Page 31 of Offside Rule

I helped her up, and smiled at the other mother. “Have a great day.”

Once we had put some distance between us and the sand pit, I looked down at her. “Why did you want to leave?”

She shrugged. “Got bored.”

Xavier stopped in his tracks, and got on his knees to look at her. “What do you want to do?”

Giulia giggled. It was her favorite question. “Ice cream.” I nudged her with my elbow, and she cleared her throat. “Please.”

She then looked to me for approval, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Then we’ll get some ice cream,” Xavier announced. He took her tiny hand in his, and the sight made my heart grow in my chest.

I had just quit my job, and SBU had lost the championship, yet the grins on our faces didn’t let that show for a second. We looked like a happy family enjoying a sunny day.

I liked the sound of that.

As I looked at Xavier, I realized the emptiness in my heart was no longer there.

EPILOGUE

GIULIA - SIX YEARS OLD

“You may now kiss the bride,” a man in a robe said. He was a weddingsomething. Mamma had told me what he was, but I couldn’t remember now.

My mother was dressed in a long, beautiful white dress, so long I could hide under it. And my papa had on a pair of black pants, and a white shirt with buttons. His hair fell over his forehead when he kissed my mamma.

Some of the kids around me covered their eyes, but I was old enough not to do that anymore. Plus, I was used to it. They kissedallthe time at home.

Mamma cooked? They kissed.

Papa washed the dishes? They kissed.

She went to work? They kissed.

They kiss me a lot too. I act like I don’t like it, but if Papa doesn’t kiss me before bed, I have nightmares. Thankfully, he never forgets, and when he’s away, he kisses me over the phone.

We’re a kissy family.

Our families cheered, and I did the same. Papa said that after Mamma takes his name, I’ll be his daughter in every way, and I liked that. I wanted to marry Papa when I grew up too.

Mamma said I would change my mind, but I didn’t think she was right.

After they kissed, Nonna gave me the signal we had worked on—tipping her hat—and I knew what I had to do. I stood up from my seat and walked through the chairs, making my way to my parents. I glanced down at my pink shoes and smiled. They were pretty, and they looked even prettier on the green grass.

We all loved football, so Mamma and Papa were married in a stadium. So romantic.

When I reached them, Papa scooped me up, and my mamma kissed my cheek.

See? Kissy family.

They last saw me only minutes ago.

“How’s my little bug doing?” Papa looked at me with his green eyes. He had tear stains on his cheeks.

“Did you cry?”

He smiled. “I did.”

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