A Love Restored

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Before I knew Nico, I had a friend named Gianluca. He was the son of my one of my father’s co workers from when he used to work at a

a retail before he became a soldier for the maña, following his own father. Gianluca would come over all the time when we were kids. He was exactly my age, we even had the same birthday month. I think we were friends till we were both around thirteen, I suppose we grew apart, then. He would come over less and less, and Nicu would almost always be around us. Gianluca and Nico never really hit it off. I would force them to play house with me, and they’d fight over who got to play the father to my doll Sumo, One time Nico tugged on Sumo so hard to take it from Gianluca that her entire arm came off, I cried for hours, and Papa tried to stitch it back on, which he did, but it was never the same.

Nico blamed Gianluca, and he blamed Nico, and 1 blamed both of them and didn’t talk to them for a week. Then they apologised. We never played house again, though. It was for the better, but I threw a tantrum until they played with me again, this time I chose the roles. I’ve never been good at cutting problems off at their roots,

I’ve only been in Julian’s bed four or five times, but I recognise its feeling. It has a familiar warmth. When I wake up in someone’s bed, wrapped up in a blanket, my head pounding, I know immediately it’s Julian’s bed. I would recognise the way he smells anywhere. Last night’s events nush back in, I groan lowly. Obviously, my awesome plan backfired. I look around the room, it’s empty, the sun is streaming in through the blinds. I search for my phone, but it’s not around, Julian’s table clock reads 11 am. Fucking great, I sit up, and suddenly feel a pain on my arm. There are two long scratches from nails on my skin. Last night, from when that man had grabbed me. I take a long breath. My skin feels dirty and itchy. My mouth feels dry. I need to brush my teeth.

I get out of bed and realise I’m wearing shorts and a T shirt of Julian’s. He changed my clothes. I go into his bathroom, my toothbrush is still there. I brush my teeth quickly. Today, it feels weird to be here, like I don’t belong here, like I’m intruding.

I want to leave, but I also want to see Julian. My heart wins. I go out to look for him, he’s not in the living room, so I go to the kitchen. There, I see a very surprising sight. Nico is seated at the dining table, eating a bagel and drinking coffee, while Julian is mixing…cake batter?

I take a

second

breathe in the sight. It is Nico who spots me first. “Ginny” He exclaims. “You’re up! Are you okay?”

I nod, before I am able to say something, Julian is coming towards me, and grabbing me, and then his mouth on mine. “Darlin.” He breathes against my lips. I push him away, shrugging myself away from his hold. He frowns, then his expression relaxes. “Sit down.” He urges. “Let me make you breakfast. There are bagels, and coffee, and cornettos, and I’m working on the waffle batter. It’s gonna take a minute or two. Should I get you some coffee? Or would you like a smoothie? I’ve got strawberries and bananas.”

ea

I give him a small smile. A coffee would be nice, thank you.” He nods, and I take a seat at the dining table.

“Im sorry about last night, Nico, I dragged you with me and got drunk and made a scene by passing out.”

He

grins. “It’s alright. Does your head hurt? Eat something, then have a Tylenol, alright?”

“Yeah.”

Just then, Julian places a cup of coffee in front of me. I smile at him gratefully. I spot a clear, plastic box on the kitchen counter. “Are those the biscotti Nua made?” I ask Julian.

He hesitates. T throw i

them out,

right

I shake my head. “Can I try?” He stares at me. I get up and grab the box, then sit down again. Nico and I each take a cookie. I bite into it. It’s a little soft, but its not that bad. I could never make these. I suck at cooking. The most I can do is make an omelette.

“They’re pretty good.” I comment. “Nua is a sweet girl.”

Both Nico and Julian stay y silent and stare at me, while I dip the biscotti into my coffee and take another bite. I guess Julian filled Nico in on the situation. All of us stay silent while Julian cooks, and Nico eats, and I drink my coffee. Then Julian brings me a plate of waffles with chocolate syrup and ice cream. He offers Nico a plate, who declines. Then he sits down beside me with his coffee and some toast.

I take a small bite. Im starving. The waffles are too sweet, way to sweet, but Julian is looking at me so hopefully, that I give him a small smile and say, These are really good, Capo Bastone. When did you get a waffle maker?”

He looks at his toast and says, “Niro said you like waffles, so I got one this morning.”

Good God. My heart burns. I cannot take this. I feel like throwing up. I run off to the bathroom and start vomiting violently. Someone comes in and

holds my hair up.

Once I’m done, I look back. It’s Julian, but Nico is standing right outside. I rinse my mouth and wash my face, then I sit down on Julian’s bed.

“Are you feeling okay? Nice asks mr. Julian is kneeling in front of me, his hands on my knees.

“Could you give us a moment, Nico? Julian asks him. Nico looks at me. I nod.

“Just a moment.” I whisper.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

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