Page 84 of Yours, Forever

"Who has you now? Ale? Daniel?"

She nodded. "And for a while, I have you."

The achy feeling in my heart now echoed longing more than anything else. I gulped down the words I wanted to say, because if she rejected me again, I didn't think I'd get a third chance. Especially not if I made a big deal of the moment we shared.

I sucked at patience, but that's what I needed at the time. Eva had never opened up like this and, even though it didn't make her fragile to share her pain, the trust she showed me seemed brittle.

My wife didn't offer her truth freely.

"Remember that first night?" I asked. "I told you that if you offered me friendship, you might never get rid of me."

"I remember."

"I hope you're prepared for the commitment, now. I don't think you'll be rid of me."

"When you're ready to leave, will I get phone calls three times a year?"

"I'm better than that, Eva. You'll get three texts a day, a hundred text messages a month, plus fifty calls and three vacations together a year. Atleast."

"It says something that the shocking part of that is that you called me by my name…"

"I wanted you to know I'm serious. Even after you divorce me, I'll want to stay in your life."

"You'll be at your expensive hairdresser, or at your tailor, or at a five-star restaurant… and think of me?"

"I don't think I'll ever stop."

Chapter 24

Eva

I would have Maxfor a couple of years, and he would have me. The idea stayed in a corner of my mind, in its own shiny box. Two people finding comfort in each other, while it lasted. I could live with that.

Mornings where waking up felt cozy rather than a rush. Conversations where sharing came easily. Nights sleeping with my husband out of companionship and…

I wanted to sleep with him. Share a bed with him. I was definitely open to other benefits.

Not kissing him. Not kissing him. Not kissing him.

But I wanted him to stay close.

I would not think about it much that morning, because Max came back from rEvalution with breakfast and an idea.

"Darling, what do you think of going to the Venturelli house this morning? I'll drive us there so you don't get too tired, but if you're doing better, maybe we can get started there."

It didn't take him long to convince me. We picked up the keys and he drove us there; he parked right outside the wrought iron gate. Hugged by two waist-high stone pillars, it was partially covered in vines. Despite the overgrown greenery, the metal details still showed; the design was simple, with curly accents in a wide line at the top, and straight lines down to the ground. The top curved above the height of the pillars, providing some mild privacy, but still very welcoming.

I turned the key to the outside gate, and the creak of metal pierced my heart like one of Cupid's arrows. I was in love with it already, and I hadn't even made it in.

I didn't let myself show it or even fully settle into it. I may not actually like the inside.

The outside was already perfect. Big natural stone pavers joined the gate with the main door; the path split into a few others that connected the different sections— the garage, the veranda, and the garden. A few distinct patches of greenery in the front yard were unkempt and overgrown, but I could see them gorgeous in my mind's eye. The veranda, with three magnificent pillars holding the second floor, led to a patio at the back that, upon my inspection from afar on the beach, had enough room for a patio seating set. I wasn't there yet and I knew the view of the beach and the ocean would steal my breath.

We entered the garden area and made for the main door. The house sat on a foundation of rock that went up one third of the first floor wall, but the rest of the structure was covered in wood shingles. My hand shook as I turned the key; Max rubbed my shoulder but made no comment.

The entrance opened into a distribution hall with two doors, one at each side, and a bench and hooks for coats. Wainscottingdelineated the space on both walls, and ended in a wooden arch. After a quick peek through the doors, it was clear that to the left there was a powder room, and the room at the right could be used as an office.

"Interesting," Max said.