“This is my bestest friend Nico,” Elio tells Sloane as they approach hand in hand. “He can’t say my name, so he calls me Elo. I like it. It’s like a superhero name.”
“Totally,” Sloane agrees. Her eyes widen when she gets a look at Caleb, and I don’t like it. I don’t like it one little bit.
Caleb chuckles. “Partner in crime.” He leans down to my son, holding his hand out for a high five. “Been up to any mischief lately?”
“Team Rudolph beat Daddy and Umberto yesterday, Uncle Caleb.” Elio is quick to rat me out as he slaps his hand against Caleb’s.
“And Team Rudolph would be?” Caleb asks, straightening up and flashing Sloane the kind of smile that has all the ladies swooning.
I’m suddenly visualizing strangling my best friend with my bare hands.
“Sloane and me.” Elio beams up at her. “She’s my nanny now, and she’s the new basketball champ.”
“That is something I wish I’d seen.” Caleb grins at Sloane as he extends his arm. “It’s great to meet you, Sloane. We’ve all been dying for you to visit aftereverythingCristian has told us about you.”
The insinuation is blatant, and I glare at his irritating head, close to swinging my fists in his face.
“That doesn’t sound ominous or anything.” Sloane grins, and is sheflirtingwith him?
“Trust me, you have nothing to worry about,” Caleb adds, nudging me in the ribs. “Cristian had nothing but the very best things to say about you, and I can see why.”
Oh my god. I’m going to kill him before this weekend is over, I just know it. “Don’t mind Caleb. He loves sticking his nose into things that are none of his business.”
Caleb chuckles, and my hands curl into fists at my side. “Nice deflection. Good luck keeping that up all weekend,” he says in a hushed voice so only I can hear.
“Knock it off, asshole,” I quietly say. “I told you the score. Quit stirring shit.”
“Not a chance in hell, man.” Caleb smirks before redirecting his attention toward Sloane. “Come over to the house and meet my wife, Elisa. My Lili is the sweetest human on the planet, and she’s excited to meet you.”
“Daddy, I wanna go to the playground,” Elio pleads as Caleb lifts Nico into his arms.
“Me too, Papa!” Nico shrieks.
“We’ll drop off our bags and head to the playground for a little while before dinner,” I tell my son, and it thankfully appeases him.
Caleb, Nico, and Elio head to the house on foot while Sloane and I drive alongside them.
Elisa, Joshua, Gia, and their little girl Chiara are all waiting for us when we arrive, alongside a surprise guest. “Hey, man.” Walking up to Giulio Accardi, I drop our bags on the ground and drag him into a hug. “Long time no see. I didn’t know you were visiting this weekend.” Giulio is part of our crew, and he’s Joshua and Caleb’s older cousin, as well as being the official Accardifamiglia consigliere.
“It was a last-minute thing. We thought we’d play a four-ball tomorrow if you’re interested.”
I shuck out of his embrace. “I’m game as long as Sloane is okay to look after Elio.”
“We’re dropping by Nat and Leo’s tomorrow. They want to see the kids,” Gia explains. “We can take Elio with us.” She steps toward Sloane. “You can join us too, if you like.” She thrusts out her hand. “I’m Gia. We’re glad you could visit this weekend.”
“Thanks for having me. It’s good to meet you, and that sounds great.” Sloane lifts her eyes to mine. “I’m happy to watch Elio while you go out. It’s no biggie.”
“Thanks. I haven’t played golf in ages.”
Elisa brushes past Gia, pulling Sloane into a warm hug. “I’m Elisa, and you’re so pretty. We’re going to be the best of friends.”
“Um, thanks.” Sloane looks a little overwhelmed at Elisa’s obvious enthusiasm, though not unhappy about it. The girls separate, and Sloane smiles at Caleb’s wife. “Your husband said the sweetest things about you, and I can see he wasn’t wrong.”
“He’s the love of my life, and he treats me like a princess.” Elisa leans into Caleb’s side, swooning at him in a way that’s completely normal for her. The way those two love one another is something else. “I’ve worshipped the ground he walks on since I was a little girl.”
“True story.” Giulio steps in front of Sloane. “I’m Giulio. Cousin to these two idiots.” He gestures toward the twins. “Pleased to meet you, Sloane.” Clasping her hand, he raises it to his lips, where he slowly plants a kiss on her soft skin. “I’m single by the way,” he adds, waggling his brows and clearly flirting with her.
I add him to my kill list as I fix him with a lethal look he’s pretending not to see.
