AllFreeNovel
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“We share a twisted past and…” He blows out a breath, his gaze staying on mine. “We’re complicated. If you force us…”
Her hand touches her son’s face, and his fierce bravado cracks. “Three months. That’s all I’m asking.”
I choke out a laugh because her boys are as stubborn as her. She’s not going to accept no for an answer.
“Do you know what you’re asking?” he says in a pained voice.
Anna nods. “I’m asking you to follow through on the promise you made that night.”
“Give me a minute.” He raises to his feet. “Val, can we talk?”
I slide my chair out from the table and follow him out the front door.
Once the door is shut behind us, he sits on the railing of the stairway. “She’s not going to let it go.”
“I know.”
“I say we just agree to it. We’ll act like we’re on board, but really we’re buying time until they stop with all this fate talk.”
My arms wrap around my stomach. What choice do I have? My parents already think I’m a failure. At least if I pretend to give this marriage a chance, it’ll soften the blow of having a daughter who’s been twice married.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
He nods. “My cousin’s wedding is in five weeks. We keep it up until it’s over so my ma can save face. Then we file the annulment. Tell them we can’t do the three months. It’s not working and we need to go our separate ways.”
Dom’s business side is alive and kicking right now. There’s no emotion in his decision. It’s strictly about reaching the goal of making his ma happy and getting our annulment.
“Sure.”
“They’ll make us attend Sunday dinners together. We’ll have to pretend we’re actually trying.”
“Okay.”
His arms fall into his lap. “I’m sorry, Val.”
What is he sorry for? The fact that he doesn’t want to be married to me or that we have to keep up a charade for a few weeks?
“Let’s go agree and make them happy.” I open the door, but he pulls on my elbow and I fall into his chest.
He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. “If you don’t want to do this, just say the word.”
The smell of Dom overwhelms me in the best way possible. I’d never deny him when we’re this close. “It’s fine. Five weeks is nothing.”
Our eyes lock, and a whole slew of emotions float back and forth between the two of us. I’ll never figure out what he thinks in that beautiful mind of his.
“Thanks.”
My hands slide down his chest until they’re resting on his hips. “You’re welcome.”
I circle on my heel and open the door. Our parents are eating, and I spot the annulment papers on the table, which means someone went through my purse. I swear there’s no privacy in this family.
“Okay, we’re going to give it a try.” Thankfully Dom is doing the lying. I’m not sure I could do it.
“Oh, Dominic!” Anna stands and rounds the table. “My good boy. I love you.” She hugs him, and Dom’s smile says he’d do about anything for his mama.
Ma leaves the table and comes over to embrace me. “Valentina.”
I catch my dad picking up the papers from the middle of the table. Mr. Mancini grabs a sterling silver tray and a match, then he lights the papers on fire.
“Welcome to our family,” Anna says to me, the two mothers changing spots.
“Thank you.” I ignore the stabbing feeling in my chest over this not being real.
“Now, next line of business. You’ll probably want to move in with Valentina because of Ryder,” Ma says.
Dom’s head swivels toward me. Looks like Mr. All-Business-All-the-Time didn’t think about that.
I secretly want to high-five Anna for playing a good hand.
