Page 59 of By Blade, I Love
“You know where to find me,” I said. “I’m available anytime,boss.”
She rolled her eyes as she leaned against the desk and crossed her arms over her chest.
As a person, she hadn’t changed much, but during working hours, she was different. A lot more withdrawn and quiet, focused on getting tasks done as efficiently as possible.
“You’re good at this, you know.”
“I am?” she asked quietly, her head cocking slightly.
“Yeah. It’s like you were made for it,” I said. “You disagree?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it much. Too busy working.”
“Another sign that you’re good at it.”
“I’m sorry it’s been like this. I feel like I work all day and we just have dinner and go to bed.”
“Well, we don’tgoto bed. We getinbed.”
She smirked.
“I am anxious to get married, but I know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now.”
“I actually think I found a dress I like. It’s in Palermo. I need to head over and get fitted, so I have been working on it.”
Ooh, I loved picturing her in a white dress.“I can’t wait to see it. I can drive you.”
“I’ll see if I can get away early today and get there before they close.”
“Sounds like a plan, baby.”
I helped the guys load the crates of wine into the back of the truck. Moving heavy shit was below my pay grade, but I’d always been a team player, so I sucked it up and did it. We moved the last pallet on the forklift before Andre drove it back into the warehouse to get another pallet stack.
Leo stood ten feet from me, sweat visible on his neck and forehead.
Whatever Francesca felt for him, I mirrored it out of loyalty, so I pretty much ignored him.
It was just the two of us standing in the summer sun while the others went to retrieve more pallets.
“Can we talk?”
I leaned against the back of the truck with my arms crossed, and I shifted my eyes to look at him. “About?”
He walked over, his boots grinding against a couple little rocks in the sand until he was in front of me. “I know this is a lot to ask, and it’s too soon for me to ask for anything from either of you, but it would mean the world to me if I could attend your wedding.”
Not the request I expected to hear.
“Why?”
His eyebrows furrowed at the question. “Because she’s my sister. I’m the only family she has left.”
“I’ve never understood that sentiment,” I said. “Marriage is about two people wanting to spend their lives together, but it’s somehow been turned into a unification of families, when it’s not. It’s the formation of a new family. It has nothing to do with anyone except us.”
“Well, she means a lot to me, and I would love to be there.”
“She doesn’t want you there, Leo.”
“But you haven’t asked her.”
