Page 27 of Another Shot At Forever
“Ms. Rossi.” The smile painted on the doorman’s face was as wide as the Hudson River. “Are you selling another unit here?”
I shook my head, chuckling. “No, but I’m surprised you remember me.”
“Like I could ever forget those beautiful blue eyes.”
“I’m here to visit a friend, Reed Cortez, but I forget what apartment he’s in.”
He nodded, lips pursed. “You’ll find Reed in Apartment—”
“Pizza delivery for Apartment 3411.” A voice behind me, dripping with a Brooklyn accent, interrupted.
I spun around and glared at the man carrying two large Gino’s Pizza boxes, annoyed that he’d barged in with hisannouncementjust as the friendly doorman was about to divulge Reed’s apartment number to me.
The doorman winked at me. “Young lady, why don’tyouplay pizza delivery person and take those pies up to 3411 since you were headed up to visit your friend anyway.”
* * *
Like a skilled delivery girl, I balanced hot and heavy pizza boxes in my hand as I rang the doorbell.
I heard the patter of little feet running toward the door. “Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!”
Scarlett.
A smile curved my lips.
The turn of locks is what I heard next, my anxiety to the roof.
When the door swung open, I froze.
Reed.
Heart beating wildly in my chest, we stood, gazes locked.
Part of me wanted to laugh at the sight of Reed donning a pink, long-haired wig, a crown, and a gold party dress, his chest musclesbursting out like the Hulk.
The other part of me, the part that ached for him, wanted to cry, leap in his arms, and hold him for days.
“Hey,” he said, his voice low and raspy. “You delivering pizza now instead of selling million-dollar homes?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You dressing up like a princess now instead of a hero who saves damsels in distress?
He peered down at me and blinked. “You wanna come in?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Reed closed the door behind me as I stepped in, then took the pizza boxes off my hands.
A voice squeaked out, “Is that our pizza?” and a beautiful little girl with brown hair and big, ocean-blue eyes, dressed like a princess, hopped toward us.
She smiled up at me. “Are you here to have a princess tea party too?”
I bit my lip, darting my attention to Reed. “I’d love to have a princess tea party. Is that okay with you?”
Scarlett tugged at his dress. “Please? She’ll make a pretty princess.”
Reed nodded his approval, and the three of us prodded into the kitchen.
As we sat down for pizza, Reed officially introduced me to Scarlett.
