Page 76 of Effortless

That broke Camilla’s daze.

The awkward silence echoing in the kitchen certainly didn’t help.

“All right,” Camilla said, side-eyeing her father, “We are going to take a walk through the back property until dinner is ready. Shoot me a text, in case we’re too far to hear you yell, Ma.”

“Sure,” Emma replied. “I can do that.”

Camilla gave Tommaso’s hand another squeeze, and then tugged him to follow behind her as she left the kitchen. The silence from before stretched on. She didn’t hear either of her parents say a single word.

She had no doubt the very second the back door closed, the two would be whispering to one another again in the kitchen like earlier.

“That wasn’t so bad,” Tommaso said as they headed for the trails on the back property. “I think you made a big deal out of nothing.”

“No, I really didn’t. They just hid their surprise better than I thought they would.”

“Maybe.”

Tommaso tugged her in close again, and Camilla hugged him around his torso as they headed onto the trail. On the trails, they couldn’t be seen from the windows because of all the trees. Camilla took the opportunity of privacy to stop Tommaso, and pull him down for another kiss.

“What was that for?” he asked when she pulled away.

Camilla shrugged. “For coming here.”

“To the state, or dinner?”

“Maybe both.”

“Mmm, I don’t mind. Someone is worth the trip.”

Camilla arched a brow. “Someone?”

“Definitely you, Cam.”

Her smile grew sly in a blink.

“Keep in mind, dinner hasn’t even begun yet, and most of the family is invited. You could still be grilled yet.”

“Not concerned,” Tommaso said.

“I bet.”

Then, he smiled wider.

“I have something for you,” he told her.

“You didn’t have to bring something for me, Tom.”

Tommaso shook his head, and dug in the pocket of his black tweed coat. “It wasn’t anything big, so don’t worry about that. Mostly, Chicago wanted to remind you … and thank you.”

Camilla’s brow furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

He grabbed her hand, and flipped it over so her palm was up and open. Then, he placed an item in her hand that he had kept hidden after pulling it from his pocket.

Camilla peeked at the item the second Tommaso had pulled his hand away. A small, rectangular keychain rested in her palm. It was simple in design—white background, black letters, and a little red heart. It hung from a silver chain that a person could attach to a keyring or whatever else they wanted.

I heart Chicago, it read.

Because of course he would remind her of that conversation.