Silvia woke up to Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus.

The sun was setting and she was alone in bed, tucked in soft sheets that smelled of lemon and the fat white comforter. Jim had left a few hours ago to let her rest, because after those weeks apart, it was plain to see she wouldn't get any rest with him around.

She'd fallen sound asleep, exhausted, and now she had the persistent feeling of being still lost in a dream. But she wasn't. This was not the Black Rock. It was the Ashtray, her new home, and that music had to be a phone ringing.

But not hers. She'd never used that song as a ringtone.

She followed the music to the other nightstand, where she found a new phone still inside its open box with a red ribbon. And she laughed out loud when she grabbed it and saw the caller was My Personal J.

"Hey, you awake?" Jim asked when she picked up, still chuckling.

"Hey, you just woke me up. What time is it?"

"Almost dinner time in the land of the free. Wanna stay home, just the two of us? Or d'you feel like dining out with the guys?"

"What would you do if I wasn't here?"

"Well, it's Saturday night, so pasta at Massimo's and then, who knows."

"That's the Italian restaurant Sean likes, right?"

"That one."

"Then let's go for some pasta. And then, who knows."

"I like how you think, woman. I'll pick you up in forty. Is that enough for you to get out of bed and throw some clothes on?"

"Text me the address and I'll meet you there."

"What?"

"I need to start moving around by myself, Jim."

"C'mon, woman, don't—"

"I'll call you if I get lost."

Silvia heard him grunt under his breath and waited.

"Fine. Take a cab. It's ten minutes away from your place. Can you be there in an hour?"

"Sure."

"Okay. I'll be there. And call me if—"

"Love you."

She disconnected because she couldn't fight back her laughter any longer.

She loved it when Jim was so protective. It made her feel secure. She could venture around, because he had her back. He was there for her like he'd been since the very first day. Maybe it was a gross contradiction, but his being there for her made her feel free.

Jim had brought her luggage to the bedroom before leaving, so she lay on her belly to reach her rucksack and grab her tablet before bringing her feet down from the bed.

What would be the first song she'd play in the Ashtray?

No Return's playlist was tempting, but she needed something quieter. Something to start her new life with firm footing, in no hurry, savoring every moment.

Sarah McLachlan's song filled the apartment like a gentle whisper while Silvia got up and laid the bed.

She headed for the bathroom with her tablet, pausing halfway to enjoy the view of the night closing over the city through the living-room window, singing along under her breath.

I love the time and in between
The calm inside me
In this place where I can breathe
I believe there is a distance I have wandered
To touch upon the years of
Reaching out, reaching in
Holding out, holding in.

I believe this is heaven
To no one else but me
And I'll defend it for as long as I can be
Left here to linger in silence if I want to
Would you try to understand it?

I know this love is passing time

She closed the bathroom door to open the shower and the rest of the apartment was left in silence.

Silvia walked into the restaurant in a hurry, just about to be late, and almost stumbled into a big man in a spotless black suit.

"Do you have a reservation, ma'am?" he asked, suspicious.

She opened her mouth and closed it, frowning. How many women showed up, swearing they were supposed to meet the Robinsons there? But there was no other way to put it.

"Good evening. I'm here to meet Mr. Robinson," she said, regretting her voice didn't sound as firm as she would've liked. "Mr. Jim Robinson."

The way the man raised his eyebrows was a mocking neon sign, reading, "Yeah, and I'm Brad Pitt," or something along that line.

She showed him one finger, asking for a minute, and fished through her bag, looking for her new phone. She'd just found it, and was about to call her personal Jay when she saw any trace of sarcasm disappear from the man's face as he looked up past her.

"It's okay, Giovanni. She's with us," said a man behind her. A man that was definitely not Jim.

Silvia turned around, managing a smile to face Sean.

The eldest Robinson nodded hi at her, curt as usual, and looked up at the man again with a serious frown.

"She's Silvia. Remember her face and her name, Giovanni. She's my brother's girlfriend."

Silvia felt a sudden urge to inspect the tip of her boots, and she kept her eyes down as her ears caught fire with such an introduction.

"Of course, Mr. Robinson," murmured the man, stepping back.

He tried to apologize to Silvia, but Sean shook his head and motioned for her to follow him. Silvia flashed a quick smile at the poor man and went after Sean.

He led her to a table where Jo, Tom and Liam waved at her with big smiles, while Jim shook an empty bread basket over his head, thundering the place with his voice.

"C'mon! Gimme some!"

♥ Thanks for getting this far! ♥
If you enjoyed the story and want to help me grow as an author, remember you can find No Return on ebook and paperback on Amazon.