Page 56 of Mafia Shade's Reluctant Bride
And that’s when I noticed Lorenzo again. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching me with something that looked a lot like admiration.
I rolled my eyes. “I told you I could handle it myself.”
His lips twitched. “I never doubted you.”
Liar.
But I let it go, brushing past him toward the field. The game was about to start, and I had a son to cheer for. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of Lorenzo’s gaze lingering on me.
And worse? I liked it.
*****
Matteo’s laughter was something I hadn’t heard in a while.
It wasn’t the polite chuckles he sometimes forced when he thought I was worried about him. This was real laughter, loud and uninhibited. The kind that made his whole face light up.
And it was because of Lorenzo. Damn him.
It started with the first game. It was a simple relay race with parents paired with their kids. Matteo and I were a team, and I wasn’t about to let a bunch of elementary schoolers outrun me.
“Mom, run faster!” Matteo was practically dragging me.
“I am running!” My lungs were on fire. “How are these kids so fast?”
Matteo grinned. “Because you’re old!”
I gasped, half laughing, half wheezing. “Take that back!”
“Nope!”
We barely crossed the finish line in third place, Matteo throwing his hands up like we’d just won Olympic gold. I doubled over, hands on my knees. “I—need—a—minute.”
I should really work out more.
Matteo didn’t even look winded. Unfair.
The next game was dodgeball. The teams were forming when Matteo grabbed my hand and pulled me toward Lorenzo.
“I want to play with him!”
I blinked. “What?”
Matteo turned to Lorenzo. “You’ll play with me, right?”
Lorenzo hesitated, then ruffled Matteo’s hair. “You sure you want me? I might not be as fast as your mom.”
Matteo gave him a look. “You’re not old like her.”
I shot him a glance. “Who are you calling old, little boy?”
Lorenzo snorted. I smacked Matteo’s shoulder lightly. “You better sleep with one eye open, kid.”
Matteo grinned, all mischief and excitement. “Come on, Lorenzo!”
Lorenzo sighed dramatically. “Alright, but if I break something, you’re carrying me to the hospital.”
Matteo laughed like that was the funniest thing in the world.
