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Chapter Thirty-Three:
A Few Good Reasons
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Mia
Once we were firmly on the road home, I lowered the music slightly so Dinora could talk. It had been a while since we had alone time like this, because even at home, one of the boys would always come into the living room to interrupt our wine talks. We may not have had wine with us then, but we had each other and the quiet, open road — something we’d both always found solace in — even if I was about to ruin that comfortable silence. “How are you, Dinora? I feel like I haven’t heard about your dating life in months.”
“Dating life?” She huffed. “I have four boys and a job I work too hard at. What makes you think I have a dating life?”
“You used to find time. We were younger though and required a lot less sleep.” I chuckled. “Have you heard from Steve?”
“Not in a couple of weeks. He was good for a while, but I’m not that worried about it. Swear I don’t even notice anymore,” she lied. “Ollie doesn’t have any brothers, does he?”
I faked a pout for her. “Just him and Sterling, and from what I hear, he’s happily married to the woman of his dreams. Maybe a cousin or something?” I said hopefully.
“Or you could just let me borrow him for a night,” she teased. “He seems like the type to have a lot of energy in that department.”
“Don’t make me slap you and kill us all, Dinora Nadine Perez.” I shook my head at her but laughed it off. I knew my sister well enough to know she was fucking with me. “He’s muy bonito, huh?”
She turned up her nose, then nodded. “Sí. I’m a little surprised with you; I thought you said you were swearing off men after Anthony.”
“I was, and then that adorable man stumbled in looking lost and I couldn’t help but get lost with him. Maybe that’s ultimately what relationships are all about, finding your person to stumble through this messy life with. I mean we’re all lost, right? But when you find them, you don’t feel like you are anymore.”
Dinora made a face and reached over to shove my shoulder. “That was cheesy. But I’m glad you found him. He’s good with my boys too, just in case you’re looking to adopt some more. Then maybe I’d have time to track Steve down.”
I laughed, knowing she wouldn’t give those boys up for all the money in the world. “Maybe, he seems to really love it when we’re all together. I just don’t know what will happen if he sells that house. What if he moves back?”
“Don’t let him.” She glanced in the rear view to make sure Rio was still out, then lowered her voice just in case. “Has he listed it yet?”
“Not yet, but I can’t make him stay. His dad is still alive back in Brisley. It has to be his choice.”
She shook her head. “He won’t make it if he doesn’t think that’s what you want, Mia. Have you talked to him about this? About him staying, or maybe you and Rio going?”
“Me going?” I never thought she’d assume I’d leave her here alone with four boys. “I’ll never leave you, Dinora. Not happening.”
“Then what are you doing here, Mia? Just enjoying him while it lasts?” she asked. “You’re not the only one getting attached around here.”
“I don’t know,” I mumbled. “I didn’t expect to fall in love, I didn’t expect all of us to — fuck, I don’t want him to go, I want him to stay, I want to marry him. This isn’t just for fun anymore. What do you think I should do?”
She licked her lips slowly as she watched the road in front of us. “Give him a reason to stay.”
I was quiet for a while after that, and my older sister didn’t push. If I was being honest, I believed I’d already given him plenty of reasons to stay, I just had to hope they were enough.
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Ollie
Fitting all those people in my house wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I put Jago and Valentino downstairs, Rio in the room with the toddler bed, Dinora in the guest bedroom, and Alex and Carlo upstairs in the attic with sleeping bags. That left Mia with me in my room, and I couldn’t wait to have her alone.
“See? Told you everyone would fit. And now we don’t have to fight the traffic back to your place.”
“You always make things work, huh?” She pulled me in and hugged me, seemingly content to stay right there in my arms forever. “Thank you for today. For every day.”
I was making a concentrated effort not to go overboard when it came to spoiling her, but it was fucking hard not to when I got to see her like this, relaxed and exhausted after a day of fun, not a day of work. “Thanks for letting me. It wouldn’t have been the same without everyone, and I’d been dying to try the one that uses centrifugal force to keep you plastered to it. Did you see my face?”
Mia laughed as I stretched out my cheeks and made a weird noise, then rocked up on her toes to kiss my cheek. “Of course, it’s always a great face. Go lay on your stomach, I want to rub your back.”
