I shift automatically, shielding Nina. Only to find the interruption is a hell of a lot smaller than I expected.
27
NINA
The bedroom doorflies open like it’s been kicked by a tiny SWAT team.
“Mommy! Can we have pancakes for?—”
Austin’s voice cuts off mid-demand, and I’m already rolling out of bed before his brain can fully process what he’s seeing. Years of single motherhood have given me reflexes that would make a ninja jealous.
“Morning, sunshine!” I sweep him into a hug that conveniently turns him away from the man in my bed.
Alessio sits up straighter, running a hand through his hair, clearly as uncertain about this situation as I am.
“Mom?” Austin wiggles in my arms, craning his neck to peer around me. “Why is that man here?”
“Remember my friend Alessio? From the other night?” I keep my voice light, casual, like finding strange men in Mommy’s bed is totally normal. Which it absolutely is not. “He came over early because we’re going to go on an adventure.”
Austin’s forehead wrinkles, an expression so similar to Alessio’s thinking face that it knocks the breath out of me. “An adventure?”
“The best kind.” I glance at Alessio, then back to Austin. “We’re going to stay at Alessio’s place for a while. Like a vacation.”
Alessio moves closer with a careful smile, like he’s approaching a skittish animal.
“Your place?” Austin looks between us, suspicious in that way only six-year-olds can manage. “Why?”
My mind scrambles. How do I explain this to a six-year-old when I haven’t even figured it out myself? We literally just decided this ten minutes ago.
“Because,” I say, sitting on the bed and pulling him onto my lap, “It’ll be fun. Right, Alessio?” I shoot Alessio a look that screamshelp me out here.
For a man who can make grown men tremble with a look, he seems remarkably nervous about explaining himself to our son.
“Absolutely,” Alessio says, crouching down to Austin’s level. “Because I have something amazing to show you. Have you ever seen a pool on a rooftop?”
Austin’s eyes go wide. “A real pool?”
“A real pool,” Alessio confirms with a grin.
“But I don’t know how to swim.”
“Neither do I,” I admit, and Alessio looks at me like I’ve confessed to not knowing how to breathe.
“Seriously?”
“Not all of us grew up with pools, fancy pants.” I tickle Austin’s ribs, making him giggle. “But Alessio’s going to teach us. Right?”
“Of course I will.” Alessio’s smile grows warmer. “I’ll teach you both. It’ll be fun.”
Austin chews his bottom lip, considering.
“Will I have my own room?” Austin finally asks.
“It’s huge,” Alessio promises. “Big enough for all your Legos and then some.”
“All of them?” Austin’s practically vibrating with excitement now. His current room barely fits his bed and toy chest.
“Every single one.”
