Chapter 21
Just Friends
The only gift I want for Christmas is you. —Besties, Izzy
Izzy
I wake to an empty bed, but the scent of sex and sweat lingers in the air, a sharp reminder of what happened just a few hours ago.
The smile that graces my lips is something I can’t help. It’s been too long since I had good sex. Even before Lucas and his friends took from me, it had been years since I’d enjoyed myself. I didn’t even have to fake it with Lucas—he didn’t care that he couldn’t make me come.
But Enzo…
My eyes threaten to roll to the back of my head as I replay the memory.
Not many men are interested in giving pain alongside pleasure—and the ones that are almost never get it right. But Enzo knew exactly what my body could handle. In fact, I think that was just a taste of how it could be.
I can still feel his hand tightening around my neck, cutting off my air just enough to heighten the sensations that floated through my body.
Perhaps others would have wanted gentleness.
Especially after what Lucas did to me. But I needed it to be rough.
I needed it hard. I've never enjoyed slow and gentle loving making.
To change that now… because of Lucas? It would be a betrayal of myself.
It would mean he's won. But he hasn't. I'm still me.
Groaning, I roll out of bed, get dressed in some sweatpants and a tank top, before opening the door and padding down the hall.
Light Christmas music floats through the air from the kitchen, where I find Enzo—dressed casually for change—preparing breakfast.
“Hey,” I murmur, stepping into his line of sight.
“Morning.”
Nate stumbles into the room—sleep rumbled—before either of us can say anything more. He grins when he spots us.
“Just friends, huh?” he teases, at the same moment that everyone else chooses to enter the kitchen.
My face heats and I imagine I resemble a tomato. “We are,” I mumble, embarrassed.
“Dude, shut up,” Enzo grumbles, shoving Nate playfully.
“Sorry,” he squeaks as Enzo gets his head into a headlock. “Just didn’t realize friendship came with so many benefits.”
My cheeks are on fire.
“What’s the plan for today?” Tess asks once the two of them have stopped play-fighting.
Enzo goes back to cutting up panettone and fruit for breakfast. “Papa’s coming over for lunch.”
Tess squeaks, then runs to get dressed.
The morning flies by in a blur of chatter and laughter as everyone pitches in to cook up a feast. Tess takes over, doing most of the work. Apparently, she loves cooking, so she’s happy to give orders if people leave her to it.
Fine by me.
I end up sitting with Carina in the living room after we got kicked out for almost messing up dessert.
“So,” she says, a grin on her lips. “You and Enzo?” She waggles her eyebrows.
My cheeks flame again at the reminder that everyone heard us last night.
“There really is no me and Enzo.”
She studies me, tilting her head, her pink hair falling to one side. “But you want there to be?”
I shrug, noncommittal. “He’s my best friend.”
“A best friend who—from the sounds of it—can make you come.” She laughs as I die of embarrassment. “I’m just saying, that’s pretty much the blueprint for a perfect relationship.”
She reaches out to cover my hand with hers. “If you’re not interested then that’s fine, but if you are, then I think you should tell him.”
I let my head flop back against the couch cushions with a sigh. “I don’t think he wants more.”
“Has he said that?”
My mouth twists. “Well… no.”
“Then maybe he feels the same as you but doesn’t know how to say it.”
I consider her words. Perhaps she's right. But if she’s wrong… if I tell Enzo how I feel, and he turns me down? I couldn’t live with that.
I can’t ruin what we have, no matter how hard it is to resist him. Last night was a blip. He said it himself: it can’t happen again. He doesn’t want more.
"How do you know Enzo?" I ask, steering the conversation off of me.
She smiles, a little wistful. "I met him when I was living in Italy and—"
"You knew him in Italy?" I cut in. I know how I know her. She's the one I saw him with five years ago when I found him, ready to spill my heart out.
"Yeah, he helped me when I was in a tricky situation."
"Did you date?" I ask, not very subtly.
Carina mocks throwing up. "Ew. God no. He's like a brother to me."
That's reassuring.
Massimo turns up a few hours later. He cries when he sees Tess. It’s strange, seeing someone so feared brought to his knees by his daughter. It’s refreshing.
We eat copious amounts of food. Tess cooks a traditional English Christmas dinner—roast turkey, cauliflower cheese, various green and root vegetables, stuffing, little sausages wrapped in bacon which she calls ‘pigs in blankets’, crispy roast potatoes, thick brown gravy—it isn’t that dissimilar to what we have in Italy. Everything is cooked to perfection.
Only once it’s evening, and we’re all sleepy from food, do we finally open presents.
It’s Kai’s birthday, so he goes first. Tess bought him some running shorts and labels—not sure what the significance is, but he seems pleased. Apparently, they only met just over six months ago, which is crazy given she’s five months pregnant already.
Nate hands him a t-shirt that says ‘Ctrl+Alt+Dad’, which has everyone crying with laughter.
Carina gives him a bag with the slogan ‘Your Friendly Neighbourhood Cleanup Crew’. That one has Kai scowling at Tess who feigns an innocent expression.
I’m not sure what the inside jokes are, but everyone else seems to.
Enzo holds up his hands when they look at him. “All your presents are on their way to England.”
After Kai’s birthday presents, they start exchanging Christmas ones. I just sit back and watch, content to enjoy this relaxed side of Enzo that he only seems to show around me and his family.
Massimo cries again when Tess presents him with a t-shirt that reads ‘Gangsta Grandpa’. He’s so in love with her it’s laughable.
By the time everyone is ready for bed I’m barely keeping my eyes open. I crawl into Enzo’s bed, sleep beckoning me, but before I succumb, he walks in, holding a small gift bag.
“What’s that?” I murmur with a yawn.
“Your present,” he tells me, sitting on the edge of the bed and handing it to me.
My brow furrows. “You already got me a present.”
We exchanged gifts earlier. I got him a bottle of Italian wine from our hometown, and a set of cufflinks for his suits, while he got me a cashmere sweater and luxury skincare set, telling me that I deserved nice things after everything I’ve been through.
“I know, but I got you this too.”
Curious, I push tissue paper out the way, revealing a small jewelry box nestled in the bottom. My breath catches as I open it, finding an infinity collier necklace, with tiny blue and green diamonds.
Tears prick my eyes.
“Tesoro,” I whisper, blinking blurrily as I look up at him.
He kisses the side of my head, lips soft and gentle on my skin. "Merry Christmas, Cuore mio.”