She untangles herself from my body and heads toward the suitcase, pulling out a long T-shirt and panties. “It’s just for a week. You’ll survive.”
I throw myself onto the bed and put my arm under my head, letting my gaze travel up those long, muscular legs. “You’re looking fine in my shirt, babe.”
She curls into my side, her head on my shoulder and hand on my chest. “Don’t get any ideas, mister.”
I run my fingers down her arm that’s resting on my chest. “Sleep, sweetheart. I wasn’t getting any ideas, just complimenting my woman and knowing I’m the luckiest son of a bitch in the world.”
She tips her head and smiles. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I tip my head downward and kiss her lips. “Now, sleep.”
She’s out a few minutes later, almost like a narcoleptic since the baby arrived. She’s exhausted, trying to run the bakery, be mom of the year, and settle into a new routine that revolves around three kids instead of two.
I think a move south where the living is slow and easy is just what we need. I know my girl would thrive here. She’d kick up her feet, relax a little, and maybe enjoy life a little more.
24
Tilly
“What are you doing?” I ask Izzy when I find her near the corner of the house, staring down the driveway.
She glances at me for a moment with a scowl before returning her attention to the front of the house. “Watching this clusterfuck finally explode.”
I lean into her, sneaking a peek, and see Gigi and who I assume is Keith, although I’ve never met him, standing in the driveway. From the way her arms are flying and the look on his face, I don’t think the words they’re exchanging are pretty.
Keith is cute. He has the surfer boy look nailed, with the floppy hair covering his eyes, tanned skin, and swimmer’s build. Although he’s handsome, from what I know about him, he sounds like a complete asshole.
“She’s finally doing it,” Izzy whispers. She hasn’t moved. Her eyes are glued to the couple. “She’s finally kicking that loser to the curb.”
My eyes widen, and my mouth hangs open. “But it’s her graduation party. That’s so sad.”
I couldn’t imagine losing my boyfriend on the day I graduated, celebrating and partying with my family and friends.
“Tilly, it’s not sad,” she whispers.
“Maybe we should give them privacy,” I whisper back.
“Shush. I can’t hear.”
I guess there’s no such thing as privacy on this side of the family, which is really no different from Angelo’s family. Everybody is in each other’s business. Secrets are almost nonexistent, and if you dare to utter something you don’t want shared, you do it inside your house and not at a family dinner or the bar where the likelihood of being overheard is high.
Gigi steps forward, getting right in Keith’s face. “I fucking saw you. Don’t lie to me!” she screams.
“You saw nothing!” he yells back as his eyes narrow.
“Oh shit,” Izzy says, and my breathing falters.
This is some heavy shit for two kids. I don’t care if they’re eighteen and just graduated from high school, they’re still kids with so much to learn and experience.
“I can’t watch,” I whisper and move to walk away, but Izzy grabs my wrist and holds me there.
“Stay,” she tells me and grips my wrist tight. “She may need backup.”
“Maybe we should get her daddy.”
“No. No men allowed.”
Gigi clenches her hands at her sides. “I’m done, Keith. We’re over. We were planning to be over by now anyway. Let’s just end it tonight. The last person I want in my life right now is someone who’s a liar and a cheat.”
