Thomas & January (18 page)

He closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath before they shot open and held me in my place. “
Rome
.”

“What about Rome?”

“Just, promise me that while in Rome, you’ll still feel the same way.”

I sat up and rested my hand over his heart. “I promise.”
You don’t get over the love of your life, Tom. You said it yourself.

He smiled the most heart-shattering smile.

He kissed my neck and I could feel him smile against my skin. “January MacLochlainn, how in the world did I get so lucky?”

I hugged him tightly. “Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about finding you.”

I’ve never seen a more beautiful city than Rome, Italy. It was definitely a city of God. The architecture, the sheer number of churches, a city of art. That’s what it was, a city full of art. Not one inch within its walls was untouched by a magnificent artist it seemed.

“It’s incredible,” Tom said, grabbing my hand after we completed a traditional coin toss into the Trevi Fountain, superstitiously ensuring a return trip to Rome. We saved the fountain for last since our hotel was right down the street.

We’d already visited Vatican City, numerous churches and many monuments. We weren’t set to see The Great Remember until the following night. We thought about partying it up a little but, to be honest, we were worn out from the traveling and always being "on." We agreed to sleep in a little the next day as we rarely got to but not too late as we wanted to sightsee a little more.

“I want to take you on a proper date.”

“
Really?
”

“Yes. American style. Dinner. Movie. Make out session.”

              “I’m down, Bobby Brown. What shall we eat?”
              “Italian?”
              “Very funny. And the film?”

“See, this is good. I think it’s against an in-love law or something that we don't know what movies each other digs.”

“All right, hold on?”

He nodded.

I found a man walking by and approached him. “
Mi scusi, dove trovo un cinema
?”

“
A due isolati sulla destra
”

“Grazie,” I told the man.

He nodded and walked away with a polite, “Prego.”

An inadvertent yelp came from me as I was swept off my feet and spun around. “You make me hot when you do that,” Tom spoke into my ear.

I kissed him softly as he set me on my feet again. “Sei il grande amore della mia vita,” I whispered into his lips.

He kissed me deeper. “And what does that mean?”

“Nothing. Come on, it’s two blocks down.”

As we walked to the theater, I started singing a Georgia Asher song we heard days before but stuck with us and to my utter surprise, Tom joined in harmony and we sounded unbelievably good together. His voice was rich and deep and perfect for harmony, which made sense to me knowing he played bass for The Ivories. When we were done, I looked over at him in awe.

“God you’re talented, Tom.”

“I am not.”

“Yes, you
really
are.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“I’m serious, Tom. You are talented as shit.”

“This coming from one of the best pianists I’ve ever seen live.” He paused. “Actually, that does kinda make me feel like a hoss, coming from
you
. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, blushing from his compliment.

The theater looked more like a ballroom than a movie cinema but that was Rome for you. I translated all the titles for him. It seemed they played oldies but goodies, and we had a choice between
Alien
,
Back to the Future
,
Indiana Jones: The Temple of Doom
, and three Italian flicks. Seeming as I would be the only one who could understand the Italian films, we opted for the American/Italian subtitled.

“So which one?” I asked.

“Of those three, I know exactly which one I’d pick, hands down, but I want to know if you’d pick the same one.”

“I’d pick-,” I began but he cut me off with a warm finger to my lips.

“No, let’s play a game.”

“Oooh, a game. I rock at games. I dominate at games. I am a game master.”

“Are you finished?”

“Yes, proceed.”

“Here’s my card.”

“Okay,” I said, taking the little plastic Visa.

“I’ll stand here while you buy your ticket. You go on inside, then it’ll be my turn.”

“And?”

“Hopefully we pick the same film.”

“This game sucks,” I told him.

“Just play along, January.”

“Fine,” I said, convinced he was going to choose
Alien
or
Indiana Jones.

I debated whether I should just choose whatever film I thought he would want but that was defeating the spirit of the "game."
              “
Un biglietto per Ritorno al Futuro, per favore
?”
The attendant took the card, ran it and I pocketed my ticket.
              “Your card, sir.”
He took the card and palmed it in his hand.
              “Thank you.”
              “I’ll see you inside, then?” I asked, feeling unsure for some reason.
              “In just a few. Need anything?”
              “No, I can wait until later.”
              “All right,” he said, leaning in and kissing my cheek.
Thomas
              As soon as January went inside, I went to the attendant’s window and purchased a ticket to
Back to the Future
hoping she chose the same one. I slid my card and the ticket inside my wallet. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
              “Following us?” I asked Jonah casually as I turned to my left.
              He hefted himself off the wall a few yards from the ticket booth, unfolding his arms and taking his sweet ass time to reach me.
              “No. Just a coincidence.”
              “Right. A coincidence. You know what else might be coincidental?”
              “What’s that?” he asked, a dumb smile on his face.
              “My fist connecting with your weak ass jaw.”
              “Tsk, tsk, Eriksson. Threats? Really? Don’t make me report you to corporate.”
              “You’re such a pussy when you say things like that. You know that?”
His only reply was a snort.
              “Gonna run off and tell on me, Jonah? Can’t fight like a man?”
              “I’m a lover not a fighter, Tom. You know that,” he said, a sarcastic tap on my jaw with his palm.
              I gritted my jaw and pulled away from his reach. “Only cowards say shit like that.”
              “You always resort to violence, Tom. It’s going to bite you in the ass one day, I think.”
              “I’m just not afraid to fight for what I believe in, but you obviously don’t believe in shit seeming as how you’re such a spineless, dishonest asshole. Not that you’d believe me, but I’ve never hit anyone in my life, yet I’m not afraid to start with you, dick. Get the fuck away from me before I’m good on my word.”
I started to walk away but he grabbed the back of my t-shirt.
              “Let go, Jonah,” I told the air in front of me, refusing to face him. “I promise you, you won’t win.”
              “Don’t you want to know how I found you?” he asked, releasing his grip.
I hated that I did. I sincerely needed to know how the hell he was finding us since we told no one we were even going to Italy.
              “How?” I asked, still refusing to turn.
              “Why don’t you ask January that question,” he said, chuckling. My blood boiled to an intense heat, but when I turned to confront him he’d vanished around the corner like a slithering snake.
              “What a crock of shit,” I mumbled to myself. “She’d never betray me.”
But he’d planted a seed in that moment and as much as I hated it, it made me think.
How
did
he find us?
If January and I were the only ones to know where we were going and I didn’t tell him, that left only one other person who could inform him.
Surely not,
I thought, shaking my head.
He’s just trying to get inside your head.
              I entered the theater trembling from the need to hit something. I booked it to the attendant tearing tickets and handed over mine. He pointed to a theater to my right and said something in Italian I didn’t understand. I just nodded and told him the only Italian word I knew. I hoped to God it was thank you but I couldn’t be sure.
              The theater wasn’t yet dark and there was no one else inside but January. “Good, the previews haven’t started,” I told her, pasting the best smile I could attempt.
              “Over here!” January shouted. She’d stood and started waving her arms. “I’m over here, Tom! Can you see me?” She joked. I looked on her.
There’s no way she’d do that to you.
              “Yes, I can, January, seeing as we’re the only two people in here,” I joshed back, the lump in my throat only getting bigger.
              “Oh good. I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to find me.”
              “Your jumping up and down helped.”
We settled into our seats and she rested her head on my shoulder. I swallowed my fear and tried to control my shaking.
              “This isn’t the film you bought the ticket for,” she accused quietly.
              “Yes, it is,” I said, turning to meet her face.
              “Then what took you so long?”
              “Nothing, I just got a bit lost. I don’t speak the language, remember?”
              “You’re lying,” she said matter-of-factly.
              “I am not,” I said, lying through my teeth. “Here,” I said, removing my ticket.

She took it and studied it, confirming what I’d already told her. “Hmm,” she teased. “You pass, Christopher Lloyd, but something’s still wrong, I can tell.”

“Okay, Huey Lewis, I swear there’s no news.”

“You forget, I’ve got ‘the power of love.’”

“It’s a curious thing,” I added dryly.

“Yeah,” she said, “It’s tougher than diamonds, rich like cream.”

“Stronger and harder than a bad girl’s dream,” I continued.

“Oh my God, I don’t know what’s scarier, the fact we know these lyrics or the lyrics themselves.”

“But it might just save your life, January. That’s the power of love.”

“Oh my God, I love you,” she proclaimed.

I swallowed the lump away. “I love you too,” I told her, kissing the top of her head.

And just like that, Jonah and what he’d told me melted away.
 

After dinner and the movie, I kissed her at her door and barely controlled my feet as they apparently had their own thoughts and began to make their way toward her bed with her in my arms. I abandoned her quickly, kissing her once more and sprinting to my own door. Inside my room, I dialed Harper, one of my best friends and Callum’s wife.

“Yo, yo, yo!” I heard on the other line, making me smile.

“Harper Tate. What’s new?” I asked her.

“Oh, besides the fact that it’s seven in the morning here?”

“Oh, shit, sorry.” I said, picking up the nearby alarm clock and trying to do the math. “I didn’t think about that. I just needed to talk to someone.”

“It’s all right, buttercup. It’s been over a week since you called. We were getting worried so it’s all good. Why?” She sounded concerned. “What’s wrong? Is it Kelly’s wedding again?” Callum and Harper were the only ones who knew about my little Kelly issue. I heard a mumbling then Harper’s muffled response. “No, it’s cool. It’s Tom. I think he’s depressed again about Kelly.”

I rolled my eyes. “Harper, please tell Callum that I am not depressed about Kelly. I told you, I am so over Kelly it’s not even funny. She’s a friend and nothing more.”

“All right, then what’s up, man?”

“I’m, uh-” I cleared my throat. “I’m, uh,-”

“T-t-t-today, junior!”

“Shut it, Harper.” I took a deep breath and just spit it out. “I’m in love.” There was a long pause. “Harper?”

“Oh my God, with the girl? January?”

“Yes. But I know what you’re thinking and this isn’t Kelly-love, Harper. This is-this is...
it
.”

“And you know this for sure?”

“I’d bet my life on it.”

“I’d say that’s pretty damn sure.”

“It is.”

“So what the hell is the problem then?”

“I’m having some trust issues, it seems.”

“You sound like a chick, Tom.”

“Christ, I know. It’s embarrassing as hell.”

“Well, grow a pair, dude. Suck it up. Because Kelly really didn’t wrong you, you wronged yourself. If you’re insecure, it’s because you made yourself that way and there’s no reason you should tiptoe around yourself because you’re the toughest bastard I know.”

“Damn, Harper, that was harsh.”

“Well, I’m sorry. You needed to hear the truth and I love you too much not to be honest with you.”

“Thank you for that, truly.”

“Of course.” I could hear her run and bounce on their sofa, then I heard Callum yell at her to stop throwing herself on the couch because it was scuffing the wall, then I heard her smile and roll her eyes. Okay, I didn’t
hear
that, but I definitely knew her well enough to know that it’s exactly what she did. “You’re not my dad, Callum,” I heard her say.

“That’s not what you said last night,” I faintly caught.

“I’m outta here,” I told her.

“Don’t! Stay! Hold on! Do you say that shit to embarrass me?” she asked him.

“Yes,” Callum answered as laughter faded away.

“Anyway. Tell me. What’s she like?” she asked, the giddiness returning to her voice. Girls ate this crap up.

“I told you. Gorgeous, cool.”

“Oh my word, boys are dumb. I’m gonna have to pry every detail from you aren’t I? How tall is she?”

“I don’t know, five-foot ten?”
She’s exactly five-foot ten
.

“Her hair?”

“Long and brown.”
The red highlights in it shine in the sun and all I want to do is bury my nose in it when she’s around because it smells like cherry bark.

“And her eyes?”

“Blue.”
Like the ocean, blue.

“She’s a scout and your her apprentice so she must have killer taste in music. What else is she like?”

“She plays the piano like an absolute boss.”

“No shit. That’s cool. And her family?”