“Hey, do you remember when we decided to open the restaurant?” I say as I plate our food and come out of my thoughts.
“Yeah, I do.” She gets this distant look in her eyes. “That was such a weird time for me.”
“Oh yeah. How so?”
“I was already having second thoughts and feeling suffocated by my dad. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Then one day, I was sitting in the coffee shop next to the hospital, making a pros-and-cons list.
“I was actually sitting and murmuring to myself. This gorgeous woman came and asked to sit with me. You know, the exotic beauty type? Green eyes, gorgeous mocha-brown skin, a real nice body, luscious dark curls.”
Not my type, but I know what she means. Carleen has always been the perfect woman to me. However, I nod and listen.
She continues. “Well, we started talking. She told me her story of how she was in a terrible, abusive relationship. Then one day she was given a decision. Stay and die or leave, learn something new and live.
“I talked to that woman for an entire week. No matter when I showed up, she was there. Talking to her made me apply what I was going through to her story.
“I wasn’t going through anything nearly as dangerous, but I felt abused by my father’s expectations. I was dying inside. I had already learned something new. The only decision I needed to make was to live, you know?”
“Why didn’t you ever tell me about her or express how you felt?”
“You had something going on. I could tell. You were always so distracted.”
I narrow my eyes. “I always want to know what’s going on with you.”
“Well, it all worked out. She disappeared right after you asked me if I wanted to start the restaurant with you.”
I rub my fingers across my lips. Our restaurant, Anima Mias was actually Gio’s idea. He saw me struggling and suggested I open the restaurant with Carleen. I thought it was a great idea and approached her after she mentioned looking for a job in a kitchen.
I give a small chuckle. “Nonno always talks about angels. How they show up in the forms of humans when you need them most. Those people who appear to step in for a short period of time and then poof, they’re gone.”
“Angels wear Prada?” She snorts. “Trust me, whatever she’s doing in her new life, she’s doing well, and I don’t think it’s the work of miracles. I had this feeling about her. I can’t put my finger on it though.”
I narrow my eyes. “And you haven’t seen her since? You didn’t feel like you were in danger, did you?”
“No, no. That’s not it. I felt safe, but…like I said, I can’t put my finger on it.”
I shrug and pick up the plates as I start for the living room where we can kick back and relax while we eat, the table I set earlier is forgotten. Carleen follows with two wineglasses and the bottle.
I place our food on the coffee table and hold my hand out to help her have a seat after she kicks her heels off. Reaching for the remote, I then take a seat next to her in front of my plate.
Now this feels right. This is what I imagine our lives to be like. However, I find myself wondering for the millionth time if I can pull this off. Can I be a Di Lorenzo and have my happily ever after?
Chapter 14
Scattered Dishes
Dario
“What do you want to watch?” I ask as I turn on the TV.
“Do you even need to ask?”
I laugh and pull up her favorite movie. “Purple Rain it is.” I wink.
Carleen moans as she bites into the pot sticker after dipping it into the small ramekin of sauce with her chopsticks. I can’t pull my eyes away from her lips as she chews.
Unable to have this distance between us, I shift and open my legs that are bent at the knees. I wave her over and she comes without hesitation. Once she’s seated between my legs with her back to my chest, I pull her plate closer and shift again so we can both reach our food and see the screen.
“This is so good. The filling is so flavorful and lush. And the dumpling wrappers are cooked perfectly. That crispiness I love about pot stickers is there.”
I wipe my mouth and kiss the top of her head. “There’s more if you want. I made something light because you said you had a big lunch. But I made plenty just in case.”
“Mm, no. This is perfect.”
I reach to dip one in the sauce with my chopsticks and lift it to her lips. She takes a bit and moans. I bring the rest to my mouth and finish it.