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“Sorry, I was just… thinking.”
She pulls her hand from mine and slugs my shoulder. “Liar. You told me I wasn’t allowed to lie to you. Don’t lie to me. You’ve been weird since yesterday. I’m guessing this has something to do with my parents. Did my dad say something to you when I left the room?”
I reach over and grab her hand, bringing it to my lips. “You’re right. I’m sorry. No, your dad didn’t say anything. But I overheard your mom—”
“Then you must’ve heard my response,” she says, voice low and vulnerable.
I pull into my parents’ winding driveway, forcing myself to keep my eyes in front of me. “I didn’t hear everything. I stepped away after she said—implied—I couldn’t give you the life you deserve.”What if I can’t?
“Luke,” she says softly, “my mother’s version of the life I deserve is… wrong. Just because she and my father married because they could function as a couple and both had good-paying jobs does not mean I want that life. You know what my life was growing up?”
I shake my head as I put the car in park. She undoes her seatbelt and turns to face me.
“Beige. Surface-level. Empty. We didn’t have any real connection to each other. We didn’t talk about real things. It was lonely. And that’s why I spent so much of my time at your house. Minus that epic crush I had on you.” She winks at me and my dick stirs.Not right now.“I need you to know that you’ve given me everything I need. Everything I want. The way you love me?” She glances back at the boys, who are both asleep. “The way you love them? That’s what matters to me. That’sallthat matters to me.” She leans in close, running her hand up my arm. “And I happen to think these tattoos are really freaking sexy.” Her hand slides into my hair. “And I absolutely love twirling my fingers through your hair when you…” She leans in closer, whispering certain things I do to her and how much she loves them. My dick immediately starts to harden.
“Fucking Christ, Zoey. I can’t go into my parents’ house with a boner.”
She laughs and kisses me. Alex stirs in the back then smacks A.J. in the arm to wake him up. A.J. hits him back and they both start screaming at each other.
Zoey just shakes her head and climbs out of the car.
Nothing like screaming kids to kill a hard-on.
We get the kids out of the car, both of them still screaming at each other.
“Alex, you’re older, set the example for your brother,” Zoey says calmly, though I can see she’s getting close to losing her cool.
“Yeah, Alex, set the example,” A.J. mocks.
“A.J.—”
“Hey,” I say, spinning around and cutting Zoey off, “where are we going right now?”
“Nonna O’s,” they both say.
“And do you think Nonna O wants to hear you behaving like this?” I ask.
“No,” they both mumble.
“Then you better shape up or she’ll bust out the rolling pin.”
Both of them raise their eyebrows, then relent. A tenuous peace and silence follow. Zoey looks at me reverently. “You’re my hero,” she teases. Then she pulls at my shirt. “Can’t wait to see what’s under your hero costume later.”
I grab her hand and lean toward her. “You’re trouble.”
We usher the boys through the door first. They quickly kick off their shoes and throw off their coats before running to my mother’s waiting arms.
“Oh, my two favorite boys. How are you?”
“Good, Nonna O!” A.J. yells despite being right next to her.
“What smells so good?” Alex asks.
“Homemade meatballs and sauce. And your favorite extra cheesy garlic bread.”
“Yes!” Alex yells, running for the kitchen with A.J.
When my mother spins to face us, Zoey and I are standing side-by-side, arms wrapped around each other, smiling.
