Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Nonna,” Aiden says, poking her with his finger. “My grandpa ate all my cookies and didn’t share.” Gabriella bends and picks him up and kisses his cheek.
“That’s okay, amore mio.” He smiles at her. “I made you some more.”
“They were delicious,” my father says. “The best I’ve ever tasted.”
“Would you like something to drink? Some coffee?” I ask them and then look at Luca. “Bring them in,” I hiss at him, and he just shakes his head, putting the bag down on the counter. Instead of telling them to come in, he walks to me and grabs my face in his hands.
“Relax,” he says and then kisses me softly.
“They always kiss,” Aiden says, and I laugh. “Sometimes naked, too.” I roll my lips together and close my eyes while everyone else laughs. “Nonna, you need to give us some spray for the mosquitos.” My head falls forward on Luca’s chest, and he just hugs me, and I thank God I’m not facing his parents for the next part. “This morning, they both had mosquito bites, and they had to check each other naked. Daddy was on top of Mommy.”
“Okay,” my mother says, slapping her hands together. “Let’s see what your nonna brought you.” Aiden cheers, wiggling out of Gabriella’s arms.
“I hope she brought the chocolate ones,” he says, then stops. “None for you, Grandpa. You’re going to get a sore belly.” Everyone walks away from us to the kitchen, and then I hear plates coming out, and I look over and see that our fathers are sitting at the table watching the women fix our plates.
“Remember this morning when I wanted the ground to swallow me up?” I look at Luca, who just smiles. “I changed my mind now, now would be good.”
“Mom, she made your lemon cookies,” Aiden says, and I look at him. His smile is huge on his face as Gabriella leans down to kiss him. He is surrounded by so much love, and he has them wrapped around his finger.
“Let’s go eat,” Luca says, and then I walk with him into the kitchen and grab a lemon cookie. For the next three hours, our parents get to know each other, and they decide that Sunday will be our official family day. They make plans for next Sunday, and Gabriella insists that everyone come over to her house, and she entices us with all her cooking suggestions.
We rush out the door to go to the birthday party with hugs and kisses and a promise to call them tomorrow. When we finally get home that night, I look over at Luca. “Where are we sleeping tonight?”
“I don’t care,” he says and looks over at Aiden. “Where do you want to sleep tonight?”
“At Daddy’s,” Aiden says. “Mommy, are you coming with us?”
“Always,” Luca says, and I just smile at him. “We need to have a talk about this,” he says, getting out of the car and then opening Aiden’s door.
“I don’t think there is much to talk about,” I tell him, and he puts Aiden down, who walks up the stairs to the front door.
“Well, there are two ways we can do this. You can move into my house, or we can buy a house together,” he tells me and walks to the door opening it.
“Wait a second,” I say. “Maybe you should ask first.”
“Ask about what?” he says, coming to me. “Aiden, go get a snack,” he says over his shoulder.
“Dad, someone made a mess in your house!” Aiden yells, and I close my eyes. “All the couch cushions are on the floor.” I take a deep breath.
“Just get a snack!” I yell at him, and he shrugs and walks back in the house.
“Did we or did we not spend the night together?” he asks me but doesn’t give me a chance to answer. “Did we or did we not wait seven years to get together again?” I roll my eyes because I hate when he’s right. “We are going to do this, Eli. I want to have our stuff in the same house so you don’t have to keep packing a bag and I don’t have to go home in a pink robe.”
“I was going to go and get you your clothes,” I tell him.
“That’s the thing,” he says and grabs my hand and pulls me toward his house. “I want our stuff to be in one place. I don’t want Aiden to have two rooms. I want him to have one.”
“What if we don’t get along?” I ask him.
“What if we get along fine?” he counters. “How about we do a trial then?”
“Like?” I ask him.
“Seven days you live with me, morning, afternoon, night,” he tells me.
“Isn’t that what we do now?” I ask him.
“I rest my case,” he says, kissing my nose. “I’m going to give Aiden a bath. You go pack your clothes for a week.”