Chapter 12 - THE FIRST DATE WITHOUT SECRETS
Their first official date took place at a small restaurant in the North End.
No private dining room.
No extravagant gifts.
Just pasta, candlelight, and two people trying to understand what they meant to each other.
Ren wore a simple black dress.
Matteo wore a navy shirt.
He looked nervous.
She smiled.
“Are you afraid of me?”
“Terrified.”
She laughed.
They talked about childhood.
Family.
Regrets.
Dreams.
Matteo told her about his mother.
How she had loved music.
How she had tried to protect him from his father's violence.
Ren told him about her grandfather.
The lighthouse.
The wooden compass box.
At the end of dinner, Matteo walked her to her car.
He stopped beside the door.
“Ren.”
She looked up.
“Yes?”
He hesitated.
“I want to be honest about something.”
She nodded.
“My life is still complicated. I'm working with attorneys to separate my legitimate businesses from the criminal organization I inherited. There may be consequences.”
Ren listened.
“I can't promise everything will be easy.”
She smiled sadly.
“I don't need easy.”
He looked at her.
“What do you need?”
“Truth.”
Matteo nodded.
“That I can promise.”
Ren stepped closer.
“Then kiss me.”
He smiled.
“Are you sure?”
She laughed.
“Matteo.”
He kissed her gently.
For the first time in years, Ren felt no need to wonder what the man beside her was hiding.
May you like
Not because she believed he was perfect.
But because he was finally willing to tell her the truth.
