnant.
You are going to be a father again.
I’ve gone over multiple scenarios in my mind already, but I cannot anticipate what his reaction is going to be.
It could go either way. Even though what I really want is for him to accept the child. To be happy about the baby. Even if he still doesn’t want me.
The overhead speaker announces my flight is boarding first class .
I glance down at my ticket. It is the first time I really look at it, and my eyes wide. They booked me into first class.
It’s my first time travelling in such luxury, and I’m glad because at least it gives me the privacy I need.
The seat is comfortable, and I ease into the cushions. Last night, I didn’t get much sleep, so I try and relax.
I close my eyes, trying to get a few hours of rest before I have to face Enzo again. But he’s right there in my dream again.
I’m standing right in front of him, and he’s taller than I remember.
I love you. I’ve missed you more than anything. Can we please make this work out?
I wake up and my heart breaks again. How I wish the dream could come true.
The screen in front of me lets me know there are still three hours left into the flight.
Three hours before I find out what my story with Enzo amounts to.
Will I just have a rude awakening or is Laurie right and I’m about to start living my happily ever after?
The wait might just kill me.