Enrico found so many ways to make Sammy smile. As for Mitch, Enrico made him feel things he never felt, not for anyone. Hell, he didn't know he could feel this kind of sharp, painful need for someone. It started as an attraction that burned and wouldn't be denied, and now it was so much more.
But could this be his life? Would Enrico want that?
Without him, staying here would be at best bittersweet. Mitch would never be able to forget him. Not here, not anywhere.
At the thought, his heart swelled painfully in his chest. He couldn't long for him this much. He couldn't feel this and then let him get away.
Chapter 40
That week, Mitch and Sammy went back to the Dunbar house. Rico was staying with them, sleeping in Mitch's bed no less. That was a sweet deal.
It was an incredible feeling to go to bed and wake up next to him. When Rico was the first to wake up, he loved that moment when Mitch would first open his eyes and then smile at him, a good morning on his lips and then a kiss.
It wasn't all good though. With the painting downstairs finished, the house was ready to be sold, but his grandmother wasn't ready to put it on the market. At first he thought there was too much going on especially with Sam and Wyatt's wedding coming up. But then Grandmother started dropping hints about Mitch renting the house from her. So far he hadn't said he would, and Rico was afraid to get his hopes up.
On the day of Sam and Wyatt's wedding, he and Mitch woke up early to the sound of Sammy puttering around excitedly. It wasn't like they could sleep late. It was a busy day. They needed to get ready, and they were also babysitting DJ and Riley to free up Sam and Wyatt while they got ready.
Raquel came by with DJ and Riley and their little suits for their wedding. Gloria and Lara were there too for the moment. Lara was kidnapping Sammy so she, Noreen and Raquel could give her and Gloria fancy hairdos for the wedding.
Lara and Raquel were getting some things together while the kids were in the kitchen with Rico and Mitch. Rico was having his usual dose of coffee, and that caused some controversy among the kids.
"Coffee isn't any good," Riley declared. "Uncle Wyatt let me try a little bit. It tastes baaad."
"It's for grown-ups, not for kids," DJ lectured him.
"I'm never gonna drink it," Riley decided. With grim disapproval on their small faces, all the kids glared up at Rico and his giant cup of coffee.
"We can drink chocolate milk," Sammy said and they all looked up at Rico again, expectantly this time.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked them. "You already had cereal."
"Do we have chocolate milk, Rico?" Sammy asked.
Rico looked over at Mitch, who told the kids the bad news. "Sorry, we're out. I'll put it on the list. We have regular milk, and you can have one cookie each. Will that work for you guys?" Mitch asked them and of course they said yes.
"Am I the strict one?" Rico wondered seeing how Mitch indulged them.
"It's a special day," Mitch said as he served up cookies and milk.
The treats got polished off, and the girls got whisked off to Lara's to get ready. That left the guys to hang out in the newly painted living room. Rico was reading the comics page with Riley. DJ was at the window making sure it wouldn't rain for the wedding. The skies were clear, but DJ still looked uneasy.
"What's on your mind, DJ?" Mitch asked seeing his anxious face.
DJ turned a pair of very serious eyes to him, and told him. "I don't want to mess up at the wedding."
Unlike his crazy younger brother, DJ was such a serious little boy and he looked so nervous about today.
"You know what to do. You'll be fine," Mitch reassured him and then Rico added his own take on it.
"You won't mess up because you have your suits," Rico told them.
The boys looked from Rico to their suits where they hung over the back of the couch.
Rico explained. "You know how superheroes are just regular dudes wearing regular clothes, but then they change into their superhero costumes and they're ready for action."
The boys nodded. They definitely knew all about that.
"Well you suits are like that too. Once you put them on, you'll be ready for anything, and you'll do great," Rico assured them.
