I have tried to tell her it isn’t necessary, but she shoos me away. Aura sleeps through the night now, so I don’t have to worry about her waking up in the middle of the night to care for my daughter, but still, she’s on vacation. I need to make her remember that.
And honestly, it’s not just about giving her time off. It’s about wanting to give her more—more than just gratitude, more than just a break. I want her to feel like she’s wanted for who she is, not just for what she does. Millie’s become something more than I can easily explain.
After Aura is soundly asleep, there is a soft knock at the door.
“Jeez, I wonder who that is? It’s late to be getting visitors,” Millie says, getting up from her spot on the couch.
She opens the door to reveal my mother.
“Good evening, Millie! I am here to rid you of all your responsibilities so you can enjoy a night out in town!”
Millie slowly turns, arching an eyebrow in my direction. I love how she is in tune with my every move.
“Go get ready, Bumper. We’re going out.” I say, smirking in her direction as she walks towards her room.
She pauses for a moment, her fingers tightening around the edge of the door. Her expression flickers—surprise, suspicion, and maybe even something softer. It’s like she’s waiting for me to say I’m joking. But I don’t.
She blinks once, then tilts her head like she’s trying to read me. I don’t look away. I want her to see that this is real. That I planned this. I want tonight to be something she’ll remember.
“Out?” she echoes, her voice almost shy. “Like…out out?”
“Yes,” I reply, stepping closer. “No diaper bags. No bibs. No baby monitors. Just you and me. I even made a reservation.”
“You made a reservation?” She repeats, almost incredulous. Her brow lifts higher as a smirk tugs at the corner of her lips. “What kind of reservation, Mr. Sirolli?”
I grin, walking past her to help my mom with the overnight bag. “The kind where you wear something that makes my jaw hit the floor. That kind.”
She bites her lip, clearly trying not to smile too wide, then disappears down the hallway with a quiet, “Okay… give me fifteen.”
My mom catches my eye from behind the door and winks. “She’s special, that one. Don’t screw it up.”
“I’m trying not to, Ma.”
“Good.” She kisses Aura’s forehead gently. “Because I’d like her around more often.”
I shut the door and lean against it for a second, exhaling like I’ve been holding my breath all day. The air feels charged. Like something big is about to shift.
And I’m ready for it.
1. Una bottiglia di vino, per favore- a bottle of wine, please.
Operation Don’t Look Ugly
MILLIE
Gabriel is so much morethan what meets the eye, and I am quickly realizing I am one lucky girl. It’s not like I haven’t been on any dates before. I have. But I have never been as nervous as I am now for any of them.
I crave the comfort of home as I struggle to decide what to wear on this date that I’ve just found out about. Picking up my phone, I call Melanie, needing her advice.
The phone rings and rings before she answers, “Mills! Hey girl, what’s up?”
My lips curl up into a smile, hearing her voice. I haven’t called Harlow or her a ton during the trip, so it feels good talking to her now.
But I realize before I talk that since I have called little, she doesn’t know all that has happened.
“Okay, Mel, I’m kind of on a time crunch and can’t explain fully at this moment. A lot has happened in the past twenty-four hours between Gabriel and I. We had sex, he confessed his feelings for me, and now I think we are dating?” I say, covering my face as though she could see me.
The line is silent, and for a moment I think I lost connection before a hear a very loud squeal.
