Page 85 of Flake It Til You Make It

“A lot of them are very excited about the festival events, so I’m sure we’ll see you, but for the most part, we’re not going to be in your hair twenty-four seven. I promise.” Luca shot him a grin. “You’re welcome.”

“How did you manage that particular miracle?”

Oliver emerged from the kitchen doors, wiping his hands on a paper towel. “When he heard the plan to descend on you for Christmas, Luca found the festival flyer and emailed it to everyone. Told them to pick four events they couldn’t miss.”Oliver kissed his husband. “Would you believe me if I told you there’s a color-coded spreadsheet?”

“Yes,” Rocco said. Because that sounded exactly like Luca. “So what’s on the docket this afternoon?”

“I think most of us are heading to the brew and cider fest this afternoon, so if you’d like to join us, you’re free to. Or . . .” Luca waggled his eyebrows. “You can always spend time with your very attractive boyfriend instead.”

Rocco remembered, a few years ago, when Luca had been incapable of jokes. Or smiling. Or generally human behavior.

Oliver had not only done wonders for Rocco’s kitchen, but Luca’s humor.

“I think maybe I can work out a bit of both.”

“And then there’s theSanta Crawltonight,” Oliver said with excitement. “I know my mom and Giana are wanting to come with us to that. Enzo and Will, too.”

Luca groaned a little, but he was still smiling. He’d used to herd Morettis because he felt obligated too. Now Rocco thought he did it mostly because he loved them.

“Well, have fun with that. I’ll already be tucked in bed,” Rocco said.

“And not alone either, I’d guess,” Ren said, sauntering over. “You guys staying or heading out? Seth and I wanted to get some breakfast at this Snowflake Shack.”

“Are you taking anyone?” Luca said. “Remember the group chat. I don’t want anyone getting left behind.”

Ren gave Luca an ironic salute. “No, sir, yes, sir, we’re taking Gabe and Sean. And uh . . .oh, Nicoletta too. And Matteo.”

Luca rolled his eyes. “Don’t lose them, okay?”

“Would I ever, sir?”

Luca smacked Ren in the arm, but he hadn’t stopped grinning the whole time.

“You are a pain in my ass, Lorenzo,” Luca said.

“And you love it,” Ren retorted back teasingly.

Luca sighed. “God help me, I think I do. But you’re going to be okay here?” He directed this question to Rocco.

“Golden. I’ll text you later. Taylor and I will probably meet you at the brew and cider fest.”

“Sounds good.” Luca reached out and pulled him in, grasping him close. “It was good to see you, little cousin.”

Taylor didsomethingfrom eight to two, he didn’t know what it was, but it had to be something.

When his watch finally read 1:55, he looked around and realized he’d scoured the kitchen and the bathroom until they shone, dusted and vacuumed, and done several loads of laundry which he’d actually folded and put away.

Meredith had given him several very grumpy looks, probably because for Taylor, Sundays were usually for relaxing on the couch, football on the TV, and maybe he might fit a few choresin, during halftime and between games. But in the fall and winter, Sundays were fornothing.

But this Sunday it felt like his whole life had changed.

Rocco had told him he loved him. He’d met Rocco’s parents—well, not just his parents, what felt like his whole extended family. And like Rocco had said, they were a lot. Noisy, boisterous, but so full of kindness and love, like Rocco himself, he’d found himself very much enjoying them.

“Things are going to be changing around here,” he told Meredith as he got dressed. She meowed back, clearly unamused and unmoved by this proclamation.

“Hey,” he told her, “you got used to Rocco. You even like him now. You wouldn’t sleep on him if you didn’t. I know exactly how that works.”

Meow.

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