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“I don’t think this is a good idea. If you only just started dating, maybe you can stop it before it goes any further,” Carlo said, like it was no big deal.
“I don’t want to stop it. I don’t want to deny my feelings for her.”
Carlo shook his head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“What if she’s the one? Are you telling me you’d walk away from someone like that?” They were probably the wrong ones to ask. Carlo was rigid when it came to women and didn’t have serious relationships. And Matteo was more of a good-time guy.
Matteo ran a hand through his already messy hair. “I’m not looking for that, so I don’t know what I’d do.”
“I want to be the man she needs. And part of that is taking more control at the restaurant, stepping up, and demanding Mamma and Papà take us seriously about running things.”
“I agree with you on that. I just don’t see how this thing with Harper ends well with Gia and our parents,” Carlo said.
“I know.” I needed to hash this out with someone, but they weren’t saying what I wanted to hear.
We finished closing, and I went home thinking about what was happening between us. I felt good when I was with Harper and Evie. I enjoyed being with them, and I loved Evie. The more time I spent with her, the more I adored her.
I wasn’t going to be able to walk away from them. I was only getting to know Harper on a different level now, and I wanted to continue down this path. As much as I adored Evie, we needed some time to ourselves too. Was it selfish to ask Harper to get a sitter so we could go on a real date with just us?
It didn’t escape my attention that the babysitter would be my mom, and we’d need to lie to her about where Harper was. That didn’t sit right with me. Maybe Matteo and Carlo could watch Evie.
The next week, I saw Evie and Harper in passing when she was coming to and from the apartment. I texted her too, asking how their day was and when we could see each other again. My next day off was Saturday, so I invited them to my place. I still had a little time before construction started on the house. I’d hired Cade, but he had a project scheduled ahead of me.
When Harper arrived, I was just finishing mowing the lawn. I should probably hire a service because it was hard to find time for lawn care with my hours at the restaurant. When she pulled up, I opened the door. “Sorry, I’m all sweaty,” I said as she hugged me.
She grinned. “I don’t mind.”
“You’re stinky.” Evie turned up her nose as she passed me in the garage.
“Now you’ve done it,” I said as I chased her into the house and out the slider, into the backyard. “You need a stinky hug.”
Evie shrieked. “No. I don’t.”
When I tackled her to the ground, I made sure she landed on my body, and I hugged her.
“Gross. You stink.”
I chuckled as she scrambled off me.
“Can we do the sprinkler?” Evie asked Harper, who’d joined us.
“Do you have one? I told her you might.”
“I have one in the garage. I’ll grab it.”
Evie followed me, asking questions about the house and the tools in the garage. It was hard to concentrate because I had to pause and answer her questions. “You ask a lot of questions.”
Evie shrugged. “That’s what Mommy says.”
I shrugged it off. “It’s okay. I like it.”
She tipped her head to the side as if she didn’t quite believe me. “It annoys Daddy.”
I didn’t like that she called Manny “Daddy.” I doubted he’d earned the name. “You’re perfect just as you are, and the people who love you don’t think you’re annoying.”
“Did you hear that, Mommy? I’m perfect.”
“That’s not exactly what I said.” I followed her to the backyard with the sprinkler. I attached the hose and turned it on.
