Rose laughs more. “I can agree with that.”
I shoot Dom a warning glare that only makes him smirk wider. “Agent Inferno, if you please.” I give Rose my best come-fuck-me eyes. “Licence to smoulder.”
Dom dribbles the ball. “He’s good at keeping secrets, though. Like how he still can't beat me at FIFA.”
“Nor me,” Angelos shouts.
Rose smiles, her fingers caressing mine. “Well, Agent Inferno, don’t you have to get back to saving the world at some point?”
I lean in, brushing my nose against hers. “That’s what I’ve been doing. You and Angelos are my world.”
Her lips part as she sucks in a breath.
I press my mouth to hers and suck it right back out. “The rest of the world can burn for all I care, but I do have to get back to work soon. I have a wedding to pay for.”
Dom shouts, “You paying for my wedding? Thanks, bro. Appreciate it.”
I can’t stop smiling as I gaze down at Rose. “You can pay for your own wedding, brother. Riccardo already offered you the villa at Lake Como for your honeymoon. I’ll buy you an ice cream instead.” I jerk my thumb towards the gelato stand nearby. “Fancy a gelato?”
“Do you even need to ask?” she says, a mock in her voice. “What are you having, pistachio?”
A grin tugs at my lips. “You know me so well.”
“Predictable,” she teases.
I help Roseto a sitting position, her abdomen still giving her slight discomfort. Her strength not yet fully returned, but she’s here and I’ll never take anything for granted again.
I rise from the ground and tap Angelos on the shoulder as I pass. “Ice cream?”
He lights up. “Yes, please!”
“Dom?”
“Double chocolate,” Dom calls, flopping onto the blanket beside Rose, already looking beat from the run around. “I’ve earned it.”
I leave them behind and queue at the stand with Angelos, my hand resting on his shoulder as he studies the menu. “What’ll it be, son?” I’ll never get bored of saying that word. Son. My fucking amazing son who’s been a champion these last few weeks helping his mother.
“Can I have the green one, please?” He licks his lips as if he can already taste it.
I pull my brows together. “Mint?”
“No, that one.” He points to the sign. “Pistachio.”
“You like pistachio?”
“Yeah, it’s my favourite.”
A laugh bursts from my lips.
“What’s funny?”
“Because that’s my favourite too.”
As I pass Angelos his gelato, he looks at me with a smile. “Thanks, Dad.”
The word never fails to hit me right in the gut. He calls me Dad so easily now, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. And maybe it finally is.
Before I can say anything, he’s running back to Rose and Dom.
