Page 105 of Better Left Unsaid

The cake was set up in front of a big orange and hot pink backdrop, and Frankie, ever the photographer, ushered Isabella and Maria over to the table for a picture with the cake. Isabella was wearing a big smile that went from ear to ear, and all I could think was that was exactly what I wanted—to make that sweet, little girl smile every single day. I was more than a little curious to see what she’d think of the inside we’d chosen.

“Wait!” Maria and Isabella called at the same time. They exchanged a look, both of their eyes sparking with excitement. Maria nodded at her daughter, making it abundantly clear that the two could read each other’s minds. Not that I was surprised. They were a close mother-daughter duo.

“Uncle Dom!” Isabella shouted, waving me over, the feathers on her sleeves moving with the motion.

I brushed my hand in the air and shook my head. “It’s a family photo,” I insisted. As much as I’d wanted to be part of their family, it felt too soon. We’d only just told Isabella about us. One day, I knew I’d be in the real sense, but that day wasn’t today, and I didn’t want to crash their photo.

Maria clacked her tongue on the roof of her mouth loudly and rolled her eyes, like what she was about to say was a given. “You are family. Now get your butt over here.”

Angelo nodded beside me, and my heart practically swelled in my chest. This, this right here was more than a man could ever ask for.

I didn’t dare to argue any further, merely took the spot next to Isabella and looked at Maria, who winked at me before looking back at her daughter and the cake.

While Isabella blew out her candles with a keen sense of focus, it occurred to me how I didn’t think I’d ever need to make another wish again because every single one I’d ever had finally came true. I wasn’t sure what made me so lucky as to be blessed with these two Morelli girls in my life, but whatever it was, I was eternally grateful.

So maybe I’d broken a rule or two, but I figured that was what I’d have to do to get my queen, and I didn’t think I could be faulted for that because a man had to do what a man had to do.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Maria

a few months later

I rinsed mymouth, delicately patted water on my forehead and the back of my neck, and took a deep, fortifying breath, one that came out a little shakier than I intended if I was being honest. Why did this keep happening? I gripped either side of the counter, my arms feeling like noodles as my heart beat faster. The good news was that the color came back in my lips.

I looked in the mirror and gave myself a mental pep talk because Dom was getting ready for bed, and I didn’t want to alarm him. And I knew if I told him about the way I’d been feeling, he’d be alarmed, no doubt about it. Everything was fine, totally fine. All frigging good, really.

So what my period was late?

I’d been stressed. Frankly, when wasn’t I stressed?

Then again, I’d never been this late.

Except that one time.

I’d also never had nausea like this.

Again, except that one time.

It could be the flu.

Why did that feel unlikely, though?

Why did I keep thinking about the time I found out I was pregnant with Isabella? So much so that I’d stopped at the drugstore on my way home from work and picked up a pregnancy test.

But I couldn’t be pregnant. I didn’t believe it could be true. And yet, here I was thinking I might be and holding a pregnancy test. Let me just say this: imposter syndrome while holding a pregnancy test was real.

Although, with all the unprotected sex I had with Dom, I supposed it wasn’t out of the realm of possibilities.

Since we’d gotten together—officially—and Dom had moved in, making things seem even more official, we’d definitelycelebratedmost every night and woke up earlier than Isabella tocelebrateagain every morning. Then there were the times Isabella was at a play date or sleepover and then wecelebrateda lot. Really, we couldn’t keep our hands off one another.

My eyes flicked from my phone to the pregnancy test stick I’d peed on—both resting on the counter. I couldn’t believe I might be pregnant.

What would that mean for us? How would Dom react?

Considering this was Dom, I had a feeling he would be so over the moon happy, it wouldn’t even be funny. I knew he’d wanted to continue to build a family with me, wanted to have more kids—kids that were the product of our love. But I did distinctly remember him having saidsomeday. Well, what ifsomedaywas today? Would that be too soon?

Great. Now I was spiraling.

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