My Favorite Souvenir(70)

That broke my heart.



Hazel: I get it. Totally.



Matteo: The pretending thing is too hard. I can’t look him in the eyes anymore.



Hazel: It’s getting harder and harder for me, too.



Matteo: I’m gonna miss you, Hazel.



Panic set in. Did he mean forever? Or was he referring to the fact that he was leaving soon?



Hazel: Your flight leaves tomorrow night. When will I see you?



Matteo: Can you come to the city during the day? I’m afraid if I go to you, I won’t make it back in time for my flight.



Hazel: Yes. I was planning to but wanted to make sure you wanted me there.



Matteo: Of course I do.



Hazel: Okay. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then? Am I meeting you at your hotel?



Matteo: Yes. Just text me when you arrive. I’ll come down.



Hazel: Okay.



Matteo: Have fun tonight.





Chapter 22




* * *



Hazel



“Hey.” Brady smiled and leaned in to kiss my cheek. “You look gorgeous.”

It was a good thing the way I felt on the inside wasn’t on display, because then he would have said, You look like a complete and total wreck.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Is that a new dress?”

I nodded and looked down. “I actually bought it for our honeymoon.”

Brady frowned. “Come inside.”

My train had been delayed getting into the city, and I knew our reservation at the restaurant was for seven thirty. “Shouldn’t we get going? I’m a little late.”

Brady opened the door wide and stepped aside. “You’re not late at all. Chez Oppenheimer is ready whenever you are.”

I peered into the apartment from the hall. The lights were dimmed, and the dining room table had been set for two. Candles flickered in the center of the table, and a huge bouquet of flowers sat atop the plate at the chair I normally sat in.

“I thought we were going out?”

“Change of plans. I hired a chef to come in and make your favorite dinner instead. You said you’d had a long day today, so I figured you’d like that better than going out.”

At one point I would have. But right now the thought of a romantic dinner alone with Brady didn’t sit right in my stomach. I would have given anything for him to make such a romantic gesture before. And yet at this moment, I didn’t much want to set foot inside his apartment.

Brady sensed my hesitation, but luckily mistook it as surprise. He smiled and took my hand. “I know. It’s out of character for me. But you said we could go anywhere I wanted for my birthday. And honestly, the only place I want to be is right here with you.” He squeezed my hand. “I don’t want to share you with anyone else.”

He gave my hand a soft tug, and I had no choice but to walk inside. When the front door clicked shut, a horrible, ominous feeling washed over me. As screwed up as it was, it felt wrong to be here in such a romantic setting with Brady. I knew in my heart that Matteo would be devastated if he found out. I didn’t want to hurt either of these men.

Brady went behind me and helped take off my coat.

“Thank you.”

After he hung it up, he pulled out a chair at the dining room table. “Come. Sit. We have three courses.”

I took a seat while Brady went to the kitchen. Even though I could see him working the corkscrew into a bottle of wine, I still jumped when the loud pop came. That cork had nothing on how tightly I was wound this evening.

Brady poured us each a glass of chardonnay and brought out a tray of appetizers. It was a huge antipasto assortment with all of my favorites.

“Are you sure it’s not my birthday?” I laughed nervously. “You’re the one serving me, and this is my favorite food, not yours.”

He smiled and sat down across from me. “Whatever makes you smile is my favorite food.”

Where had this Brady been the last few years? “That’s very sweet.”

We dug into the appetizer, and I guzzled my wine pretty fast. My nerves were frazzled.

“So…” Brady set down his fork and wiped his mouth. “I’ve been thinking about this apartment.”

“Oh? What about it?”

“Well, my lease is up in two months, and I don’t think I’m going to renew.”

“Really? I’m surprised. You love it here. Do you want to be closer to the office or something?”

Brady reached over and took my hand. “I want to be closer to you.”

“Brady, I…”

He squeezed my hand. “Let me finish. I know you aren’t ready to move in with me…yet. And we’d planned to live here after our wedding. But your work is in Connecticut. You have to lug equipment and stuff around with you, which isn’t easy on trains. It would make more sense for me to be the one to commute.”

Wow. He was really trying.

“Plus, I’d like to be able to see you more than just on the weekends. So if I live closer to you, we can spend more time together.” He winked. “Might even speed up the process of me winning you back.”