Callie’s watching out the front window for us and starts hopping around as soon as she sees our car pull up.
“Mommy! Ari, and Lil, and Lil’s babysitter are here!” We can hear Callie yell through the door.
“Goddamn it, Ariana.” Lil tries to sound mad but ends up laughing along with me and Luca.
Danielle opens the door. Callie barrels outside and wraps her arms around my legs. “Hi, Ari!”
“Hi, Callie.” I give her a big smile. She lets go of my legs and raises her arms, so I pick her up and pop her onto my hip. “Will you help me bake a cake tonight?”
“I love cake.”
“Us, too.”
Danielle orders a few pizzas and gives Callie a kiss on the cheek before leaving.
We get right to putting on aprons and measuring ingredients, even Luca. “Look how tall I am, Ari!” I turn and see Luca holdingCallie up against his shoulder, grinning at her as she pats his head, leaving flour in it.
My heart skips a beat, and I feel it in my ovaries. Holy fuck, is that a sight to behold. I’m not saying I’m ready for it or anything, but maybe someday.
Luca turns that smile toward me, and my whole body lights up. His dimples are on full display with his smile that bright, and his eyes sparkle. My breath catches in my throat. If I hadn’t already confessed my love for him, I would do it this second.
We get the cake into the oven just as the doorbell rings. Lil and Callie carry their plates to the table, chatting about their pizza toppings. I walk over to Luca and reach up to brush the flour from his hair with a grin. “You’re cute.” I tell him.
He chuckles and leans down to press a kiss to my lips. “Shut up.”
After dinner and a tea party with real tea, I ask, “What’s next, Callie?”
“Pretty, Pretty Princess!” She yells and runs off to grab the game.
Luca’s hand engulfs mine. I look up at him, slightly confused by the stiffness of his body.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“That game, are you okay playing it?” He whispers it, concern flooding his eyes. I fall a little more in love with my sweet man. I reach my other hand up to cup his cheek.
“It’s fine. We play it every time. And I’m not drunk, so that helps.” He doesn’t look totally convinced, but he gives me a soft kiss.
“Let me know if it gets to be too much,” he says against my mouth. I nod and kiss him back.
“Hey Ari, how come you’re kissing Luca? Is he your boyfriend?” Callie asks. I can’t help but giggle and cock an eyebrow at Luca.
“I think that’s exactly what he is,” Lil chimes in.
Callie shrugs. “I like Luca, so that’s okay. Let’s play!”
It’s not long before we’re all wearing combinations of plastic necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets. Luca’s wearing the crown, and I sneak a picture of him while he’s helping Callie put on her necklace. She’s not even mad when he wins the first round because he’s never played before.
We frost and eat the cake. Lil gives Callie an extra spoon full of frosting, then licks the bowl clean while the rest of us make popcorn and pick a movie. Callie falls asleep before Elsa freezes Anna’s heart, curled up between me and Lil. We make Luca finish the movie since he’s never seen it. Hearing his quiet “What the fuck?” when Hans is revealed as the villain is totally worth it.
When we get home, we make more popcorn and go upstairs to watch a movie that’s not appropriate for kids. I wake up halfway through with my head on Luca’s thigh and my feet on a sleeping Lil’s lap. Luca’s hand is in my hair, gently massaging my scalp.
“Physical touch,” I say sleepily.
“Mmm, what, baby?” he asks with a yawn.
“Maybe one of your love languages is touch.”
He’s quiet so long I think maybe he fell asleep. But then he asks, “Does it count as a love language if it’s only you I want to touch?”
