"A perfect relationship isn't perfect, it's just that both people never gave up." - Unknown

Angelik's POV

Max busied himself in the kitchen while I chatted with Sasha Beth. She's now wearing a loose shirt with a picture of a car engine covering the front part of her white shirt and paired it with black legging pants.

I'm glad she decided to cover her pierced belly button before my husband pulled his hair out of frustration. Or his eyeballs turned into one of those googly eyes from rolling it constantly.

One thing he had gotten from me.

Her hair damped, and she didn't bother drying it up as she sat on the couch facing each other.

"I love Italy. The last I was there was when I was 13," I said, grinning like a hungry cat at her. And I was hungry with her stories.

"Italy is beautiful, and the food is good... if you like pasta," she chuckled, rolling her shoulders nonchalantly.

I laughed, "Did you find any cute guys?"

Sasha raised one well defined eyebrow. "Cute?" she reiterated with unveiled aghast, and I bit my bottom lip trying to suppress my amusement. 

The corner of her lips quirked with mirth.  

I forgot that Sasha Beth is not a teenager anymore, and we don't like cute boys. We want a man, and a rough man but sweet inside. 

Like my Max. My maddening Max.

"I love pasta, but not every day," I said, trying to drop the subject as I shook my head, then chuckled.

Sasha laughed, her expressive eyes glinting with mischief.

"Well..." she paused, her slender shoulders rolling again nonchalantly. "Give that pasta a twist each day," her eyebrows wriggled, her lips quirked, amusement all over her beautiful face. "Tortellini on Monday, Spaghetti on Tuesday, Fettuccine on Wednesday..." then, she wriggled her eyebrows, "Manicotti on Thursday, and Maxi on the weekend," she threw me a teasing grin before she broke into waves of laughter.

And when the last words sunk into my brain, I stared at her with my brows furrowing. "Maxi?" I asked in confusion. I haven't heard of Maxi pasta before.

Sasha laughed, and when it occurred to me what she did there, I burst into peals of laughter.

And when we both sobered up, she spoke. "And make sure to cook the way Italian do it. Otherwise, they will come after you," she added, laughing. "But their food is so tasty, you will love it," Sasha hastily backed up.

"Yes, Maxi is really tasty, seasoned or not," I agreed jokingly.

Sasha's laughter echoed in the room, and that's when Max walked in on us.

"Dinner is ready," he announced. Sasha Beth got up, and I followed her. Max was throwing us curious glances, and when Sasha Beth brushed past him, his blue eyes widened a bit, sending me a questioning look, and I shook my head innocently.

His eyes turned into slits, showing displeasure, and I just shrugged my shoulders as I approached him closer and placed my hand around his waist, noting the gray apron he was still wearing.

"Let's go, hubby. I'm starving," I grinned up at him, and he leveled me a stare.

"Your sister is not doing anything," I frowned at him, and he just raised an eyebrow. "Okay, Mr. Mistrustful, let's go so you can start interrogating your sister," I quipped as I rolled my eyes.

"I grew up with her, wifey. She drives us all nuts," Max murmured, disconsolate.

"But you love her all the same," I smiled at him, and he sighed as he let me guide him back to the kitchen.

I heard him murmur something quietly as 'double trouble,' but I ignored it.

Max still played a good host, served us drinks, and was very attentive to us.

"I missed your food, brother," Sasha said as she popped a piece of meat in her mouth. "It's so good!" she hummed as she chewed on her food, wearing a big smile directed at her brother.

"Glad you like it," Max replied, throwing me a glance, and I smiled at him as I sipped my wine.

Max, though unimpressed with Sasha's life decision, his face still lit up with love for his sister, that sister's adoration glowing in his eyes. Though once in a while, disappointment was all over his handsome face when Sasha spoke of her shenanigans.

"So what did you do in Florence, Sash?" I asked, still beaming at her like a crazy Cheshire cat, waiting for its treat while absentmindedly sipping my wine.

Sasha's eyes lit up, and it reminded me of her brother's, the way it slanted and became even more expressive. The kind of eyes that held a lot of secrets and mischief.

"I worked with a friend I met there in his auto shop. It's—"

"Sasha Beth loves cars, hon," Max interrupted, causing me to shift my gaze at him. I could hear a tinge of pride in his deep masculine tone, but his face was filled with displeasure.

I averted my gaze back to Sasha Beth, "really?!" I gushed, and she was beaming with pride at me, head bobbing up and down.

"True! I race once in a while if my mood suits me," she winked and then directed her eyes to her brother, who just let out a deep sigh before shaking his head, but didn't utter a single word.

"I wish I could do that," I mused wistfully, ignoring the loud grunt of disapproval coming from my husband next to me.

"I will bring you one day. It is exhilarating!" Sasha Beth exclaimed, ignoring his brother's constant deathly glare thrown in her direction.

"Please! I would love that!" I agreed almost immediately, suddenly becoming hyperactive in my seat.

"Wifey, you need to eat. Perhaps food can help you think properly," he blustered as he frowned at the food on my plate.

I stared at Max, who was now cutting my chicken into pieces, while he was touting what would happen to him if something happened to his wife. I smiled as I watched him, his utensils dug so hard into my tender chicken, and I winced unconsciously. The chicken looked like a mashed chicken, and I realized he was upset.

"And take note, wifey... you have a husband that would worry so much if something happened to his better half," he finished.

Then he speared a piece of chicken and placed it close to my lips. "Open your mouth. You were too focused on her, your food is getting cold," he glowered at me, and I opened my mouth involuntarily, thoroughly amused by his reaction.

"You need to lighten up your life, hubby," I muttered, my head inclined unconsciously.

He stared at me like I'd grown two heads.

His lips turned into a grim line, then expostulated. "My life has been very colorful. It has been blinding, shining, to the point it's life-altering," his tone rising, cold and with barely veiled thunderous fury. Then suddenly he halted, his cold eyes softening when he realized he had snapped. 

I don't know what triggered his anger so I kept my mouth shut, gaze never left his rigid face. It was supposed to be a joke. 

"Believe me, wifey. I'd rather stay where I feel safe, knowing I wouldn't risk your life or anyone's," he cocked one eyebrow at me as he stared at me intensely... and solemnly. 

I felt pain laced in his deep, rigid tone as he spoke the words, and I felt slightly guilty.

A tense silence followed, only his deep breathing as he tried to calm his unwelcome temper. 

"Are you okay, brother?" Sasha Beth asked in a tone laced with concern, causing us to break the stare. I shifted my gaze to his sister — who was now staring at him with a perplexed look.

Did he ever experience next to death crisis before? 

He suddenly stared at her and then at me, then he smiled as if nothing weird happened to him.

He shook his head, avoiding meeting my inquisitive gaze. "I'm fine. Just the two of you drive me crazy," he muttered, dragging his gaze back to his sister and skillfully bilking mine.

My palm involuntarily reached his thigh, and he hastily met my eyes. Those frosty blue eyes turned darker, and I liked my effect on him, but I am curious of the sudden changes of his behavior.

His eyebrow cocked up with my head furtively inclining to the side, silently sending him a message, asking what was bothering him? What's with the weird reaction and anger?

"I'm fine," he murmured before he leaned in and briefly kissed me on the lips, then scooted his chair backwards, then rose to his full height. "I need to go to the washroom," he excused himself.Sasha Beth and I shared a stumped look.

"What just happened?" Sash asked, and I shook my head, still at a loss for words.

I shove all the questions that are starting to plague me at the very back of my head. "I'm sorry about that. He is exhausted, and we are also still adapting to our new sitch."

"Being husband and wife?" Sasha Beth smiled. "I understand."

I smiled back at her.

"You guys look very comfortable with each other," Sash commented, and I felt the food go in the wrong hole, causing me to cough. The way she toned it, she was teasing.

"Are you okay?" Sash asked as she hastily rose from her seat and moved closer to me, reaching for my back and giving a few blows between my shoulder blades.

When I felt my throat was clear, I grabbed my untouched water and took a huge gulp.

"Thanks," I murmured as I put down the half-filled glass, throwing Sasha Beth a grateful glance.

She occupied her seat back as she nodded her head.

"I was happy though when I heard that Max married you. I knew it when I first came here. He can't take his eyes off you," Sash supplied, and I stared at her, stunned at her sudden revelation.

"Are you saying this to make me feel safe?... happy?"

Sasha chuckled. "No! Not me. I don't say things to make people feel comforted. I say what I see and think. I do not mince words," she hastily corrected me.

She looked down at her almost empty plate as she murmured something softly, perhaps to herself, akin to 'reason why I always got in trouble.'

I unconsciously shook my head as I watched her animatedly chopping the last piece of her asparagus.

Before I could ask her plans for the coming days, she beat me.

"Do you like being a nurse?" Sasha asked randomly, and my head bobbed up and down in approval.

"I do. It's often exhausting but rewarding at the end of the day," I smiled. 

"These people don't know how lucky they were to have someone like you caring for them. I wish I have that patience. Mine is as thin a thread," she giggled, darting her eyes back to her plate, and took her last bite of her food.

"I've always wanted to take care of others," I smiled at her, and I do.

Between Iya, Elle, and I, I was always like a mother hen —taking care of them and giving them bits of advice. I take pleasure in making others feel comforted, making them feel better.

"You and my brother are made for each other," Sash remarked, and I just smiled at her.

"Do you think he's gonna come back?" Sash asked as she shot a glance at the direction Max exited.

"I have a feeling he was avoiding us after that episode," I sighed, feeling more guilt for being insensitive, but then I had no idea about his past or his plight.

I felt like the conversation was strained, awkward, and I meant to break it.

Now I realized, Max was hiding things from me, and I feel hurt upon cognizing that I knew nothing about him. 

The last piece of my chicken tasted like cardboard. I lost my appetite as I stewed on my thoughts. I pushed my unfinished food away, wiped my lips with the table napkin, then mindlessly smiled at Sasha.

I was glad she didn't say anything at my sudden loss of interest.

The last piece of my chicken tasted like cardboard. I lost my appetite as I stewed on my thoughts. I pushed my unfinished food away, wiped my lips with the table napkin, then mindlessly smiled at Sasha.

I was glad she didn't say anything at my sudden loss of interest.

I emptied the last content of my wine.

"Are you working tomorrow?" Sash asked, and I shook my head as I put the empty glass on the table.

"I took a break," I replied shortly, and her eyes lit up as she leaned forward.

"Will you accompany me to the salon tomorrow?" she asked.

"Of course!"

I didn't know I was frowning as I looked at her dyed hair, wondering what color will she pick this time.

And then she read my mind. "I'm gonna dye it back to my original color," she said.

"They look nice, but it would look better with your normal color," I said aloud, and she grinned at me.

"I already forgot what's my normal color."

I laughed, forgetting about Max temporarily.

"Was it brown?" I asked, looking at the root of her hair, but since it was damped, it looked black to me, and with the lighting, it was hard to tell.

"I think," Sasha shrugged her shoulders in nonchalance. "Perhaps, lighter?" she mused, unsure.

I laughed, "let's see tomorrow. It's better to see it under the sun light and when your hair is dry," I suggested, and she nodded her head.

"And after the salon, perhaps we can swing by the mall, I need to shop some dresses," she muttered, feigning insouciant, her eyes darting everywhere, and it reminded me of Max if he was unsure or embarrassed of something.

"It's been a while since I shop some clothes. I've forgotten what a mall looks like," Sash prattled on as she brushed away an invisible lint off her shirt sleeve.

"Sash," I called, trying to get her attention. She stopped brushing her shirt sleeve and met my eyes.

I suppressed the smile and asked away whatever was running in my head. "What made you change?"

She stared at me but not seeing me, befuddled. And then she looked away. "Am I that transparent?" she asked wearily, and I smiled.

"I think every woman can read each other's actions," I murmured, and she sighed

"Please don't tell this to my brother or anyone," she looked embarrassed, and I shook my head.

"Trust me, my lips are tight," I said with my clipped thumb and forefinger running across my lips like zipping them.

"I met a man in Italy," she started, and I suppressed a fit of giddy giggles bubbling at the back of my throat as I listened to her, not wanting to interrupt her. Her cheeks turned a shade of pink as she continued. "He just came of seminary, and he's very..." she worried on her bottom lip as she tried to find the right words to describe the man.

"Handsome?" I supplied, and she shook her head and then nodded, which left me confused.

"Yes, he's very handsome, but not the term I'd like to use," she clarified.

"Hmm..." I mumbled.

"Oh, he's a virgin," she chuckled, eyes sparkling with mirth. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Really?"

I haven't met an inexperienced man before.

"Why did you say that?"

"He's very devoted Christian, he's traditional, and he is pure."

"That is why you want to change for him?" I asked.

I don't believe of changing for a man to love me.

Sasha shook her head in disapproval. "No, I want to change for myself. I figured that my life has no direction," she elucidated, smiling embarrassedly.

"And he made you realized that?" I asked in confirmation.

"No, he didn't mean it when we last talked. I just realized I'm getting old, and I'm still nowhere where I want to be, and I don't know what I wanna be," she mumbled the last words, and then she let out a deep sigh.

"What, you don't know what you wanna be?" Max asked as he approached us and Sasha's eyes widened.

"How long have you been eavesdropping?" I frowned at him as he approached us. I noticed he's changed into his pyjamas, and he looked rather mouthwatering.

"Well, we didn't want to know what we'll gonna do tomorrow," I replied, smiling at him as I slowly got up and met him halfway. I curled my hand around his waist, and he was watching me, smirking.

"I suggest you two stay away from trouble," Max grinned, glancing at Sasha at the table before turning it back to me, and then he leaned down and gave me a searing kiss, his strong arms curling around me. 

I heard Sasha groaned loudly behind us.

..............