Code name: Athena [18+]

Code name: Il passato

•Mariano Salvatore•
•Three years before•

"Baby! You forgot your coat!" I heard her voice coming from the door.

I turned around as a big smile appeared on my lips; the floor trembles whenever I lay eyes on her...she's so beautiful "Maybe I forgot it on purpose!"

"Why on earth would you do such a thing?" My wife smiled approaching me with the coat in her hands.

"Because I want a second goodbye kiss," my arms looped around her waist before pecking her lips "I love you, Lula."

The woman in front of me has made me forget about the person I thought was the love of my life; I've never been this happy. My world spins whenever she kisses me, every time we touch it feels like I'm touching the stars...maybe that doesn't make sense but nothing makes sense when you're in love. The feelings, thoughts, and possibilities overwhelm you.

"I love you, Mariano," her eyes locked with mine. "Be home early, I have something really important to tell you."

My right eyebrow arched "Tell me now, why do we have to schedule a meeting?"

She chuckled grazing her nose with mine "Because you're a busy busy busy man."

"Should I be scared or excited?"

Lula squirmed out of my grip "Aren't they the same?" My wife walked backwards to the house.

"Of course they're not!"

"I believe they are!" She ran away laughing. "See you at dinner!"

A deep drunken-with-love sigh left my mouth "SEE YOU, BABY!"

As she stood on the doorway she lightly waved. I might need to get her some PJs so she stops stealing my shirts and joggers.

On my way to work, I thought about everything on the to-do list today which is quite a lot. Apollo doesn't know I'm leaving the States for a year or two; my wife found a great opportunity for her fashion-designing career in Roma so we are moving besides we haven't gone on our honeymoon due to excessive amount of work; today is the day to spill the secret which means there will be more than quite a lot...no time for picking up the PJs for wifey which will only be a joke since Lula in my shirts is the embodiment of cuteness and sexiness when she takes them off while dancing for me.

The moment I met her is very vivid in my mind; I'm always thinking about it. She was wearing a white dress, how poetic; red high heels and her hair was down in its natural wavy state. It was a Tuesday and those were the days I got my tea myself from the Starbucks across the street from the office. My eye caught her even before I crossed the street, we made eye contact for a second which she responded with a blush and shy smile before walking into the establishment.

Once in the Starbucks, the woman was already waiting at the end of the bar for her drink, looking at her phone "Hi, welcome to Starbucks. What would you like today?" The girl grinned at me.

"Oh," I tried to compose myself "I would like a venti hot chai tea with whole milk, please."

"Awesome," she reached for the paper cup "what's your name, Sir?"

"John," they never spell my name right even though it's not that hard.

"That would be $4.65." I gave her $10 and slipped the change in the tips box "Thank you, Sir."

"Sure, have a nice day," my eyes were on the girl.

"Venti mint tea for Lula!" the barista shouted.