Nonna leans against the counter beside Mama. “Honey, when are you going to learn that we know everything? For starters, your security report to me. I’ve known about this dreamboat of yours from your first date.”
“Why do you think we invited him for dinner in the first place?” Mama asks. “And why do you think we went out to the garden after you left the table?”
Nonna fans herself. “You’re welcome, by the way, for what I can only imagine was a fantastic dicking down in your bathroom.”
My face heats, and I can only assume I’m flushed. “Excuse me?”
“Oh stop, we saw him follow you into the bathroom, darling. Don’t worry, I had the cleaners do a double sweep just to make sure they got everything. They were…impressed with the amount of fluids left behind.”
“Ohmygod!” This time, I know I’m as red as one of her tomatoes. “Nonna!”
“Speaking of the birds and bees talk, do we need to go over any safety or prevention lessons since it’sobviousthat man wasn’t wearing a condom. Not that your mother and I wouldn’t love a baby in the house again…”
I’m absolutely mortified, but the women in front of me are both laughing like a pair of hyenas. “I’m glad some of us are enjoying this,” I mumble.
Mama is the first one to speak up this time. “Oh, tesoro, we’re sorry. I know you’re a bit more reserved than your brothers. Of course we’re just messing with you, but we also want the scoop! Tell us about Teddy! Your brothers love him, but I have a feeling you know a whole lot more than they ever will.”
“Alright,” I sigh before telling them about how Teddy and I met and got to know each other. I can see from the gleam in their eyes that they’re already in love with him, and I swear, Mama wipes a tear from her eye when I tell them how I found out he played for the Rising Tide.
“Ireallylike him, Mama. I’m justsoscared of what Gabri and Nikki are going to do when they find out. We agreed to wait until after the season so we don’t mess up the chemistry on the team before the playoffs start…”
“Stop right there, Elia. You are more important than any hockey team or playoff or stupid Cup—”
“I know,” I cut Mama off, and I can’t fight the grin as I remember how badly Teddy wanted to go ahead and tell them. “I was the one who wanted to wait. He was ready to break down the door, confessing his love right after we…um…bathroom.”
Nonna nods her head in approval. “I knew I liked that guy.”
“Your brothers are idiots, sweetheart. They’ll come around. They respect him enough to bring him to meet us, which means that after they get over the shock of it all, they’re going to love the two of you being together.”
I look down at my toes, but all I can think is the last skeleton in my closet that Teddy doesn’t know about yet.The Mafia skeleton.
“What is it, baby?” Nonna asks.
“It’s just, if he survives the boys, how is he going to react to the whole…family business? It’s not like he can just walk out of my life. Once he knows about what we do, he’s kinda stuck with me. That’s a lot of pressure for both of us.”
Mama takes my hand in hers. “This isn’t an easy family to marry into, Elia. I know firsthand how difficult it can be. But I also know you’re absolutely worth it. Any man who’s worthy of your love will deal with the family. If he’s not okay with it, then he’s not the man for you.”
“Be happy, my love. If Teddy makes you happy, then be with him, simple as that. Life will always find a way of working everything out. Stop worrying about whether this is the man for you and just enjoy yourself.” Nonna hugs me and kisses my cheeks. “But just so you know, I have a good feeling about this one, and I’ve never been wrong before.”
“Thank you,” I say, embracing Mama and Nonna in a hug. “Can you please not say anything to Papa or the boys until Teddy and I are ready to tell them?”
“Of course, darling.”
“Absolutely. Us ladies have to stick together.”
“Oh God. Do you think Leo is going to say something to the boys about me having a boyfriend? Because you know they’ll go all CIA and find out who it is!” I pull back from the hug, ready to sprint to Leo and bribe him with a lifetime of baked goods.
“No principessa, I think Leo is and will always be in your corner. He’s been your biggest cheerleader since he was born, and I think he’s probably just as thrilled about you finding someone who makes you happy as Nonna and I are.”
Mama is right. My family loves me, and I know that at the end of the day, I’ll always have their support. For the first time in a while, I finally feel like I’m about to have everything I’ve always dreamed of. The one addition to my life that will finally complete my heart.
Chapter 19
“I can’t believeit’s already time for the playoffs.”
Ellie’s right that time has flown by, but my body can absolutely believe it’s playoff time. Between playing our hardest to try to secure a top seed and attending as many Bratva training sessions as possible, I feel like a limp noodle at the end of most days. The time spent with my new family has been paying off, though, and I swear I almost made Misha smile the other day. My hand-eye coordination is better than ever on the ice, and the only shitty thing about it all is lying to my girlfriend about my whereabouts.
My girlfriend.The cuddly, naked woman in my lap. I snuggle our giant blanket tighter around us both, taking another long inhale of the nape of her neck. She smells like her perfume and shampoo, butmysweat from when I tackled her immediately upon coming home from practice. Seeing her in the kitchen, meal prepping snack packs to get me through the week, made my heart soar. Seeing her wearing my name across her back again, this time with no panties on, made me drop my gear back in the doorway and fuck her like an animal on the kitchen floor.
