Page 131 of Chris

More every day.

“Someone asked Ginevra who the father was when she went to the salon the other day with your mother,” Gian said.

Chris frowned. “What?”

“The boys were very angry.”

“I mean … I understand the curiosity someone might have,” Chris said, “but not the ignorance to outright ask. That’s nobody’s business.”

From the moment his twin had announced Ginevra’s pregnancy to their family, the expectation of how to act and receive it was undoubtedly clear. It was we are pregnant. It was they were expecting a baby. Their daughter. From the start, neither Corrado nor Alessio had differentiated, and Ginevra was the same way.

Everyone fell in line because, sure, while the circumstances of a poly relationship might be strange to some, it was his twin’s everyday normal. What was Corrado’s life didn’t have to fit into everyone else’s box—they didn’t have to live it. They did, however, have to respect it.

“What did Ma do?” Chris asked. “You said she was there, right?”

Gian chuckled. “Had all her future appointments cancelled and found a new salon before lunch.”

“Easy when her last name is Guzzi.”

“Easy when she is who she is, you mean.”

“That, too.”

“Nonetheless, I thought you might want to know for later today when we’re having the birthday dinner at the mansion,” Gian said. “In case they’re sensitive about the baby and the pregnancy, that might be why.”

“Yeah, thanks. I’ll let Val know.”

“And how is she, hmm?”

“Pardon?”

“Valeria. How is she?”

“Perfect. She’s perfect.”

“I bet. I know she’s been busy prepping for the fall semester to start. Has she settled on a major after her bachelor’s?”

“Not yet,” he said, “but she’s got all the time in the world.”

Chris had promised her that.

He intended to keep it.

“Well,” his father drawled, “I will let you get back to your morning. I’m sure you have plans, and I didn’t mean to interrupt them. Living that good life, huh?”

Maria was still sleeping.

Valeria, too.

Still, his father wasn’t wrong.

He wasn’t sure what that good life was his father spoke about, or if this was it, but it was the perfect life for Chris. That’s what mattered most to him.

“I will see you later, Papa.”

“You, too. Happy birthday, son.”

Oh, it was about to be very happy.