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ALEXANDER

T he drive to the Italian seaside resort was peaceful, the kind of quiet that felt like a deep exhale after weeks of chaos. The sun kissed the coastline as we arrived, golden light glittering off the waves. Gianna talked excitedly in the backseat, her tiny hands gripping her favorite stuffed bunny as she stared out the window.

Lucia’s smile was soft, content, as she looked over at me. It was a rare sight—her shoulders relaxed, her hair loose around her face. Moments like this, when she wasn’t carrying the weight of the world, made me fall for her even more.

When we pulled up to the resort, the concierge greeted us with a warm smile and a quiet assurance of privacy. That was the whole reason I’d okayed this place when Matteo mentioned a last-minute vacation. No prying eyes, no cameras, just a chance for the four of us to breathe.

That was until we got to the check-in desk.

“Ah, Mr. Wright,” the attendant began apologetically. “We’ve had a slight issue with the room allocations. Unfortunately, only two suites are available, and each has just one king-sized bed.”

Lucia’s eyes widened, her lips parting as if to protest, but I was already suppressing a grin.

“That’s fine,” I said easily, my hand brushing hers. “We’ll make it work.”

Nicola, standing beside Matteo, didn’t look nearly as thrilled. “Excuse me?” she said sharply.

Matteo smirked, the picture of smugness. “Guess we’re bunking together, Nic.”

Her glare could have melted steel. “Don’t call me that, and no, we’re not sharing a bed.”

“Well, there’s always the floor,” he said, shrugging. “But I’d hate for you to hurt your back.”

Nicola groaned, muttering something under her breath about unbearable idiots, while Matteo only grinned wider.

Meanwhile, Lucia’s gaze flicked nervously to me. “Alex…are you sure?” she whispered. “About us? What about Gianna? She’s not great at sleeping through the night sometimes, and I don’t want to keep you up or?—”

“Hey,” I interrupted gently, lowering my voice so only she could hear. “It’s fine, Lucia. I’ll help. If she wakes up, I’ll get up with her, okay? We’re a team.”

Her eyes softened, her lips pressing together as she nodded. “Okay.” Gianna, oblivious to the logistics, tugged on Lucia’s hand. “Mama, can we go see the water now?”

“Soon, baby,” Lucia said, brushing a kiss over her daughter’s head.

The suites were beautiful, each with a balcony overlooking the turquoise sea. Lucia and I settled in, unpacking our things while Gianna explored every corner of the room. I felt a little thrum thrum in my chest at the sight. The three of us in our own hotel room. Sure, we were constantly in each other’s rooms with our friends or each other, but this felt different. This felt real. When it came time to discuss the sleeping arrangements, Lucia was hesitant again.

“Sometimes when she can’t sleep the only way I can get her back down is by sleeping next to me,” she said, glancing at the king-sized bed. “What if she won’t settle?”

I crouched down beside Gianna, who was busy arranging her bunny and blanket on the pillows. “Hey, kid,” I said with a smile. “Think you can share the bed with Mama and me tonight?”

She nodded eagerly. “Like a big sleepover?”

“Exactly.”

Lucia exhaled a laugh, her hand brushing over my shoulder as I stood. “You’re so good with her,” she said softly.

“Comes naturally when you’re around,” I teased, earning a roll of her eyes but a faint blush on her cheeks.

Meanwhile, from the adjoining suite, Nicola’s exasperated voice carried through the wall. “Matteo, if you snore, I swear I will smother you with a pillow.”

“Noted,” came Matteo’s amused reply. “But don’t worry—you’ll be too busy dreaming about me to notice.”

Lucia and I burst into quiet laughter, sharing a look of mutual understanding. The vacation was already off to a chaotic, ridiculous, perfect start.

* * *

Turning my phone off and leaving it in the hotel room had been a great decision. We were lounging on the beach. Nicola had stormed off into the ocean after Matteo said something stupid. I was building a sand castle with Gianna while Lucia was taking a well-deserved break. Deserved because she looked so beautiful lying there sunbathing and the view was too nice to disturb.

“Alex, can we make a princess tower?” Gia asked.

“Sure, G,” I replied, prying my eyes away from her mother.

“I’m hungry,” Matteo whined, making Gia sit up.

“Me too!” She matched his whine. God, they are the same person, it was kind of terrifying.

“Let’s go, principessa. Andiamo !” Gianna ran over to him, her body covered in sand. I laughed at them, Matteo was also covered in sand as he had just emerged from being covered in it when Gianna made him into a mermaid.

They walked away, hand in hand, covered in sand, and I only smiled and looked to Lucia. She had pulled her sunglasses down to look after Gianna and Matteo, waving goodbye to them. Then her eyes tracked over to me. Gleaming under the Italian sun. God, she was beautiful.

“What are you thinking about, angel?” I asked.

“That I have the best village.” She smiled, and I cocked my head a bit. “They always say it takes a village to raise a kid, and at home I had my parents. And don’t get me wrong, they were amazing and wonderful, but it still felt so lonely. Out here with you guys. I’m just really thankful, is all,” she mused. I strode over to her and leaned down, kissing her.

“You’re getting sand on me!” she complained. I only laughed and brushed my hands together to make more sand fall.

“You’re the worst!” she grumbled, shaking her head.

“Wanna go rinse off?” I asked, raising a brow and nodding toward the ocean.

“It’s going to be freezing.” She groaned. The sun was out, which was amazing, but she was right, the ocean was freezing.

“Come on, this is your yes year.” I poked her.

“Don’t use that against me!”

“Have you ever jumped in a winter ocean?” I asked, knowing she hadn’t.

“No…” she trailed off, looking at the ocean. Nicola was swimming, but Nicola was kind of insane like that.

“Let’s try new things then,” I said, dragging her up.

“Fine, okay, I’ll put my feet in.” She conceded. I only laughed and shook my head, then reached down and pulled her up, throwing her over my shoulder.

“Alexander! Put me down!” she screamed.

“I don’t think so,” I replied and ran us to the ocean. The closer we got, the more she shrieked.

“Alexander, I swear you will regret this!”

“Worth it,” I said before launching both of us into the ocean. I pulled us back up above the water quickly, a shit-eating grin plastered on my face.

“Fuck you!” she screamed, splashing water at me, a huge smile on her face. “It’s so, so cold, oh my god,” she cried, bringing her arms into herself. I reached out and pulled her toward me easily. Her legs wrapped around me, as if on instinct.

“Want me to warm you up?” I smirked.

“Gross.” She glared halfheartedly. I leaned in and crashed my lips onto hers. I could kiss her for hours, weeks, years. I would never get tired of it. Her hands wrapped around my neck and into my hair. Before I knew it, she was dragging me to our hotel room.