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Again, he nodded, his earnest eyes sweeping over my face. Was he trying to see which ones we had in common? Or was he drawing comparisons between me and my mother?

Speaking of which…

“The same way I’m not jumping to be in Lilith’s presence, I’m not up for hearing about my mom or your relationship. At least not right now. This thing is just you and me. Let’s keep it as simple as possible and see where it goes.”

“Of course, Goldyn.” Chance’s smile widened before more tears welled in his eyes. “Can I hug you?”

Instead of answering, I opened my arms and welcomed his embrace.

“I’m proud of you,” Romeo said as soon as we were back in his car.

He reversed while I stared out the windshield, still dumbstruck about the events that unfolded at lunch.

“Do you think I was too harsh about his wife?” Ugh, I couldn’t even say her name again.

Romeo shrugged. “Your boundaries aren’t harsh just because they might make someone else uncomfortable. You have every reason not to want to be around that woman, and now you won’t have to be.”

“We’ll see,” I muttered. There was always the chance she’d pull another pop up, but there was no use voicing my doubt. Dragging my eyes from the windshield to the passenger window, I peered through the dark tint at the blur of mountains and blue skies. Romeo handled every curve in the road with ease,reminding me of that first day he got stuck with taking me back to my van.

A smile tipped up my lips.

“What you over there smiling at, G?”

“How do you know I’m smiling? Shouldn’t you be watching the road?”

He scoffed and the sound made me smile harder. “I know how to multitask. Now, what you smiling about?”

Relenting, I turned my body toward him as much as the seatbelt would allow. “I was just thinking about the first time I was in your car. Back when you hated me.”

Romeo’s jaw ticked. “I never hated you, G.”

“Well, you didn’tlikeme either. I had to wear you down.”

He laughed dryly, not denying it.

Another quip sat at the tip of my tongue, but then my stomach groaned in protest. Thanks to my nerves at lunch, I hadn’t eaten anything since the French toast Sincere made me for breakfast.

“Can we go get something to eat?”

Romeo didn’t miss a beat. “Where?”

He slowed the car, waiting for my request.

“Lucky’s.”

All he gave was a simple nod, but it was enough to make peace settle in my heart. So much had changed since I climbed in their window. Every day I woke up showered in love I didn’t think I’d ever receive. Life with Sincere, Lorenzo and Romeo was a lot of things, but most of all it was just…right.

Two Months Later

NOVEMBER

Rome nudgedmy knee with his under the table while I was in the middle of dipping my first fry in cheddar cheese. When I looked up at him, he didn’t say anything, but stared at me with imploring eyes.

“What?” I asked, confused. I knew there wasn’t anything on my face because I hadn’t started eating yet, but my fingers still flew to my chin, rubbing at nothing.

“You good?” he asked cryptically, his knee swiping mine again.

We were seated on the same side of the booth for four because we were waiting for Goldyn and Lorenzo to arrive. But Rome’s warmth by my side was nice. His presence wasalwaysnice.