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“Ryder!”
He laughs. “Spain. I loved Spain the most.”
Ryder continues to tell me about his trip with his dad. We chatted once a week while he was gone, but he never went into too much detail as to what they were doing. He tells me about all the countries they visited and how up until the last week, it was only the two of them, but then Max met someone. Ryder breezes by that fact as if it’s meaningless. They didn’t go to half the museums I would’ve taken him to, but that’s Max. He likes to absorb the culture by submerging himself in it, and it appears Ryder likes that too.
We end up ordering a pizza, which Ryder says is what he missed the most. No one can make a pizza like New York can. I watch him eat, happy to have him home. Happy that he doesn’t mind that Dom is technically his stepdad right now. Happy that everything in my life is even-keeled at the moment.
After dinner, I message Dom that I’ll see him tomorrow. There’s no more discussion about I love yous, and I figure that’s a topic best left for when we discuss exactly where we’re at. Saying we don’t want an annulment doesn’t mean we’re ready to move in together and be a real family. When it comes to my relationship with Dom, I need to take things slow.
* * *
I ring the Mancinis’doorbell. Ryder’s on his phone with his AirPods in. He doesn’t notice how nervous I am with my sad excuse of a cheesecake that I bought.
Anna opens the door, wipes her hands on her apron, and opens her arms. “Valentina!”
The woman has a way of making people feel welcome.
I nudge Ryder, and he startles before taking out his AirPods and shoving them into his pocket. He puts out his hand. “Hi.”
Anna looks at me then at Ryder, laughing and shooing his hand away. “Come here.” She envelops him in her small frame before he has a chance to realize what’s happening. “Ryder, so happy to have you. Welcome. You’ve grown so much since the last time I saw you.”
She releases him just as fast, and he stumbles for a second to find his footing. Ryder isn’t used to a big family. Max’s parents live in Texas and he rarely sees them, and though Ryder’s close with my parents, there’s no other family nearby.
“Hey.” Dom comes out of the kitchen. He must’ve come from the gym because he’s in track shorts and a T-shirt, freshly showered.
My breath hitches and Ryder glances over. Did he hear me?
Dom puts his hand out in front of Ryder. “Welcome, Ryder.”
Ryder shakes his hand then busies himself with his phone.
Dom kisses me on the cheek. “I missed you like crazy,” he whispers.
I bite my lip to calm myself.
“No phones,” Anna says to Ryder.
Ryder looks at me like ‘tell this lady she’s crazy because I’m not spending an entire afternoon with your new husband and his family without using my phone as a distraction.’
“I have a job for you.” Anna slides her arm through Ryder’s and escorts him into the kitchen.
“He’s good?” Dom asks, turning me around so I’m facing him, his hands locked behind my back.
I chuckle as I watch Anna pull his stiff frame into the kitchen. “Appears so.”
“Good.” He looks around, opens the door, and pulls me outside with him.
As he tucks us in the corner of the stairs, his lips land on mine and his fingers dip under the waist of my shorts in the back. My skin comes alive and I bring our kiss to a ravishing state.
“Jeez, get a room you two.” Bella walks up with Carm, both of them laughing.
We unlock from one another, and I slyly wipe my mouth.
“Thanks for ruining the moment,” Dom says, taking my hand and pulling me back into the house.
“I should check on Ryder.”
“I heard your little guy is here.” Bella hands Carm the wine they brought. I think they’re the designated alcohol suppliers for Sunday night dinners. “I want to meet him.”
