Page 107 of Worth Risking It

She pushed a small chuckle through her nose and looked down at Bradly passed out. Taking the apple wedge, she tossed it in the picnic basket and began wiping at his mouth. “At your birthday, as soon as Milo escorted you into the room, everyone at the table groaned and rolled their eyes.”

My muscles tensed and the bottle lowered to my lap, my hand rubbing at my belly as I stared out at the water.

“That dress you wore was so inappropriate,” she rasped in a mocking tone, bobbing her head side to side.

I set the bottle down and coughed, resituating because I was growing uncomfortable.

“It was too edgy and not sophisticated enough.”

Okay, at that, I had to scoff and roll my eyes a little. I guess I could have chosen an outfit that wasn’t so gothic, but I had been trying to match the theme of the restaurant. I was new to being feminine and frilly and didn’t really know how to dress properly.

She sighed and turned her profile to me, gazing at the water, as well. “You’re so strong, Chazz. So brave. I wish I was more like you. It’s easy to see now why Milo loves you so much.”

My chin bowed with a blush, a weak grin on my lips.

She cast a sideways glimpse. “He does, you know. Love you.”

“Yeah,” I groaned, finally taking that sip of water. “He does. Very much. I do believe, in fact, he’s been one hundred percent faithful the last six months, too.”

Her head turned to face me, shocked at my statement. “A monogamous Pampinella? My god, you’re a witch, aren’t you?”

I threw my head back and rumbled with laughter, almost spilling the water. “No, no. I just got lucky, is all.”

“Hm. I’ll say. Milo and Wyatt worship the ground you walk on. That’s definitely lucky.”

Gutted, all the sorrow I’ve been trying to avoid the last few months washed over in a thick wave, threatening to drown me.

“How are things there?”

Clearing my throat, I screwed the cap back on the bottle and grumbled, “Are you asking me about Richard?”

“No, no. I know my…I know that little boy has a wonderful father and is being very well taken care of.”

Shooting a glance at her almost slip, I couldn’t even begin to imagine what she was going through, keeping that secret, knowing the baby she gave birth to is being raised by someone else and she could never so much as touch him without exposing her lie, despite knowing she would watch him grow up over the years.

“I was asking about you and Wyatt.”

Fidgeting, I began gathering our mess, loading everything back into the basket. “That’s been over.”

She clucked her teeth and dropped her chin. “I had a feeling. I can tell when I look at you.”

Stunned, I slowly sank from my knees to my haunches looking at her curiously. “How?”

Another casual roll of a shoulder. “That sparkle I used to see in your eyes, is gone. I mean, to anyone else, you look just as happy as ever. But I saw you two,” she whispered, arching her brows. “I’m the only one who has seen just how much you two love one another.”

My throat collapsed, fire scorching through my chest and my poor broken heart shattered all over again. Sniffling, my hands on my thighs, I dropped my head below my raised shoulders, willing myself not to cry.

“Don’t make a mistake like Meyers and I did. There are babies involved, Chazz. I know it’s hard, honey. I know! But you and Wyatt ending things is for the best.”

I rubbed at the tip of my nose and coughed, flinging my hair over my shoulder. “We know,” I croaked, gathering the rest of our lunches. “He has Rick and I have Isabelle. This is beyond our love. We have lives to take care of now. These kids outrank that.”

She nodded, squinting when the few clouds parted, and the sun shone a little brighter. “Meyers and I lost track of that. We didn’t think about what would happen to my kids or his. Seeing his kids, how lost they are without their father…I was wrong.”

“About what?”

“About our love being worth it,” she stated simply, bringing her attention back around to mine. “When that whole ordeal first started, I said it was worth it, even though I would never see my kids again.

“When I came home, though, and saw just how badly they had missed me and suffered while I was gone…and then when I saw Meyer’s children?” She pursed her lips, closed her eyes, and shook her head. “We were selfish. Love for innocence comes before passion. The babies need you more than you need one another.”