“Then, tonight, we celebrate, and tomorrow… we get to work.” He holds out his hand for me to shake, and I do. His rough hands are strong and affirming. Scout goes to shake his hand as well, and he pulls her into a hug, kissing both her cheeks as he sings, “Che Dio benedica il tuo amore.”
She looks to me for help, and I just shake my head because I haven’t yet told her that I never wish to be apart from her again.
Everyone continues the hand-shakes and congratulations, but the one person I haven’t done this with is Scout. I find her in the sea of family, beginning to join us as they catch wind of the deal we just made.
“Congrats.” She grins, offering me her hand. I take it, but I don’t waste time shaking it; I pull her close to me and kiss her with every word of affection I’ve ever spoken or thought. Willing my heart to collide with hers because I want her close. Not just at this moment, but for the rest of our lives.
22
TITO
“Ilove you,” Tito whispers, his forehead pressed to mine, as the celebration around us picks up. We’re moving to a different tempo, a world all our own where everything I never knew I needed is standing in front of me, telling me words I never thought I’d hear or want to say back.
“Why?” I whisper, and he furrows his brows. I do, too, because it’s silly to even ask. But moments ago, I wouldn’t have blamed him if he never wanted to see me again. After everything, I would understand. It would devastate me, but I’d try everything in my power to move forward with the wounds it would leave.
“You’re ridiculous, you know that?” He kisses me again before pulling away with a grin.
“Scout Summers, no one has ever compared to you. Not even come close to you. And risking your life to save me, my family, and my tech dreams… Well, that's everything I needed to know. You’re truly who you say you’ve been this entire time.” Tears well up in my eyes, and I don’t stop them from spilling over.
“I love you, too, and I’d put my life on the line a million times over if it means I get to do it for you.” I reach up and place my hand on his jaw, running my thumb over the dimple in his chin as he smiles. My tears continue to fall, and he wipes them away before lifting me up in his arms and spinning us around as our lips collide.
This is a promise— our words and our actions; a promise to weather any storm, to love fearlessly and without restraint, and to never let go, come what may.
For the remainingmonths of the summer, we stay in Italy. Get a little cottage between the beach and the farmland. It’s quaint and dreamy, and Tito insists on making me breakfast every morning. I’m not the best cook, unless you ask me to make Ramen— packaged, of course.
We’ve fully embraced this Italian lifestyle, staying up late for dinner with friends, waking up early to see the sunrise, or sleeping in to have a slow start to the day with a glass of red.
I couldn’t imagine our lives any more blissful than this. Until one day, after a training session with some mafia members about to take new tech to the rest of their gangs, Tito tells me we’re going somewhere new for dinner.
Most importantly, we are perfectly and completely happy, challenged by each other to love just as well as we create.
“We’ve been to every restaurant in this city, Tito.” I laugh as he takes my hand and leads me to our little blue Vespa.
“Not here, we haven’t.” He grins, putting my helmet on my head before straddling the bike. I shake my head as I fasten the strap under my chin and jump on the back, wrapping my arms around his muscular torso.
He always smells like musky cologne and cotton. I thought that would wear off when we were somewhere else. Maybe it's the way his laundry is done or the scent he wears, but I’m beginning to think that’s just how he smells. I love it, and I love how it reminds me he’s mine. That I'm safe and happy wherever he is.
I settle into the warmth of his back as he speeds up the road.
We drive for a while until we’re further out in the country, and then on the hilltop that we park beside, there is a large white tent.
“What is this?” I ask as I take off my helmet, and he stores it away for me.
“This is our restaurant.” He grabs my hand, intertwining his strong hands with mine, and we walk up the hill. When we arrive at the front of it, he unzips the door, and we step through. It’s completely white everywhere and empty.
“I’m a little freaked out,” I laugh, and he scratches the back of his head nervously after closing the door.
“Just wait.” Right after saying this, he pulls out some sort of remote and presses a button on it. I gasp immediately upon seeing what this actually is.
“It’s the galaxies,” I whisper, and he walks over to me, holding me tightly as I look around.
“This is exactly like—”
“Like the day I took you to the test room to tell you how I was beginning to fall for you.”
“You didn’t tell me that.”
“I didn’t get to. I don’t even think I really realized how badly I needed to say it. But I think of that day often. The look of wonder in your eyes that I love so much. That look you have right now.” He cups my cheek with his hand, and I meet his eyes.