Page 63 of Merciless Oath

“It’s okay.” He smiles lovingly. “I’ll share my last brain cell with you.”

“Sweet,” I agree. “But this is serious talk. Can you be serious now, or do we need to fill you up with pancakes first?”

“Serious first, pancakes after,” he answers immediately, gently lifting me off him and placing me on the cushion beside him.

“I’m going to tell Matilda the truth,” I manage to say, sucking in a breath and letting it out. “Today.”

He’s quiet for a second, his face bare of any emotion or reaction, and I start to panic.

Oh shit. He didn’t want this, but he’s too nice to say otherwise, and he’s probably thinking of a kind way to let me down…

“Stop overthinking.” He grins, grabbing my hand. “That one brain cell is bouncing around too loudly. I can’t think.”

I turn my brain off and stare at him, willing myself not to think anything. Finally, he nods to himself and turns to face me.

“I want her to know the truth,” he says slowly. “But I want to make sure you’re fully ready for what this will mean.”

“I’m going to let you decide how involved you want to be,” I rush to explain myself. “I’m not saying you have to come to father-daughter dances and carve pumpkins or anything.”

“Lenny,” he smiles, kissing me so softly it takes my breath away, “I wouldloveto come to father-daughter dances and carve pumpkins. In fact, I’d love to put a ring on that finger, move us to the country, and give Matilda a little baby brother or sister, but…”

But. But! I think I’m about to have a stroke. There’s a “but”…?

“But your father’s threat six years ago,” he reminds me. “If we’re going to do this, I want to make sure it’s safe for us to be open about it. I’m not going to live my life sneaking around your family.”

“I’ll talk to him.” I breathe a sigh of relief. Seeing how much Uncle Alfonso has taken to Enzo, I’m fairly sure I can convince the rest of my family to accept him. My father will be the mostdifficult part of the equation, but I’m up for the challenge. “Any other objections?”

“Nope.” He laughs, tackling me onto my back and kissing my neck. “Time to make me a daddy.”

“No boys in the house, Mama?” a tiny voice declares behind me. We shoot up from the couch, red-faced and ashamed as Matilda smirks at us from the doorway.Really, this child is six going on sixteen.

“Honeybee, come here,” I call her, sinking down to the couch again. Enzo moves a respectable distance away and perches on the armchair, his foot tapping nervously against the wooden floor.

Matilda waltzes over, shooting Enzo a suspicious look, and climbs up beside me.

“Is he your boyfriend?” she asks plainly, and I nod. I see her doing the mental gymnastics, trying to figure out what all of this means.

“He is,” I start, my voice shaking. I clear my throat and catch Enzo’s eyes. He gives me a reassuring nod, and I continue. “But he’s more than that. Actually, I’ve known Enzo for a long, long time. We were in love, but something bad happened and we couldn’t be together for many years.”

She glances wildly at Enzo, starting to put the pieces together. Her mouth opens into a tiny O, and I hold my breath, waiting for the question.

“And now?” she asks. “Can you be together now?”

“Yes,” he answers for me. “What do you think about that, Jimmy Jam?”

Jimmy Jam? I didn’t realize they were at a nickname level of friendship.I grin at him and mouth a silent thank-you for taking over.

Matilda’s forehead creases as she thinks deeply about the question. She eyes me, then him, then me again, and she leans into me.

“Mama, is he my daddy?” she whispers in my ear, side-eyeing him. A surprised laugh slips out, and I cover my mouth with my hand, forcing it back in.

“Yes,” I finally manage to croak out. She peeks around me, appraising Enzo as if seeing him for the first time.

Matilda’s such a funny kid that I have no idea what’s about to happen, but I let her take the lead here.

“This guy?” She points at him subtly, wrinkling her brow again, and I burst out laughing this time. Enzo stares at us in bewilderment.

“What’s happening?” he mock-whispers. “Am I being judged? Should I be doing something more impressive?”

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