Lessons Learned, Healing Hearts

Let's Run Away (Chapter 13)

Piero walked up the driveway, his pulse thumping in his ears. He always looked forward to seeing Marlow, but today carried a different weight. Today, it would be just the two of them. Though Ignazio's reassurances echoed in his head—She's into you, trust me—only she could confirm whether it was true.

Staring at the door, Piero forced himself to keep his emotions in check. He was excited for sure, but experience pricked the back of his brain, as any relationship, let alone a long-distance one, would be difficult. While he was all in, the question was, was she? He rang the bell and wiped his hands down his shorts, waiting for Marlow to answer. Peeking through the side panel window, he caught a blurred shape approaching the door. Panicking that he might be at the wrong home, Piero prepared himself to apologize to whoever answered the door. Grateful to see a drowsy-looking Marlow standing before him, Piero announced, "Ciao, Marlow. Come stai?"

"What time is it?" she asked, rubbing her face with both hands.

Chuckling, Piero looked at his wristwatch. "It's almost 7:30."

"7:30?" Marlow's eyes widened, fingers raking through her sleep-messed hair.

"Yes. Are you still up for going for a run?"

"Oh my gosh, I totally slept in." She pushed open the door, stepping aside. "Come in."

Piero leaned in, brushing a quick kiss against her cheek.

"Good morning."

Marlow let out a small, sleepy laugh. "Good morning." Glancing down and realizing she was still in her pyjamas, she groaned and quickly apologized, "Sorry, I'm not ready. Make yourself comfortable—I'll be back in ten."

Before he could respond, she was already halfway up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

Piero shook his head with a smile. "No worries. Take your time," he called after her, though she was long gone.

Surveying the room, a photograph on a bookshelf caught Piero's eye and piqued his interest. Picking it up, a much younger Marlow was being tickled by her mother. Having witnessed Marlow laugh like that many times, it repeatedly made him happy to hear it, especially if he had been the one to cause it.

Placing the photo back on the shelf and spotting what appeared to be textbooks lying open on the kitchen table, Piero went to investigate. Reading a lengthy paragraph and not understanding anything, he flipped the cover over: 'Assessing Needs and Evaluation Results for Speech Pathology.' Reading the other titles, a sense of urgency filled his body. He had to help her pass her final.

"I just need to make my pre-run drink," Marlow said, startling Piero. "Would you like one?"

"Sure, what's in it?"

"A whole lot of delicious goodness," Marlow teased as she pulled out two baggies from the freezer.

Sweeping his eyes up and down her body, he liked that the teal Lululemon cropped leggings and white 'Just Do It' T-shirt showed off her wonderful shape. "You look great, by the way."

Unintentionally scoffing, a flush once again coloured her cheeks. Running her hand across her stomach and over her thighs, she said a quiet, "Thanks."

A chuckle slipped out before Piero could stop it. Marlow had no idea how easily she made him smile, and that only made her more irresistible.

"What?" Marlow asked, looking sideways and smiling.

Keeping his thoughts to himself, Piero merely smirked and asked, "So, what can I do to help?"

"Uh," looking around, Marlow said, "Nothing. Just relax."

"Sorry, I can't do that."

Taking over watching the blender as Marlow went to the cupboard to pull out some glasses, Piero saw her shoulders come up to her ears and then drop as she privately chuckled to herself. Pouring the blended drink into both glasses, he lifted his drink to his nose.