The Weight of Life by Whitney Barbetti

Author:Whitney Barbetti [Barbetti, Whitney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-06-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

When I showed up at Ames’ flat that night, I followed him into the kitchen where he finished filling a small tote with a few things. Mood-wise, he seemed a little darker tonight than he had been when I’d last left him, just outside of the pub. When he zipped the top of the tote closed, I came up behind him and wrapped my arms around him, hoping to banish the cloud that seemed to have settled over him.

He stilled for a moment before his hands covered mine. “Mila.” I loved the way he said my name. I loved it more that I could feel it, with my face pressed against his back, as it vibrated through his body.

“Ames.”

He turned and smiled, that dimple dipping into his cheek. “Can I take you somewhere?”

He had the innocence of someone younger, with less heartache, and in the smallest way, I felt a shift between us. Nothing deep and profound, but still noteworthy. Like a chapter break in a novel.

It was as if we were toeing the line of something significant, but something I didn’t know about just yet. He held his hand to me and I took it as he led me down the narrow stairwell and toward the door. I noticed a slight pep to his step as he slid my coat off the hook beside his and held it out for me. I smiled to myself as I slipped my arms through the coat, grateful that his mood seemed lifted. “We’re going outside?”

“Not far.” He gave me a shy smile, something secretive. I couldn’t resist this secretive Ames, his eyes sparkling and his smile open and unguarded. So when he extended his hand for mine again, I took it without hesitation and laced my fingers with his.

The September weather was beginning to cool, and with the sun long set, the breeze outside was just enough that if you kept a brisk pace, you could stay just warm enough. But I wasn’t in a rush, wanting to savor this affectionate Ames, so we took our time walking down the street.

“It’s not far to walk,” he repeated. “But we can get a taxi, if you want.”

I shook my head and took a step closer to him. His arm came around my shoulders, pulling me in and I looked up at him under the light that just barely illuminated his face. “I like walking. With you.”

He pulled me tighter still and my hand went around his back, digging into the warmth of his side.

I felt impossibly warm then. Either that, or merely being in his presence was giving me that effect anyway. That was even more obvious when he tilted his head down, shadowing our faces from any passersby. His lips hovered above mine for three full heartbeats before he pulled back. But I wanted this, to kiss this man on a darkened sidewalk, feeling as warm as I’d felt in a long time. So, I wrapped my hand around his neck and pulled his head down until his mouth touched mine.

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