Unveiling Love

Chapter Four

Who knew crossing four states in two days would be the craziest, most exhilarating thing I'd ever done in my life?

I sure didn't!

I was exhausted. I needed a shower. I was craving food that didn't come from buckets of grease. Lastly, I'd hit a point in life where I understood the phrase, "I'd give anything for." Because I would give anything for one entire night in a safe, comfortable bed. 

I dragged myself to my sister's front door and knocked quietly, hoping not to wake the kids up if they were asleep. It was hard to believe Kayne was in elementary school and Roman was a toddler already. The downfall of living so far away was I'd only ever seen them a few times in person, although we did FaceTime quite often! 

Ivy threw the door open and let out a very unladylike scream before barreling into me, almost taking me down in the process. 

"Ahh!!!" she yelled directly into my ear. I flinched but threw my arms around her anyway. I'd missed her so much!

"I'm so glad you're here!" She squealed. Zane popped his head around the corner and grinned. 

"Thank you for letting me stay with you guys until I can get a job," I said. "I promise I'll try to be out of here as quickly as possible!"

"No!" Ivy said as she grabbed my shoulders in a tight grip. "I've been stuck with these people for years without my people. I need some people."

I laughed. "Okay, I'll stay while I'm welcome, but I really don't want to get in your way."

"Good grief!" Zane hollered from the driveway. "I'm calling Sandro to come help me carry all this crap inside."

My face heated at the mention of his name and I had the sudden urge to hide. Less than a minute later I watched as a door a few houses down opened and Sandro jogged across the street to meet Zane at my car. 

"Oh, my goodness," I whispered frantically. 

"Don't tell me you still have the hots for Sandy," Ivy said with a chuckle. 

"Shut up!" I hissed. The only response I got back was a full, boisterous laugh. As luck would have it, Sandro heard her and looked over to where we were on the porch. I froze when his eyes locked onto mine. It took Ivy a moment to realize something was happening, but when she did she whispered a prayer under her breath. Apparently, she was worried our dad was going to murder someone.  

"Are you going to stay for dinner?" Zane asked Sandro as they passed by.

"I wasn't planning on it," Sandro answered. 

"You should," Ivy piped up. "Kayne wants to make homemade pizza tonight."

I walked to the car and grabbed a couple of my smaller bags before following the guys into the house. I could already hear them walking down the stairs to the basement, where I knew I'd be living for however long I needed, so I headed that way, too. 

When I first called Ivy six months prior to ask about the possibility of living with them, she freaked out and made Zane officially finish their basement. Of course, he hired a crew to come in and do the job, but they were able to add carpet and build a nice sized bedroom to compliment the full bathroom that was already installed. It was even better than the dorms I'd seen, so I was happy. 

Zane passed me as I was walking down the stairs and I almost threw up when I realized Sandro was standing, waiting for me just inside my bedroom. 

"Hi," I said. I wanted to smack myself when I heard how wobbly my voice sounded to my own years. Cripes! 

"Why are you here?" Sandro angrily whispered. I came to a dead halt. 

"What?"

"I hope you aren't here for me," he said. 

You know what? Yeah. He was in the top three reasons why I moved my life halfway across the country, but he wasn't the only reason. I was a lot like Ivy; I craved adventure. And yeah, so what if I was a hopeless romantic... I still deserved to be treated with a little respect. He was the one that kissed me on my birthday, for Pete's sake!

"I don't have a clue what you're talking about," I said, faking innocence. "I moved here to further my education, Sandro. I'm getting a law degree from the University of Denver."

His eyes tracked my movements as I tucked the fallen hair from my ponytail behind my ear. 

"I don't know if I completely believe you," he said, sounding a bit more relaxed. "I still have the letter you wrote me when you turned eighteen."

My eyebrows shot up on my forehead. "What?" I almost screeched. How utterly mortifying! "Why on earth would you keep such a thing?"

For the first time in the half hour he'd been over, Sandro cracked a small smile. "I figured I needed to keep it for the police, you know, if I ever went missing."

My mouth dropped open in shock and embarrassment. Sandro's chuckle flowed him all the way up the stairs.