04

He nods and takes another sip of his wine. He returns back to a conversation with my parents, and I start to doze off. Thinking about unimportant things.

I wonder what Lucy is doing at the moment. Probably flirting with some guy she met at a bar. She somehow managed to get a fake ID to get into bars, and I told her it wasn’t a good idea, she wouldn’t listen. I don’t know why we’re friends. We’re so different, in everything, but we managed to be best friends.

I can already imagine her clothes she’s wearing right now at the bar. Probably some strapless, white dress that ends mid-thigh with some high heels. Her lips are probably a bright red and her blonde hair is down. She’s beautiful, no wonder that every guy is smitten by her.

I feel a light nudge in my side and I look up, to find everyone at the table staring at me. « What ? » I ask confused. Dad chuckles. « I asked ; how is Chris ? »

Chris !

Instantly my hand goes up to touch the necklace hanging around my neck. Mr. Amoretto follows my movement with his eyes. « He’s fine, » I say and start playing with the heart pendant. « Mind telling me who this Chris is ? » Mr. Amoretto chuckles amused. I blush. « He’s my boyfriend, » I say, and I feel somewhat disappointed to say that.

What the heck are you doing, Athena ? He’s your boyfriend. You shouldn’t stare at this older man !

He nods, and right at that moment the food arrives. The tasty smell of pasta fills my nose, and I realize how hungry I am. « Enjoy your meal, » the server smiles before she walks away. I look up into Mr. Amoretto’s eyes, and he winks.

My breath hitches in my throat, an unknown feeling washing over me. I suddenly feel hot, and I feel like I’m going to faint. With red cheeks, I look down at my food and start digging in.

° ° °

After our dinner, we moved to the living room, which is very spacious. It has a fireplace and a couple of comfortable looking couches. In the middle between the couches there’s a coffee-table. As soon as my eyes land on the wall covered in books I’m sold. I love it.

We’re sitting on the couch, talking a little bit, until funnily enough both my mom and dad say that they have to pee.

We laugh and Mr. Amoretto tells them instructions to get to the bathroom.

Both my parents stand up and walk away, in search for the bathroom which leaves me and Mr. Amoretto alone in the room. I keep glancing at the bookshelves on the other side of the room. « You can take a look, if you want, » he chuckles. I look up with red cheeks, embarrassed that he caught me staring.

« Can I ? » I ask careful. He nods and stands up, offering me a hand. Hesitatingly I take it, ignoring the electricity that shoots through my body. I get up, and much to my dismay he lets go of me. Together we walk to those big shelves and I look up to them.

« When I’m going to live on my own, I have to have this in my house, » I say determined. He chuckles and walks next to me while I explore the books. I see so many names that are so famous and that I love.

« I don’t doubt that, » he says, and puts a hand between my shoulder blades as he leads us in the room. I try not to let this affect me, but fail miserably. I notice that I want his touch on my body, everywhere.

But you can’t. Boyfriend, remember ?

I let my fingertips glide over the covers of the books, and enjoy the feeling of it.

« You can always come and visit me if you want some time alone to read, » he says next to me, and I feel his hand slide down to my lower back. I turn around with a smile on my face. « Really ? » I ask him. He chuckles, and nods.

« Of course, mia cara, » he whispers, his accent thick and velvety. I swallow back the lump in my throat and nod. « I’ll keep that in mind, » I whisper back. His hand leaves my hip and he moves away.

Together, we continue to walk in silence, until we hear my parents coming back. When they enter the room we’re already seated on the couch, waiting for them. « I just showed Athena the books, » Mr. Amoretto says with a polite smile. « Oh, yeah she loves books. It’s incredible how many books that girl can read, » mom chuckles.

Blushing, I look down to the ground. « That’s nothing to be embarrassed about, little girl. You should be proud that you read so much. Kids this time don’t even glance at books, » dad says.

Little girl.

I don’t know why, but I grow irritated when he calls me that. I never cared that he called me that, but now, in front of Mr. Amoretto, I hate the word. I don’t want him to think of me as a little girl. He must know that I’m very mature and grown up.

Why, exactly ? You got nothing to do with him. And for your information ; he’s older !

He’s indeed older. I guess he’s in his thirties, I think of him in a sinful way. He’s just an old friend of dad. Nothing more, nothing less.

That’s right. Forget about him. Act formal around him.

So when we say our goodbyes, I keep my distance and wave at him, not saying anything else to him. He nods back and watches how we drive away.

When I lay in bed that night I fall asleep with the thought that I should forget about him, that he’s just a man that my dad used to know.

It’s two days later, and I don’t know why Vincenzo is still lingering in my mind. His accent, his velvety voice, his dark eyes and those full lips. Oh, those lips are burned in my mind. Everything about him is still so fresh in my mind.

I can even smell his cologne. He even appeared in one of my dreams. I still remember how his rough hands skimmed over my body, how his fingertips traced my skin.

But this is wrong. So wrong. I have to forget him, learn that he’s out of my league and that he has thousands of women that are willing to die for his touch. Women that can give him what he wants, not some eighteen-year-old girl who knows nothing about sex.

That’s why I called Chris, to hang out today. I have to get Mr. Amoretto out of my head, and Chris is the only one who can do that. The doorbell brings me out of my thoughts. That must be Chris.

Giving myself a once over in the mirror, I nod in approval before I head downstairs. I put my shoes on and open the door. Two blue eyes meet mine, and without realizing a big smile forms on my lips.

Chris looks up, and his famous, shy smile spreads across his lips.

« Athena, » he greets and steps in my direction. « Hi ! » I exclaim and wrap my arms around his neck before hugging him. He chuckles and hugs me back.

« I missed you, » I mumble in his white shirt. The smell of apples hits my nose, and I inhale deeply the familiar smell. « We saw each other last week, » he chuckles. I shrug. « That’s too long, » I say and look up. He leans down and pecks my lips quickly. « Shall we go ? » he asks and raises his eyebrows.

I nod and unwrap my arms before I go back inside to get my jacket.

« Mom ! Dad ! I’m gone, » I yell. « Bye, sweetie ! Don’t be gone for too long ! » mom yells back.

« I won’t ! »

And then I close the door behind me.

Together we walk off the porch of my parents, and starts heading to the center of the city, which isn’t too far away.