Page 49 of Finding the Pieces

“And things are good at home?”

“Yeah, things are…good.”How much has Dom told her?I know he would never talk about our sex life with my parents of all people, but it’s clear she knows something about our relationship is off. If anyone could offer me insight about how to navigate marriage after kids, it’d be my mom, right?

“Did you and Dad ever go through a…roommate phase?” I ask tentatively. “In your marriage, I mean. A time when you were so focused on life that it just got in the way of feeling like a couple?”

“Oh, honey, of course we did,” she says, sipping from her tea before pouring us both more from the pot.

“But you two always seemed so effortlessly in love. I always remember you being happy together.”

My mom laughs. Hard. Literally wiping tears from her eyes.

“Oh, honey. I’m so relieved to hear that’s what you remember. It takes a lot of work to keep love alive for as long as we have. A lot of messing it up too. We got so many things wrong. We argued, we didn’t make time for each other, we got stuck in that survival rut too. It doesn’t last forever, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deservemore. You two just need to figure out a way that works for you in this season of life. It doesn’t look the same for every couple. And with a man like Dom, you know it’s going to look like…well, likethis.” She gestures to her and me, sitting here today because my loving husband had to create an entire fucking game for me.

I love everything about that man. It used to be easy to show it.

“He doesn’t know how to half-ass anything,” I say.

“Neither of you do, Ellie. I know this last year has been hard on you, but I want you to be gentle with yourself. It’s okay to have doubts. It’s okay to feel insecure. But don’t shut down, please. We’re here for you, always.”

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you with my whole heart, Ellie.”

Chapter twenty-five

Dom

“You’re trying to make this difficult for me, aren’t you?” I say, then let out a dramatic groan.

Ellie pauses, confusion flittering over her face, before she finishes putting her hair in a loose bun on top of her head, then plugs her phone into the charging cord and places it on her nightstand.

“That definitely sounds like me, but I’m going to need you to be more specific.”

“You worethepants,” I say, gesturing to her bottom half.

She gives her head a small shake as a smirk threatens to appear at the corner of her lip. “Are you trying to tell me they’re out of season?” she says, putting her hands on her hips and popping her weight to one leg.

Yes, it’s April, but it’s not the season that’s throwing me off kilter.

“TheHalloweenpants, Ellie. You know they’re my favorite.”

“They’releggings,and yes, I know they’re your favorite. They’re mine, too, so you’ll have to control yourself, Mr. Moretti. Let me live my most comfortable life, please, and celebrate Halloween whenever I want.”

I don’t know what it is about these fuckingleggings. The print is insanely festive. A mess of bright orange, black, and purple littered withjack-o’-lanterns, witches, ghosts, monsters, and candy. Large text readsTRICK OR TREATin bold, white lettering.

Treat. It’s always agoddamn treatto see these make an off-season appearance.

I can’t explain it. They’re soft and they hug Ellie’s every curve. The fabric’s just thin enough I can catch the jiggle of her ass if I watch close enough as she walks. It’s impossible to look anywherebuther ass when she wears these…and sheknowsit.

I helplessly watch her finish getting ready before she climbs into bed, fluffs her pillows, and checks the baby monitor before picking up her phone to scroll.

Shaking my head in an attempt to shake off the sight of Ellie’s ass looking likethat, I head to the restroom to finish getting ready for bed.

Well, two can play this game.

A few minutes later, I step out of the bathroom, only to cross my arms and ankles, leaning my side against the doorway.

Sensing my lingering presence, Ellie looks up from her phone to see what’s keeping me from climbing into bed, and she giggles at the sight of me.

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