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Valentina
Sunday breakfast comes and I feel both out of place and happy in a way I never dreamed I could at this point in my life.
Ronan’s confession keeps playing through my head.He loves me.He really loves me, and I love him. The moment he said those words, everything I’ve been feeling lately snapped into an intense and overwhelming focus. I’ve been so afraid of losing him that I haven’t really stopped to thinkwhy.
It’s because I love him. And I told him that a few times that night.
I’m a little embarrassed that I didn’t see it sooner, but in my defense, I’ve been kind of distracted.
He’s right though. I’m not moving out, and it’s time we stopped pretending. But that doesn’t make this morning any easier.
“You sure this is okay?” I ask him as we head up to his mother’s house together. There are already half a dozen cars parked in the street.
“It’s fine.” He holds my hand and squeezes. “I talked to my mother last night and explained things to her. It’ll be fine.”
“So, I guess that means—” I hesitate as a wave of nervous energy trickles down my spine. “Everyone knows now, huh?”
“More or less, yeah, everyone knows. Including Cormac and them, I’d bet.”
“Which won’t exactly do much for your cause.”
“Fuck my cause.” He pulls me against him and kisses me right there in front of the door. “You look good.”
I smile a little. “Don’t get excited, okay? That’d be a bad look.”
“I’m always excited around you.” He squeezes my ass and gives me that cheeky smirk of his. It used to drive me crazy, and it still does—but now I sort of like it too.
“Hands to yourself.” I swat him away as we head inside together.
Part of me expected one of these scenes from a movie where the room stops talking and stares at the new arrivals. Instead, it’s like nothing out of the ordinary just showed up. The uncles are in front of the TV watching soccer and they greet Ronan cheerfully. I expect them to ignore me, but everyone that comes up and bumps Ronan’s fist or shakes his hand proceeds to kiss me on the cheek like we’ve been doing this our whole lives. “Morning, Valentina,” Uncle Joseph says and pats my arm affectionately.
It’s completely bizarre. Up to this point, the men here basically ignored me, except for when we were working on a new job. They were mostly polite, but there was no warmth in their greetings.
Now, they’re acting like I actuallybelongin this room.
“Ah, there they are.” Ronan’s mother walks over and hugs her son. She gives me a kiss on the cheek too. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”
“I’m right on time, as always.” Ronan casts a weary look around. “Anyone new show up?”
His mother’s expression clouds. “No, nobody. But you have some folks waiting to speak with you.”
Ronan nods and looks ten years older. “Give me five minutes then start sending them in.”
“I’ll tell Niall.” His mother takes my arm. “Meanwhile, I have some work for your girl here.”
Ronan’s smile returns as he winks at me and walks off to his office.
“Thanks for the nice welcome, Mrs. Hayes,” I say as Ronan’s mother steers me into the kitchen.
“I’m Deirdre, dear, since you’re a part of this family now.” She tosses a dish towel at me and parks me in front of a sink filled with dirty dishes. “And as such, you are now responsible for cleanup.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Hear that, Deirdre?” another of the aunts says with a laugh. She’s got white hair and a good smile. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, and you put the girl on dish duty!”
“Ah, stop that, Roslin.” Deirdre swats at the woman, who must be her sister-in-law. She looks very similar to Ronan, or at least they have the same nose. “I’d have her cooking but it’s quiet around here right now, so there’s not much else to be done.”
“Fair point.” Roslin gives me a frown and leans against the stove. “The big boss say anything to you about what’s going on?”
