30. Tasha
CHAPTER 30
Tasha
“You expect us to just drop everything for you two? I don’t care how dicked down you think we are, that’s a big ask.”
My heart is racing almost as fast as my thoughts. Max shrugs, and Rocco leans against the counter with his arms crossed. Images of what we did right in that very spot flit through my mind and my cheeks heat with the memory. That man knows what he’s doing. I’ll give him that. We fucked all night long, so much so that my legs are hardly holding me up. I always thought there was something wrong with me because of all the times I’ve been with someone, they could never get me off. But being with Rocco was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. He found a way to connect with me that I’ve been searching for my entire life.
But leaving everything behind? Everything I’ve worked for?
It’s insanity.
I look over at my best friend, expecting her to back me up, but her eyes shine with something I haven’t seen in years. It’s the one thing that gives me pause in my panic. She looks content and happy. Emotions that I’ve desperately wanted her to experience again. No matter how many fun girls’ nights the two of us had, she’s been a ghost of her former self. Her smiles were forced and few and never reached her eyes. She was just going through the motions.
“Julia? It’s crazy, right?”
She tucks her hair behind her ear and chews on her bottom lip. “I love him, Tash. Regardless of what you decide, I’m leaving. But I want you with me.”
I look over at Rocco, trying to decipher what he could possibly be thinking.
It’s only been one night.
One amazing, life-changing, orgasmic night.
“If we do this, there’s no way we can come back. Ever. Julia, are you sure?”
“You’re the only thing keeping me here, Tash. My family is gone, and it’s not like we were exactly happy here. I’m sure.” Her hand grips Max’s, and I watch her melt against his touch.
She’s right.
I’ve gotten good at putting on a brave face and hiding my pain. Not wanting to burden her with my problems, knowing how hard she’s had it these last few years. But she can tell anyway. She knows me better than anyone. Julia is my family—a chosen sister who has been with me through thick and thin. As hard as I’ve worked to carve out a life for myself here, I have nothing but an apartment full of emptiness to show for it.
The decision hits deep in my bones as I look around this room taking in the faces of Max, Rocco, and Julia. I’ve always been one to follow my intuition, and I can feel this is one of those times where it’s nudging me to go for what seems outrageous.
“Okay. What’s the plan?”
Julia’s face breaks out into the widest smile, squealing loudly in my ear. She throws her arms around my neck with so much force that I almost topple over.
Her happiness is infectious, and I find myself sharing in her joy. Oh God, this is really happening.
Rocco’s face has a hint of a smile as he watches the two of us. His eyes alight with the promise of more. More time to figure out what this thing between us is.
“We know that the cops are looking at our family. If they dig any further, they’re going to come up with the evidence they need to put us away. So we leave. Today. I’ll drive us back to the city for you to grab what you need, and then we’ll go to the airport and hope like hell my buddy was able to work his magic.” Max says, sounding confident.
“And your buddy?”
“The best hacker in the business. He went to MIT and worked for national security. If he says it’s good to go, I trust him.”
The question is, do I trust him at his word?
I blow out a breath, nerves settling in my stomach for what we’re about to do.
“Okay. Let’s go.”
Julia shakes my shoulders. “We’re going to Italy! Just like we always wanted!”
I laugh, and my eyes slide over to Rocco’s smiling face. “We’re going to Italy.”