Page 12 of Angel's Forever

“Is everything okay, Miss Quinn? Are you not happy with them?”

I shook my head as I spoke quietly. “No, they are perfect. I’m sorry. These are happy tears, I assure you. Gino, what do you think?”

I hoped I didn’t need to explain anything. I wasn’t sure if he knew what the symbol on the cufflinks meant or not.

A smile appeared on his face. “Hudson will love them, I’m sure. And yes, they are perfect to show him how much he is loved.” Gino gave me a wink, which told me he knew exactly what they represented.

“Thank you so much for these. I will check the other items when I get home, as they are a surprise.”

I gave him a smile, picked up the bag with all the items, and placed it into my large handbag. I didn’t want to be seen walking around the streets of New York with a bag of jewelry, especially when I had paid over ten thousand dollars for it. We walked out of the jewelry shop and onto the busy street.

“So, are you going to tell me what else you bought?”

I had wondered how long it would take Gino to ask.

“Nope, you will have to wait and see. Might be a long time though.”

He stood there and laughed before taking my hand in his. “Come on, let's go get some lunch before we continue your shopping spree.”

WE GOT BACK TO THE apartment around two in the afternoon. I was exhausted, but still had to arrange the surprise party for Hudson. I called up Pleasures and made sure that everything would be in place for Friday evening. They were more than willing to help and even said that, as Hudson was one of the owners of the club, everything would be free. I had tried to pay, but they insisted.

After all of that, I was now relaxing on the couch in the living room checking through all of my emails and making sure that I hadn’t forgotten anything for the weekend. I didn’t hear when Gino walked back into the room, so I jumped when he spoke.

“Do you want me to cook, or should we order takeout? Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”

I placed my hand on my chest to calm myself. “It’s fine, Gino. I just didn’t hear you come in. Can we just order takeout? I’ll let you choose what we have.”

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my cheek. It had been the first time I’d had any form of contact like this, and I nearly turned my head to press my lips against his, but I decided to take things slowly this evening. I understood that he was still getting used to the idea of us all being in a relationship together. Well, at least Gino, Nico, and me. I knew it would take a while, if at all, for Hudson and Gino to have any feelings toward each other, which was one reason why I had arranged the evening at Pleasures. I hoped it would encourage them to be comfortable together.

“I know exactly what we both need. I’ll be right back.”

Gino walked out of the room to order whatever he had decided on, and I went back to checking through my emails. I sent a quick message to Nico to tell him I had arranged everything for Friday and asked how the meeting went. I was surprised when my phone almost immediately started to ring.

“Hey, Nico. Is everything okay?”

I was worried about them both being alone after everything that had happened with Gino on Friday. I was sure they had talked everything through, but both of them had seemed distant toward each other over the weekend. Hearing his voice, though, put my mind completely at rest.

“I miss you, principessa.”

I couldn’t help the giggle that left my lips. He had only been gone a few hours and he already missed me.

“I miss you too, and Hudson as well. However, you have only been gone a few hours and will be back on Wednesday. I’m sure we will both survive.”

A nervous chuckle came from him at the end of the phone.

“Nico, what’s wrong?”

I heard a heavy sigh and then footsteps, as if he was walking to somewhere private where he could talk.

“I just wish you were here. The meeting has gone well, but Hudson is quiet. We have talked a lot the past few days, but you have nearly always been there. I’m not sure how things will be tonight. For the first time, I’m scared I’m going to lose him. That because of what happened, I’m not going to have the same relationship as before, and that terrifies me.”

At that moment, I wished I was there with him. I wanted to hold him and tell him that everything would be alright.

“Nico, Hudson loves you. You just need to give him a bit of time. Remember you went away together for that reason. I’m sure once you are alone in the guesthouse, you won’t be able to keep your hands off each other.”

“But—”

“No buts. Believe me, it will happen. You were meant to be together. I could tell that even before I knew you were a couple. One mistake won’t change that. And if I am wrong, you can punish me when you get back.”