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“If Caterina is going to stay with me, I want her to choose it. I want her to wear my ring proudly. I want her to be at my side through everything. I want to be part of Luna’s bedtime routine and attend her parent-teacher conferences.
“I do not do this because I attempt to mislead your sister. I do it to prove that I can, and I will, earn her love without the use of coercion.”
Sal blinks at me. “How did you know my full name?”
I snort. “I am Italian. You think you are the only Sal that I know?”
“Fair enough,” he laughs. We both turn then as the girls collapse into a puddle of joyful shrieks and squeals.
“If you win her love, Elio, you can’t break her heart again. She won’t survive it.”
“I won’t. I swear on my parents’ graves.”
Sal’s eyes widen slightly, and I know that he understands the weight of what I have said.
I do not know what it means for our families, or our futures. I have no clue how I am going to make this work between Caterina and me.
But I am Elio Rossi.
The master of my world.
When I want something to work, it works.
“Best of luck to you then, brother,” he murmurs. Before he waits to hear for my response, he walks over to the girls, swooping Luna up in his arms.
I let a smile flicker over my face.
Brother.
Now there is a title that I could get used to as well.
25
CATERINA
The flightback to New York is so different than the one when Elio flew us to Italy.
Luna is with us, of course, and Gia, but Sal is another new addition. Instead of the tense silence that dominated the plane on the way out, there’s light conversation.
Easy laughter, even.
Elio actually talks to us, which is also fun. He doesn’t smile, so there’s that, but he’s also not just glowering in the corner. Between the fun of packing last night and tonight, I feel like there’s something new unfolding between Elio and me.
Something that feels… good.
Not just the sex, of course. That felt amazing.
But this?
This feels like family.
We get off the plane and we’re whisked away in a private car. Elio’s house is upstate, or at least one of them, so it’s a bit of adrive. By the time we get there, Luna is one cranky kid, and I’m beyond grateful that there’s four adults to manage her.
Two grilled cheeses, one breakdown because Francesca isn’t there, and one FaceTime with Francesca later, it’s time.
Luna brushes her teeth and looks at me. “Mommy, where are we?”
“My friend’s house,” I say.
