Chapter 39 #3
“Yeah, well in England, a programme that comes on pretty much daily is called a soap.” I stroked my thumb across the frown lines marring her beautiful face.
“Give it a whirl. You never know, you might enjoy it.” She craned her neck to look past me, the argument between the two actors pulling her in with each passing second. “I’ll finish up breakfast then.”
“Okay, I’ll be here watching Street Coronation.”
“Coronation Street,” I laughed as she waved me off to the kitchen.
Night had fallen just as quickly as the sun had risen, and knowing we would have to return back to the house soon irritated the shit out of me.
I hated we’d have to go back to acting like we weren’t together, but I knew Bella was scared of what her family would think, especially Lorenzo.
Her father had been calling the shots all her life, and I think it scared her to start making her own.
“What do you want for dinner?” she asked, leaning against the fridge.
“How about you go and have a shower, and I’ll pick us somethin’ up?” I said, wrapping my arms around her. “I thought we could watch a film, eat greasy food and popcorn and make the most of our time together before heading back to normal.”
“I like the sound of that,” she gently pecked the tip of my nose and I wasn’t ashamed to say my fucking heart flip flopped.
“You choose the food and I’ll make a movie list. All I ask is that you pick up the sweet popcorn.
I’m no good with salty.” I chuckled and she knew exactly what had tickled me. “Arturo, cut it out!”
“Alright, alright, I’m goin’,” I kissed her forehead and began making my way towards the front door. As I reached it I paused and called out to her. “Bella, come and lock the door behind me, and do not open it to anyone who knocks. I’ll let myself back in.”
“Calm down, dude, don’t get your panties in a twist. I won’t open the door to anyone. Stop worrying.” Despite her teasing, her eyes tensed. We both knew the power of information. And fuckers today can get their hands on anything so long as the price was right.
“I will always worry about you, mi princesa .” I closed the door just as she rolled her damn eyes.
Oh, Bella… I plan on getting you for that later.
“Extra pepperoni, please, mate,” I asked Charlie, who responded with a lopsided smile.
“You never come for take out.” You could hear the underlying question from a mile away.
“Fancied a change.”
“This is about that girl you were in here with before, am I right?” he asked as he tossed pizza dough around in the air without so much as glancing up.
“I don’t kiss and tell,” I winked, handing his son a wad of cash.
“Hey hey, whoa! Arturo, buddy, we talked about this. It’s 18.50. What, do I look like I need the charity?”
“And you never make me wait. You’ll take the tip and shut your trap.
” And that is why I had no qualms paying triple for Charlie’s.
He was as real and honest as they come, and the guy’s pizzas were renowned in these streets.
But bigger chains charging stupidly low prices had sucked his business dry. I felt for him. I really did.
One of these days I should just give him an anonymous donation.
“For the record, she seemed like a real nice kid. Can I give you a piece of advice?”
“Oh yeah, what’s that?”
“Treat her better than you think anyone deserves. Because a good woman who will put up with your shit is worth a million pizzas. You look after her, you hear me?” Charlie was a sucker for relationships, he’d had many in the years I’d been living here anyway.
“With my life.” He had no idea how true that statement really was.
“Now, how much extra pepperoni we talking?”
“Cover the whole damn thing.”
“You got it,” he chuckled.
Saying my goodbyes to Charlie and the boys, I grabbed the pizza and cans of fizzy drink off the counter and headed for the door.
My place was just a few blocks from Charlie’s, but I took the backstreets just in case someone from the Ricci family caught sight of me.
I was probably overthinking things but you never knew when these lads would pop up.
Even Logan’s wasn't that far from my place.
I turned my key in the lock, kicking open the door to see her preparing the sofa with blankets and pillows from the bedroom.
Her hair was shoved up in a messy bun on the top of her head, and her body was covered in an all in one unitard that showed off every line of her body.
The curtains were closed, and from what I could see she had made a favourites list on the TV with a bunch of classics.
“You’re back!” she squealed the second she glanced up.
“I got popcorn, drinks and, of course, pizza,” I placed the box down on the sofa, kicking off my boots.
She lifted the lid, her eyes lighting up instantly. “You got extra pepperoni!” She clapped her hands together in delight and seeing her without a care in the world made my heart soar. “Woah, Arturo, the whole thing is completely covered!”
“Can’t afford you nabbing all of mine, can I?” I smirked as she jabbed me in the ribs with her fingers. “But yeah, like you said they never add enough these days.” I collapsed onto the sofa on one side of the box as she relaxed on the other.
“So what are we watching?” she asked, tucking into her first slice.
I scrolled through the list she’d made, stopping on one classic I hadn’t seen before.
“How about that?”
“Jurassic park?!” Her brow shot up in surprise.
“Yeah, I ain't watched it. Is it any good?” I said, grabbing my own slice and biting into the greasy goodness.
“Wait… You’ve never seen Jurassic Park?” I shook my head. “How have you never watched it?” she genuinely did seem taken aback.
“Bella, I don’t think I’ve ever sat down to enjoy a pizza and a film before let alone binged a bunch of films.”
“I’m sorry.” Her eyes went wide with genuine sadness.
“Don’t, princess. This, right here, a pizza date night with the woman who turned my life upside down, was worth the wait.” Her eyes twinkled as she hit play.
“Then Jurassic Park it is.” she smiled, taking another bite out of her pizza slice.
We got lost in the film together, our fingers intertwined. I couldn’t get over how settled I was. I was used to being restless, itching to move. I knew then Bella would be the only one I’d find peace with.
“I have to say, you really know how to show a girl a good time,” she smiled, circling her thumb over my knuckles.
“How so?”
“I just mean there is nothing else I would rather do than this. It’s perfect.” And just like that, my heart stopped.
“God, I love you.”