“I can’t believe you got me a job,” Daniel grumbles from the passenger seat, his arms crossed over his chest as he stares out the window. “’Bout time,” Jerome murmurs as he drives, smirking as he keeps his eyes on the road. Daniel makes a squeak of protest as he turns to glare at his boyfriend, bu
“My home,” I correct, walking to the fridge and pulling it open, grabbing a water bottle and then walking past Ivan, heading for the back deck. “Come on,” I say, waving to him. “Fay,” Daniel snaps, making me look over my shoulder at him, but I don’t stop. “Are you actually going to talk to him?” “
Ivan stays…late. Way too late. I see my dad’s expression when he comes home with the groceries, as he spies me out here with my sort-of-ex-boyfriend, and then glances at my husband, who is sitting on the couch with his boyfriend. I can’t hear him, but I see him groan in confusion. Ivan laughs a
“I did fall at work,” he murmurs, rubbing his jaw again and laughing at himself. “I just didn’t tell you whose fist I ran into that made me fall at work.” “’Ran into,’ my ass,” I murmur, shaking my head and making them both laugh harder. ____________________ Janeen and I quietly watch Ian driv
Daniel’s angry face twists but he purses his lips, listening to me. I hold my finger steady, staring up at him until he nods once and looks away. “Fine,” he says in a rush. “You’re right. I won’t do that again, and I didn’t mean it. But Fay, you’ve always had a soft spot for him, and he manipulates
“I’m going to sleep,” Daniel murmurs, turning away from all of us. “I need to…rethink my entire life. And my values. And particularly, the people with whom I associate.” “Night, baby,” Jerome calls casually over his shoulder. Daniel mumbles something back as I snuggle closer to Jerome’s side. “H
“Maybe order a pizza?” I say, hopeful. Dad he laughs and goes to make the call. I dig eagerly into the greasy hot pizza about an hour later, absolutely starving. Because that’s how I am these days – just constantly hungry and constantly snacking to keep the nausea away. Because the moment that I s
“Okay,” I say, taking a step closer and nodding, looking up at Daniel. “I – I hear you about my soft spot, all right? I’ll be careful. But Daniel,” I say slowly, shaking my head, making him listen. “You either trust me or you don’t. I told you last night – I’m doing this because I love your dad. I’m
My dad greets him with such genuine joy and excitement that it makes my heart swell with joy. They talk for a few minutes about Dominic’s day before dad gives him a little nudge back towards the gate where Kent and I are waiting. Dominic gives dad a kiss before running ahead again. My dad waves to
“Papa!” Dominic shouts, startling me out of my reverie as he drops my hand and darts down the road. I look up, a huge smile breaking out on my face again as I see Kent on the sidewalk just ahead. His back is to us as he speaks companionably with the butcher, a heavy bag of his purchases already hung
As I walk down the street towards the little Italian kindergarten, the whispers start around me, as they always do. I listen to all of them, a big German Shepherd padding quietly at my heels. “Is that her?” “Yes, that’s the one – I heard she was her husband’s mistress before he married her – tha
Both Kent and I laugh, but Don Bianci – across the baptismal font from us – snaps his eyes up, perhaps not liking the joke as much as we do. But I just ignore it, because dad’s right, frankly – and it’s too happy a day to care. After the final blessing everyone applauds Dominic – he likes that, bl
“Well, it didn’t seem to affect your first very badly,” Ivan says with a shrug, peering around Kent to where Daniel is laughing with an arm around Jerome’s shoulders. “So…maybe keep it up.” I smirk, squeezing Ivan’s hand once more before standing and moving to Kent’s side, tucking myself against h
“Hey, gorgeous,” Ivan says, his mouth turned up in a smirk as I cross the churchyard, beaming at him. “Look who’s talking,” I say, laughing and reaching for him when I come close enough. Ivan wraps me in a hug, dropping a kiss to my cheek as I hold Dominic a bit to the side so he doesn’t get squis
He laughs, smiling at me genuinely. “Do I make you nervous?” he asks, blunt. I laugh, unable to help it. “Has no one bothered to tell you, in all these years, that you’re a little terrifying, Don Bianci?” He grins and shakes his head at me. “Well, considering what you accomplished, young lady, I
Two months later, we’re all gathered together again. And it is only with frustration that I see Gio and Janeen standing so close together that their arms nearly brush, even though they’re still not together. I roll my eyes, dismissing the problem for a moment as I move my eyes down to Dominic and
It's an incredible night. Kent didn’t lie, not at all, about the food either. I’m shocked by the mountains of dishes that continue to follow each other, one after another, long into the night. After a few hours of it I just mournfully watch the waiters go by because I couldn’t eat another bite if I