Page 87 of Flawless

Zenon drops down onto the sand beside me and wraps his arms around me. I rest my head on his shoulder, and he kisses the top of my head and rubs my arm.

“You don’t have any sunscreen on. You’re going to burn, Dani.”

Waving off his concern, I say, “I’ll be fine.”

“Will you?” he asks, tipping my face up so that my gaze can meet his.

It comes out of nowhere. My face crumples, and the tears fall. I know that the face I’m making is ugly, not photographable at all as snot runs and the tears stain my face.

“Noooo,” I sob.

“Aw, baby,” Zenon says, wrapping me closely to him and rocking me against his body.

We stay that way for quite a while.

When we finally break the embrace I ask, “How did she react when she saw her mom?”

“She was happy to see Larisa but still sad that she had to go.”

Zenon stares at me for so long that I grow uncomfortable.

“What?”

“You really do love her, don’t you?”

“I told you that I do.”

“I’m honored that you love my daughter so much. If it’s any consolation, I think you would be a great mother someday. I know that you never wanted that, but you would be awesome. You have so much to offer a child, and so much you can teach them.”

I lay back under the setting sun and close my eyes as I pull my sunglasses from my head and onto my face.

Zenon lies beside me and reaches for my hand, locking our hands together.

“What now?” he asks.

Turning my head sideways, I stare at him. I know that he can’t see my eyes.

“I don’t know. I was wondering the same thing.”

“I don’t want you to lose you, Dani.”

“But you live in Italy. I don’t want to go back there, Z. There are too many unhappy memories for me over there.”

“Me too,” he responds.

“And I’ve done a short stint in Brazil. I love it for visiting, but I’m not sure I want to live there again.”

“Me either,” he sighs solemnly.

“I need to make amends with my family and repair my relationships with them.”

“And I’ve never lived in America,” he says.

My head jerks in his direction.

“What are you saying, Z?” I ask as my heart swells.

“I’m saying that I’ll be wherever you are, Dani.”