Page 113 of Cara & Gian: The Guzzi Duet

“Positive.” Gian took another drink from his beer as Cara slipped the casserole dish, filled with the marinated steaks, into the oven. “I do have a question for you, though.”

“Oh?”

“What do you want in the future?”

Cara straightened quickly as she closed the oven, and leaned against the warm metal to regard Gian as she spoke. “For what?”

“Us, I guess.”

“I want you,” Cara said simply.

“That’s a broad statement, though. I meant … the details, Cara. Of life, you know. The little things. What do you want with me in all of that?”

“What’s brought this on?”

Gian smirked in that way of his. “I told you once that if you asked me for something more, I would try my very best to give it to you. I’ve done that so far, but now I wonder what you want beyond what we have, that’s all.”

“I want you,” she repeated firmer.

“Yeah, but—”

“Everything, Gian. I want everything with you.”

“Everything,” he echoed.

“I mean, yeah. As it comes, you know.”

“With me.”

“Who the hell else?”

Gian gave her one of his usual smiles, leaned forward, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “All right, then. That’s all I needed to hear.”

“And nothing’s wrong?”

“No, I needed to hear that. From you.”

It was one of the strangest interactions of Cara’s life, certainly the oddest she’d ever had with Gian, but who was she to question the things that roamed around in his mind? Sometimes, he was so quiet, she wondered what his mind must be like.

“I have some shit to do, so give me a shout when the food is ready, okay?”

Cara nodded. “Sure.”

Something was definitely wrong, she decided as Gian walked away.

She still didn’t call him on it.

“Gian?” Cara rapped her knuckles on the opened office door and peered in to find Gian still had his head bent down as he looked over something on his laptop. “Supper is ready.”

“Can it wait for a minute?”

“It’s set out on the table, but it’ll be warm for a bit.”

“Good. Come here for a second.”

Cara stepped into the office, taking a seat on the couch closest to the window. “What’s up?”

“I bought you a ticket. It’s for tomorrow afternoon. To Chicago’s O’Hare.”