Chapter 22
Laurie
My emotions are all over the place, swinging like a pendulum between grieving Elise and feeling overwhelmingly blessed because I’m surrounded by so much support.
From Tori loving on me like a mother hen to Angelo giving me that quick hug, it’s as if they’ve just decided they’re adopting me, which is a soothing balm to my crushed heart.
“No, we’ve watched The Lake House a million times,” Tiny complains. “Pick something with action for a change.”
“Action, my left butt cheek,” Big Ricky grumbles while flipping through the selection of movies on Adriano’s massive TV. “How about My Best Friend’s Wedding?”
“Ugh.” Angelo groans. “Don’t torture us with that one.”
“Come on,” Big Ricky grumbles. “You’re killing me. What about The Notebook?”
“I will smother you in this bowl of popcorn if you put that on again,” Adriano suddenly says, and my head snaps in his direction.
He’s taken off his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. The sight of his tattoos and the veins running down his forearm makes butterflies erupt into flight inside me.
When he turns around and I see the gun tucked into the back of his pants, I don’t react the same as yesterday.
That’s when I realize I’m not scared of him anymore.
While he and Little Ricky cover the coffee table with snacks, I glance at everyone who’s here because of me.
Tori is sitting beside me, and Angelo is to her left, rubbing his thumb over the beautiful wedding band and engagement ring on her finger.
I glance down at my own hand, seeing the initials A & L in a perfect swirl across the gold wedding ring, then I take in the massive diamond that Adriano pushed onto my finger without so much as blinking an eye about the ginormous price tag.
The other jewelry. The expensive, but absolutely beautiful clothes and accessories.
The hugs and kisses, and undivided attention he’s given me.
The spicy moment we shared earlier. I had zero time to process everything Adriano made me feel, the sheer size of his erection, or how scorching hot he looked as he came down my throat.
But out of everything that’s happened since Adriano took my life by storm, what stood out most was how he came thundering through that bedroom door to get to me. How he grabbed hold of me, giving me a safe place to deal with the shock of losing Elise.
I’ve never had this. People rushing to my side to comfort me.
‘Most people have shitty lives.’
That’s what Austin said when I opened up to him about my parents.
‘Yeah, I’m still going to need that spreadsheet done.’
That was Heather’s response when a heavy jar fell on my big toe and the blood was pooling beneath the nail. God, it felt like the nail was slowly being torn off.
‘No, I can’t take off work.’
My mother’s response when the school called her because I was vomiting badly.
‘Something came up. We’ll make plans for another time.’
Dad, canceling on me for the umpteenth time.
‘Go keep yourself busy.’
‘I don’t have time for you right now.’
‘Handle it yourself.’
‘I don’t care.’
Squeezing into the space between me and the armrest, Adriano takes hold of me and tucks me close to his side while he gets comfortable.
He lowers his head, his worried gaze flicking over mine before he whispers by my ear, “What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Everything… The past,” I reply softly so the others won’t hear. “Your family is so kind to me.”
“That’s because you’re one of us now.” His arm tightens around my shoulders, and when I rest my cheek against his chest and place my hand on his abs, his scent fills my lungs.
My husband.
Not some guy I’m thinking of dating.
Not my boyfriend.
My husband.
Angelo also forced Tori to marry him, and they still look very much in love and devoted to each other.
I tilt my head back and see Adriano’s still staring down at me while his thumb strokes my bicep. Our eyes lock, and while a movie starts playing on the TV, I fall head over heels in love with my husband.
He leans down and presses a soft kiss to my mouth that makes tingles spread through me before they gather around my heart, shocking it to life so it beats only for this man.
Adriano’s eyes fill with tenderness, looking at me in a way no one ever has.
Tiny barks out a laugh, and it rips my attention to the rest of the room.
Snuggling against my husband’s chest, I realize we’re watching The Lost City with Sandra Bullock.
I only got to see the beginning before Austin stole the remote so he could switch to some documentary, which he always liked for background noise while he napped on the couch.
Tori grabs a bowl of popcorn and holds it out to us. Adriano takes a handful, then tells me, “Help me. My other arm is currently occupied.”
My lips curve up as I pick up a kernel and feed him.
“So adorable,” Big Ricky mumbles with a broad smile on his face while he watches us.
“Watch the movie you picked,” Angelo grumbles at him.
“How about you have some candy to sweeten your sour mood,” Big Ricky fires back.
“Hush. We’re trying to watch,” Tori silences them, but it’s no use because the men keep bickering straight through the entire movie.
By the time the credits roll across the screen, I feel at home between the group of people who are now my family.
The past four days, I’ve been alternating between feeling okay and wanting to cry my eyes out.
As Little Ricky drives us to the church where Elise’s service is being held, I stare out the window at the foreign landscape where Elise was born and raised.
God, it’s a whole different world.
We drive past little cafés tucked between old storefronts, their outdoor tables crowded close to the street. Then the scenery changes to rows of narrow brick buildings with flower boxes beneath the windows and bicycles lined along the sidewalks.
It’s so pretty here.
Adriano presses a kiss to my hair, then asks, “How are you holding up?”
Turning my head to look at him, I reply, “I’m okay.”
The flight from the States to Belgium was a luxurious experience. Adriano brought a whole team of men, and I’ve been told Marco and Paulie are my guards.
I’ll have to get used to having them with me whenever I go out.
Little Ricky brings the SUV to a stop, and I notice how all the other black vehicles park in front and behind us. The men get out, checking the area before Little Ricky exits the SUV.
While he opens Adriano’s door, Marco opens mine. When I walk around the back of the vehicle, I brush my palms over the brand-new black dress I’m wearing.
Adriano buttons his jacket, then holds out his hand to me, and as I take it, he leads me into the church.
Walking up the aisle, some of our guards spread out and find seats.
“Laurie!” I hear a woman call, and glancing to the right, I see her walking toward me. “I’m Hilde, Elise’s mother.”
“Oh!” Not thinking whether she shares the same touch aversion as her daughter, I step forward and give her a quick hug. “I’m so sorry for your loss. Elise was an amazing person.”
When I pull back, Hilde’s face crumbles, and she presses a crumpled tissue to her nose. “She spoke so much of you, it feels like I know you. It’s nice to meet you in person, I just wish it was under better circumstances. Elise was so looking forward to visiting you.”
“Me too.” Again I reach for her, rubbing my hand up and down her arm.
She gives Adriano a harsh look, then asks, “Is this the boyfriend? I thought you broke up with him.”
“Oh no!” I squeeze his hand, hoping to all that’s holy he’s not offended. “This is my husband. Adriano Rizzo.”
Hilde’s eyes go wide as saucers. “Elise didn’t say anything about you getting married.”
“I didn’t get to tell her.”
A man takes hold of Hilde’s shoulder and whispers something in her ear, then she gives me a quick smile. “The service is about to start. We’ll talk more over coffee.”
When she follows the man to the front, Adriano leads me to an open seat. Sitting down, his side presses against mine.
“Sorry about that,” I whisper.
He shakes his head. “Don’t worry, mia piccola farfalla.”
As the service gets underway, beautiful things are said about Elise, and as I struggle to keep the tears back, Adriano pulls a small pack of tissues from his pocket. He takes one out and hands it to me before placing his arm around my shoulders.
I stare at the tissues he thought to bring for me.
Such a simple act, but God, it hits unbelievably hard.
When the men in Elise’s family pick up her coffin and carry it up the aisle, I lose the fight and cling to Adriano while I stare at the polished wood.
Everybody gets up, and I wait for most of the people to leave before I climb to my feet and walk to the front where a large photo of Elise stands among pretty flower arrangements.
I stare into her eyes, and everytime my sight blurs, I blink so I can keep looking at her.
You were such a huge part of my life, Elise. God, this is so unfair.
Lifting my hand, I brush my fingers over her cheek.
Thank you for being my best friend and for caring so much about me.
I love you.
I blow out a trembling breath as I try to rein in the tears, and when I turn around, Adriano is right behind me.
He steps forward and pulls me to his chest.
“They’re going to leave for the cemetery soon,” Little Ricky murmurs.
“Do you still want to go?” Adriano asks.
I shake my head and wrap my arms around him, sobbing into his expensive suit jacket.
“Shh…” His hand brushes up and down my back before settling behind my head. “I’m here, amore mio. Take all the time you need.”
Turning my face, I rest my cheek against him while I look at the photo of Elise until my tears eventually dry up.
I pull away from Adriano and hurry up the aisle, running away from Elise’s smiling face that I will never get to see in person.
Adriano
Every day, Laurie seems to be doing better.
I hate that she suffered such a loss, but fuck, I love how she’s been clinging to me. Everytime I’m close to her, she has to touch me.