Page 17 of Always You
He shoves her off. His jaw clenches so hard it might snap.
“Samantha, I told you I don’t want to have kids right now.”
I feel a sting in my chest. I can’t tell him about Dante. He doesn’t want kids. I turn and walk away. Once I’m in my car, I shed the tears I’d been holding.
five
MILA
It’s been a week since I stepped foot in Dominic’s restaurant. I realize this was the closure, I needed to move on with my life. He made it crystal clear he had no intention of having kids. Protecting my son is my number one priority. I won’t force Dante on him. At this point, it’s best to keep things the way they are. I’ll be dammed if I let this asshole break my son’s heart.
Honestly, I am torn because it’s not what I had expected from him—
five years changed him for the worse. It’s time I move on and honestly, I’m ready. It’s time I let Dominic go.
“Girl, don’t let the douchebag get to you,” Sophie scoffs.
He will always have half of my soul and my heart. He was my first love. The father of my son. He betrayed me. Not something I expected from him. We dated for a year and a half. I don’t understand why he did what he did. I’ve been through so much. You’d think he’d have mercy on my soul.
“An asshole, douchebag and every name in the book,” I grumble as my eyes narrow on Dante sliding his bottom down the stairs. Dante’sPeter Panschool play is tonight. My trusty Canon camera is in my hand, given to me by Uncle Roger when Dante was born. If only my parents were alive to see their grandson's first play performance.
“Mommy, are you ready? Let’s go. I’m Hook. Arg!” He makes a pirate face closing one eye.
Silly boy.I laugh.
Sophie, Dante, and I arrive at St. Mary’s. Ryder stands leaning on his Harley as he walks straight to us. Ryder’s Sophie’s boyfriend, or should I say, ‘friend with benefits,’ which is what she calls him. Sophie’s anti-boyfriend, afraid of commitment at this point because her past relationship ended badly. He slips a quick kiss on her red lips. Brian calls my name from a distance, waiting at the entrance. Sophie convinced me to invite him. He was more than happy to join us.
“You look beautiful.” His eyes wander up and down my body. The smile in his eyes contains a sensuous flame.
“Thank you,” I manage to say.
Dante shuffles next to me.
“Hey, little dude, ready for your play? You’re going to be outstanding. Hook is the best,” Brian says, ruffling Dante’s hair.
Dante smiles at him shyly. He nods.
We all gather in the auditorium for the play's start. The proud parents and grandparents quickly produced cameras. After taking a few snapshots with my phone, I quickly send them to Nana and Uncle Roger. By the end of the show, the kids all sing “You Can Fly” and a few tears fall down my face, a testament to the immense pride I feel as a parent. My baby is getting so big. He will be five in two months, a week before Thanksgiving.
I search the crowd for what I don’t know. Maybe it’s families I see embraced with one another. Husbands and wives. I crave the love my parents had. I want a family. I want Dante to have siblings and a father. I want a man to see me as if I am their entire universe and recognize my value. I want to experience love and happiness.
* * *
We all head back to my apartment. The guys come over for pizza, celebrating my little guy’s first play. We enjoy the night with beer and wine. I pour wine into our glasses, and Sophie and I drink it down like thirsty teenagers.
“You did great, baby. You’re a magnificent pirate.”
He puffs his chest with pride. The pizza finally arrives, and we all gather in the living room. Brian plops down on the sofa next to me, and I can’t help but sneak a glance at his toned arms and attractive physique, which is apparent even beneath the plain muscle shirt and jean shorts he is wearing. His lips turn up in a slight smile as he lounges against the couch cushions. He catches me ogling him. He winks with a smirk. My face turns scarlet red.
“Brian, you want to play cars with me?” Dante asks Brian shyly.
I’m startled by Dante’s confidence in asking. He’s never been around another man.
“Sure, bud, you want to play in the living room or your bedroom?”
He tilts his head to the side… thinking. “I bring them to the living room.” He runs up the stairs excitedly.
Watching Brian and Dante play—tugs the strings to my chest. Dominic should be playing with his son. I sigh.
