Looks at me. “Wh . . . what did you justsay?”
“I love you. I love you in my life, in our life. And I want you here all the time. You’re part of my family, Romy. I want you to move in with me,” I say, and why isn’t she saying yes already? “I want you to bring that laptop you’re surgically attached to, your collection of Disney movies—even that old wedding dress. I want them all here, all the time, because that means you never have toleave.”
She doesn’t say aword.
“Romy?”
“Did you just . . . did you just ask me to move in withyou?”
“Yes. Sophia can stay with my folks. Or she can stay here. Whatever you want. But I want you in my bed every night when I go to sleep and every morning when I wake up.” I study her face. It’s a mask of confusion. Have I read the situation wrong? Is this not what shewants?
“Knock,knock!”
Romystills.
This time, her face turnswhite.
“Hello?” the voice callsagain.
Romy freezes. “Isthat. . .?”
I nod. Now, my romantic gesture seems like the worst idea ever. “Yes.It’s—”
“Do you have help to open the door here? Or should we just come in?” Romy’s mother calls from theentryway.
“Mom!” Romy squeaks. She slides off the counter, pulls her robe around her. “You invited my parents for breakfast? And I’m in myrobe?” she whisper-hisses, and Ishrug.
“I thought it’d be nice. Give you the opportunity to have them in your space on your terms.” I shrug, reaching down to pull at myjeans.
“Hi! You must be Romy’s parents. I’m Bianca, Elio’s sister,” B says from the front door. Did they just hear their daughter’sclimax?
I can’t help the slight puff of pride that courses through me. Can’t say I care if theydid.
“The kitchen’s just through—” B stops abruptly. She looks at me, fastening the top button of my jeans, Romy, her cheeks as red as the strawberries on the counter as she clutches her robe. Her lips twist in a smirk, but thank God for my little sister, she turns around, stopping Romy’s parents at the pass. “Why don’t I show you the living roomfirst?”
“The living room?” Nico’s voice reaches us. “What kind of tour guide areyou?”
“One who actually knows her way around,” Breplies.
“I know my way around,” Nicocounters.
“Not from what I’ve heard the ladies say,” B says. Romy’s mothergasps.
Romy giggles, lacing her hands around mywaist.
I rest my forehead against hers. “Surprise,” Iwhisper.
“I have to say, I am totally surprised.” Shelaughs.
“Ciao,” I hear Mom call from the door, and I grin. “I’ve brought some of Nonna’s love knots for you. And more strawberries.And—”
“And everything but your brother,” Dad grumps, and Ismile.
“I wanted to invite everyone you loved here so we could tell them the good news together. If you want to. If moving in with me, with Coco, works for you,” I say, our foreheads still resting against each other. “I know we haven’t had the most traditional start to a relationship. And I know that when you planned how this moment would occur, it probably wasn’t with a guy who had a child, a family,but—”
“Daddy! Womy!” Coco squeals. She rushes into the kitchen, wrapping her arms around our legs. “’Fia said we had to wait longer, but I’m starving. Are the pancakes readynow?”
“Yes,” Romy says. She presses a kiss to my lips, and it’s the best kiss we’ve ever shared. It’s happening here, with our friends and family in the next room. And it’s going to happen again and again and again. She’s the love of my life, and no miscommunication will ever get in the way of thatagain.