Page 91 of Worth of Waste

It still didn’t settle her concerns.

Again, as much as she liked being close to Dino, as much as she enjoyed being normal with Dino and acting like the couple they were, it was all a little strange. They didn’t go out in public together. They weren’t seen even in the same vicinity together.

And for good reason.

Sure, he had been extra careful that night, it seemed, making sure no one was following him, showing up in a rental car, and taking the long way to the Pier, which actually just meant he drove aimlessly to make sure no one was following him.

He’d still been careful.

But she had to wonder …

“What if someone sees us?” Karen asked quietly.

Dino kissed the top of her head. “Not worried about it.”

His flippant reply was clearly meant to placate her, but she wasn’t sure he was telling her the truth.

“I wanted to do something with you two tonight,” Dino said quietly, drawing Karen’s attention back to him. “Can’t I do that?”

“You’ve never done it before.”

Dino smiled. “Not for lack of wanting to, Karen.”

Oh.

“Besides,” he added, “a lot of people I know are distracted by a very important man’s birthday party tonight, and I needed a break. Something other than holing myself up in an apartment with you and Junior. This is good, right?”

“It’s great,” Karen said.

She still worried.

She wanted normal.

Of course, she did.

But she didn’t want to be scared of it, either.

Soon, the food was ready, their son’s attention was snagged by a waiting hotdog, and Karen decided to let her worries go as much as she could.

Dino wanted them to have a good night, to have some fun together.

She wasn’t going to spoil that with nonsense.

“Oh, my God,” Karen mumbled when Dino sat the tiny boxes of take-out in front of her on the coffee table. “Chinese, too—you’re a life saver.”

He dropped a quick kiss to the very top of her head, lingering there for a while as she opened the first container to find chow mein noodles inside.

Her very favorite.

“You said you were having a bad day,” he murmured.

Karen shrugged. “Busy day.”

He dropped to the couch beside her, grabbing his own container and opening it up. Chopsticks in hand, Dino dug in while Karen ate happily beside him.

“Tell me about it,” Dino said.

Karen sighed. “Client after client at the studio.”