Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Sorry, this is a blue flavor household.”
“It’s the only good flavor,” I said, reaching for it before remembering my hands.
Nico took it in his hands instead, twisting off the top before passing it back to me.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
I chugged half the bottle before nodding. “I did the whole loop with no problem, but I just wanted to go a little further.”
“After the loop?” he asked, brows raising.
“Running helps me clear my mind.”
“I like a good run too. But that’s impressive. So, you decided to do the North Woods?”
“In retrospect, probably not my best idea. I know that is a really secluded area.”
“You’re not to blame for wanting to have a run through a wooded area to get away from the city.”
“Still. I mean, the reality is what it is.”
“Well, if you want, anytime you want to take a run through a less populated area of Central Park, call me. I can always go for a run.”
“I don’t have your number,” I blurted out. Even though I knew I really needed to not have that at my disposal. I knew there was a good chance that I might reach for my phone in quiet, needy moments.
Nico looked genuinely perplexed at that.
“Do you have your phone?”
I reached for it with my uncoated fingertips, tapping in my code, then passing it to him.
“I had no service in there either.”
“Yeah. I have issues just around the Pool sometimes,” he said as he typed in his number, then called himself with my phone. “There. Now we can contact each other if we need to. Do you remember anything about the guy?”
“Not really. I didn’t get a good look at him. He had a baseball cap shading his face. Just tall. Average. Strong.”
“Strong?” Nico asked, stiffening. “Did he hurt you? I thought you fell.”
“I did. But he grabbed my ankle and pulled. That’s how I hit my chin. But I think kicking him might have been how I lost him.”
“Good for you. Whatever it takes to get away. I used to make my baby sister carry mace and an extendable baton everywhere she went.”
“I didn’t realize you had a sister. I heard Matthew talk about your brothers.”
“Yeah. There’s six of us in total. It’s me, Leo, Cesare, Gavino, Zeno, and Lore.”
“Wow. That must have been crazy growing up.”
“The good kind of crazy mostly. Always someone to hang out with. And also always someone to hog the shower or borrow your shit.”
“Are you all still close?”
“Very. I usually see each of them every week. A little less with Lore. She married and moved to Brooklyn, so we don’t see her as much as the rest of us who all are still in Manhattan.”
“Are the others married?” Why was I prying into his personal life so much?
“Cesare is. He met a sweet florist and locked her down real quick. They’re busy popping out and raising kids. But Zen is too busy on his computer to get serious about a woman. Besides, they might get freaked out by his disaster of an apartment. He’s got some… executive dysfunction issues.
“And Gav, well, Gav is a bit of a grumpy recluse.”
“What about Leo?”
“Leo will settle down eventually. He’s just been working a lot lately, doing some traveling.”
“And you?”
“Just haven’t found the right woman yet,” he admitted. And it was just so… honest. And mature. Like he genuinely wanted to be married and was a little bit frustrated that he hadn’t made it to that milestone yet.
“But you want to be married?”
“Absolutely. I’ve known all my life that I want a wife and kids.”
“Six of them?” I asked, shooting him a little smile.
“If she’s game, I am.”
There was absolutely no reason for my heart to squeeze the way it did right then.
“I’ve always wanted a bunch of kids,” I admitted, relieved to say it aloud. “I guess it just wasn’t in the cards for me. Not for lack of trying and getting all kinds of tests run.”
“You were trying to get pregnant?” Nico asked. Something dark had taken over his face. It was unsettling enough to make my stomach twist.
“Yes. Almost since I got married. I wanted to start a family right away. What is it?” I asked when he reached up to tug at the collar of his shirt.
“I… I don’t know… I’m torn with loyalties here.”
“It’s about Matthew?” I asked. “About us having kids?”
Nico looked a mix of confused and… angry.
But angry about what?
“Matt knew you were… trying and going for tests?”
“Yeah, of course. He was the one there every month when it was clear I wasn’t pregnant, telling me we had another month to work on it.”
“Christ,” Nico said. His jaw had gone so tight that a muscle twitched.
“What is it? Please.”
There was a thickness in my voice then. Years of disappointment and shattered hopes coming to the surface once again.