But Too Well

LIII : Memories

AT 6:00 I make the long, arduous trip all the way next door, armed with freshly-baked cookies.

I made a point to look nice tonight. Perfect makeup, did my hair. A pretty dress that is still completely appropriate considering Natalia will be here. I know this will be spectacularly awkward.

The smile that captures his face when he opens the door and sees me makes me melt to my toes. The softness in his expression and the sparkle in his eye are disarming.

"You didn't have to bake for me, dolcezza," he says, almost teasingly, taking the plate from my hands. He leans over me, smelling dark and masculine, like him. The warmth coming from him as he stands so near is dizzying.

I bite my lip, tilting upward so our mouths almost touch. "They're for Natalia."

He grins that small, sexy, mischievous grin, and my breath catches in my throat. He leans in closer, dark eyes floating towards my lips. His voice is low, rough. I can feel his words against my skin. "And here I was thinking you liked me, or something." And he kisses me, and my hand floats up to his face, fingers drifting through his thick hair. He tilts my head back, his mouth and tongue soft and warm and slow.

When we pull apart for air, a small giggle escapes me, and the confused look on his face makes me laugh some more. I shake my head, using my thumb to rub my lipstick off his pink lips. "This isn't your colour," I explain, my voice a quiet, teasing flutter against his face.

He leans in to kiss me again but there's a knock on the door. Sighing, I take the cookies from him to the kitchen, giving him a small wink. Here we go.

"Hey, Nata," he greets softly, and the gentleness of his voice makes me smile a little.

"Hi, Nero." She sees me, gives me one of her smiles. Not weary, not angry. Just her, like I remember. "Hey, Ros."

"Hey, Natalia."

I offer to help Nero finish up in the kitchen, but he sends me away with a glass of sparkling apple juice to join Natalia in the living room.

She starts by shaking her head, a breath escaping her. "Your brother is such an idiot, Rosalyn," she huffs, a smile tugging at her the edge of her mouth.

"What's new?" I chuckle.

"Well, he ran over the neighbor's cat this morning."

A snort escapes me. "Oh god. He hates cats."

"The poor thing. He tossed it into a shoe box and brought it to their front door." She brings a hand up to her mouth, stifling a laugh. "He offered to buy them a new one! Can you imagine?"

"That sounds exactly like Daniel."

Nero makes his way into the living room, takes a seat across from us. He raises a perfect eyebrow. "Well, Natalia nearly killed my dog as a child."

I look at her in shock. Her face flushes a little, mortified. "Hey," she protests, trying not to smile, "He was so dirty!" She tries to explain. "My mom used this jug of bleach and water to clean things in the kitchen. So, I refilled Bruno's water dish with the water, thinking it would clean him up or something. It was an honest mistake!"