14. Elio

14

ELIO

F ate is on my side. That's the only explanation for Piper being here. Okay, so it is her favorite restaurant, and she didn't know I now owned it, but still. For her to be here on the one night I decide to come in has to be fate.

I can't take my eyes off Piper, except to talk to her daughter, Elysse. What a charming, precocious child. She reminds me of Piper when I first met her, brilliant and bold. I find myself enchanted by this little girl, wanting to make her laugh, to get to know her hopes and dreams. To make them come true.

She must take after her father. She doesn't have the blonde hair and blue eyes of her mother. And yet, I can still see Piper in the shape of her face.

I glance at Piper. God, she's still so beautiful it nearly takes my breath away. But there's a wariness in her eyes now, a hardness that wasn't there before. She's built walls around herself that I long to break through. I want to be there for her, to support her, no matter what she's going through.

As we eat and chat, I feel the warmth and closeness between Piper and Elysse. They have their little jokes, their knowing looks. Despite whatever hardships they've faced, their love for each other shines through. Motherhood is a new side of Piper I haven't seen, nurturing, patient, playful. It gnaws at the deep longing inside me.

I have to fight the overwhelming urge to pull them both into my arms, to protect them from whatever demons they're battling. I want to be a part of this little family, as crazy and impossible as that seems. I know I have no right. They belong to someone else. Someone else who mistreats them. I could be what they need. I want to be what they need, but it's clear that Piper doesn't want me around. What I can't figure out is why? She seems bitter and resentful toward me, like I did something wrong. Is it guilt from cheating on her husband with me? No, because she was like that from the moment I saw her at the bank. I want to ask her what's going on but know I can't in front of Elysse.

I focus on keeping things light, on making Elysse giggle with silly stories, on coaxing reluctant smiles from Piper. For now, I'll take what I can get. But one way or another, I'll tear down the fortress Piper has erected. I'll prove to her that she can trust me, that I'll move heaven and earth to keep her and Elysse safe. Or I'll die trying.

As dinner comes to an end, I'm desperate to find an excuse to stay by their sides. "Can I walk you to your car?" I ask.

"We don't have a car," Elysse says. "Mommy isn't allowed."

Piper's expression is stricken. "It's not that, sweetie."

"They drive on the wrong side here," Elysse says.

I try to keep things light as I say, "That depends on who you ask." But I glance at Piper, wondering why she's not allowed to have a car. A flare of anger flickers at the thought of her husband exerting that kind of petty control over Piper and Elysse. The Piper I used to know was vibrant and independent. She never would have tolerated this.

"We just haven't made arrangements for another car. Besides, we can get an Uber whenever we need, right?"

"Please let me drive you home," I say.

"We're going skating now, aren't we, Mommy?"

"Yes, we are."

"You can come with us." Elysse's little hands rest on my forearm, her eyes pleading. I've fallen in love for the second time in my life. I have to make them mine.

Piper looks adorably flustered as she glances at my tailored suit. "Sweetie, I don't think Elio is dressed for roller skating?—"

"I just need skates," I say.

She gives me an exasperated look. "I'm sure you have more important?—"

"I don't." There's nothing more important than you two .

Piper hesitates, biting her lip in that way she does when she's uncertain.

But Elysse is already bouncing on her toes in excitement. "Please, Mommy."

"I'm going with or without you," I state. "Since I'm going, I could give you a ride." I wait a moment, then shrug and make like I'm leaving. I nod toward one of my men, extra security for tonight. "Can you get my car? I'm going roller skating."

His brow furrows at the unusual request, but he does as I ask.

"So, are you riding with me or no?"

Elysse presses the palms of her hands together in front of her heart. " Pleeease , Mommy."

"Oh, alright. I suppose it would be faster than waiting for a ride."

"Yay!" Elysse cheers. She takes my hand, and my heart nearly beats out of my chest. I glance up at Piper, wanting her to see that her daughter thinks I'm one of the good guys. What I see is worry in Piper's eyes. Why?

I'm glad I drove the SUV instead of the Porsche. It will be safer for Elysse. I wonder if she needs a car seat? But then I realize that if it were the case, Piper would have one.

I help them into the vehicle. As I move to the driver side, I text my men to let them know where I'm going. I have extra security, as do most of my businesses with Vincenzo on his retaliation tour. I'm not worried he'd kill me or anyone in my family, but better safe than sorry.

"Do you know how to roller skate?" Elysse asks from the back seat.

"Depends on who you ask. The last time I had skates on my feet was over eight years ago with your mother." I look over at Piper, wondering if she remembers our time together fondly.

Her lips twitch upward, but she quickly schools them back into neutral. "If you ask me, no. He has terrible balance."

"My talents always lie elsewhere." I wink at her, then think twice about the innuendo of that statement.

As we arrive at the roller rink, a wave of nostalgia washes over me. Memories of high school outings with Piper flood back. She's right. I sucked at skating, but I endured it because it always made her laugh. Then we'd have pizza and I'd steal kisses.

We get our skates and move to a bench to put them on. Inwardly, I laugh as I lace up the skates, wondering what I'm getting myself into. But I'm happy. Excited. Hopeful. I haven't felt like this for a long, long time.

From the first step, my awkwardness on wheels is immediately apparent as I wobble out onto the rink. Piper and Elysse glide over to me, their faces lit with amusement.

"Try not to fall," Elysse says helpfully.

"I'll try. I'm a bit rusty."

Elysse giggles and grabs my hand. "Don't worry, we'll help you!"

With Piper on one side and Elysse on the other, I find my balance. We make a few tentative laps, their encouragement helping me build my confidence. I don't have much control, and when I drift toward Piper, her hand brushes mine, sending a jolt of awareness through me. I'm playing with fire. I have no right to insert myself into their lives. But for tonight, I let myself believe that anything is possible. That maybe, just maybe, I can win back the only woman I've ever loved.

As we pick up speed, I grow bolder, but my skate catches and I tumble down, my arms flailing, grabbing for something to keep me upright. I end up accidentally pulling Piper down with me. We land in a tangle of limbs, Piper sprawled on top of me. For a breathless moment, we stare at each other, our faces inches apart. The rest of the world falls away and it's just us. My heart stutters in my chest. The urge to kiss her is almost more than I can resist. I want to taste her, to pour out all my longing so she can feel the sincerity of my heart.

Elysse's laughter stops me. It wouldn't be right to kiss Piper in front of the child. Not when she has a father, the ungrateful fuck wad that he is.

"Mommy, Elio, are you okay?"

Piper quickly scrambles off me, her cheeks flushed. "We're fine, sweetie. Just a little tumble."

She helps me to my feet, and we brush ourselves off, carefully avoiding eye contact. The charged moment has passed, but it still crackles through my blood.

"I think I'm getting the hang of this," I say lightly, trying to defuse the tension.

Elysse claps her hands. "You're doing great! Let's race!"

"I need to visit the ladies' room. Elysse, come with me."

"Do I have to? Me and Elio can skate." She takes my hand.

She glances at me. "I guess it would be okay."

I fight feeling offended at Piper's distrust of me. I remind myself that I'm a stranger to Elysse. Not that she's worried about me. Elysse is pulling on me to keep skating.

"Looks like it's just you and me for a bit, kiddo. Think you can teach me some of your fancy moves?"

Elysse's face lights up. "Sure! Watch this!" She turns around and begins to skate slowly, but surely, backward. I applaud her efforts.

She turns to the front again and takes my hand, and we skate on.

"So, your dad's not big on family outings, huh?" It's wrong for me to probe, but I have to know what I'm up against.

Elysse's smile falters, but it's not sadness I see. "He's away a lot. For work and stuff. But it's okay. I like when it's just me and Mom."

"Must be tough, him being gone so much."

"I don't mind, really," Elysse says. "He's not my real dad, anyway."

I nearly stumble over my skates at her casual revelation. Not her real father? My mind reels with the implications.

"Oh? What do you mean?" I hope my voice sounds neutral.

"Mom says my real dad is somewhere else."

"Like where?"

She shrugs. "Maybe in heaven." Elysse's voice is matter-of-fact, but I can hear the wistful note behind it.

My heart clenches. She thinks her father is dead? Why doesn't Piper tell her? Is Elysse too young to know the truth? And who is this guy? I do some mental calculations, deciding she must have gotten pregnant soon after she moved away. Unless… no. Piper would have said something if I were the father. Wouldn't she?

I swallow hard, my mind spinning with unanswered questions.

Elysse looks up at me, her eyes wide and innocent. "I wish my real dad could have been someone nice like you."

Her simple, heartfelt statement rocks me to my core. Emotion rolls through in a large, powerful wave, humbled and awed by this little girl's trust in me. It's combined with a yearning to be the man, the father, she deserves.

"That's very sweet of you to say," I manage. "I'm sure your real dad, wherever he is, loves you very much."

"Do you have kids?"

I shake my head. "I don't."

"Do you want some?"

"I do."

She beams up at me, her smile brighter than the neon-colored lights overhead. And for a fleeting moment, everything feels right in the world. But then I catch sight of Piper emerging from the restroom, her face pale and drawn. Reality comes crashing back, reminding me of the obstacles that still stand in our way. Obstacles that I'm determined to overcome.