Page 66 of Gray Area

“Me?”

He gives me a small smirk in response. “Yes, you, gorgeous. Who else?”

“But it’s your family dinner. Shouldn’t you be with just your family?”

He heaves out a breath. “I want you there. All the people who are important to me will be there, and so you have to be there.”

I hear the words, but I can’t process them. “I’m important to you?” I ask because I need to hear it again.

“Yeah, Vivian,” he says, coming and placing a kiss on my lips. “You are the most important thing to me.”

“I’m scared,” I say against his lips.

Declan leans back, cupping my face in his hands and pinning me with his stare. “I am going to take care of you, Vivian. I promise I won’t hurt you. I promise to take care of you and be honest with you and give you my all.”

I bite the inside of my cheek in case I am dreaming, but I’m still here with him. “Okay,” I say.

“Great, let’s get your phone set up before we head over to my dad’s.”

An hour later, we walk over to Declan’s dad’s house, entering through a side door, and we’re immediately hit with the smell of something delicious. The house isn’t what I’d anticipated. I had been expecting a sparse layout like Declan has at his place. This place has colorful rugs and beautiful hardwood floors, with comfortable couches and throw blankets on them. There arepictures on the walls of boys, who I presume are all Declan and his brothers growing up. In one photo, I spot a sullen-faced toddler in a snowsuit and immediately recognize it as baby Declan and it makes me smile.

Declan guides me through to the kitchen where his father is in the throes of cooking. When Mr. Falco sees us come in, he smiles warmly.

“Hello again, Vivian,” he says, coming over to me and placing a kiss on my cheek.

“Hello, Mr. Falco,” I reply with my own smile.

“Do you need help, Dad?” Declan asks.

“Why don’t you set the table,” he says, returning to the stove.

Declan and I set out on our task and find his brother Roman at the table with Legos.

“Hey buddy, gotta move it for dinner,” Declan tells him, placing a stack of plates down.

The boy grunts and then looks up and sees me and smiles. “Hi, Vivian!” he says and jumps up to hug me.

I laugh. “Hi, Roman,” I say, returning the hug.

“Declan says you moved in but he wouldn’t let me go and see you,” he says before he releases me and gathers up his Legos. “Can I come visit you sometimes?”

“Sure, Roman.” I don’t bother to tell him that it’s only a temporary living situation.

A while later Slade and Axel filter in and we all sit down for dinner, a delicious chicken pot pie that I can tell is made from scratch. I’ve had countless frozen Marie Callender’s and they have never tasted like this. I sit, enjoying my meal and watching the Falco guys just being with each other, talking about their days, and making fun of each other. They all laugh, except Axel. His face brightens a little every now and then, but he shutters down almost instantly. I didn’t think it was possible for anyone to smile less than Declan, but Axel proves me wrong.

When we have all had our fill of the meal, all four sons clear the table. “Let me help with the dishes,” I say, rising to join them.

“Nope, the cook and beautiful women don’t do the dishes here,” Mr. Falco says as he remains seated and signals for me to sit down as well. “Tell me about yourself, Vivian,” he says genuinely.

I stiffen a little, the question making me nervous, but Declan is there before I say a word. “Dad,” he warns.

Jude Falco gives his son a smile but ignores him. “Declan tells me you two met in class? How is that going?”

That topic is much easier to take. I tell him about the class, and he asks me if Declan is a good student. I end up telling him about his weird staring at me, and Mr. Falco seems floored. He asks about my major, and I tell him I am pursuing a business degree. I also tell him I’m not sure about my future but that I want to be my own boss, in charge of my own things.

“Being a boss has highs and lows,” he tells me seriously. “I suggest lots of children to disperse the work too.”

Once the dishes are done, everyone settles into the living room and we watch a movie together. Roman falls asleep on Axel in the middle of the show, and when it is done, Axel takes his little brother up to bed while Mr. Falco stays in his recliner and watches. Slade had left toward the end to take a phone call and never returned, I’m just realizing as Declan and I move to get up. I look to say goodbye to Slade, and Declan whispers in my ear, “Booty call.”

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