“Uh, huh,” I say as I check my makeup in the mirror on the back of the visor.
“It’s just dinner. There shouldn’t be a reason to storm out. Who knows, you might enjoy yourself,” he says as he puts the car in park.
“I’ll try, just for you,” I say sweetly as I put the visor back in place.
Enzo gets out of the car and walks around the hood. I open my door and step out before he can do it, making him glare.
“Seriously,” he hisses. “Are you trying to get me shot?” he says under his breath as he slams the door shut. I wait next to the car so he can walk in front of me. Knowing I already pushed his buttons a little too far tonight.
As we walk up the front steps, the door swings open. Sofia is standing there with a smile on her face and a guard standing close by.
“I’m so glad you could come over tonight,” she says with a sincere smile.
“I am too. Thanks for the invite.”
“It was nothing.” She waves away the comment. “Come in,” she says as she steps away from the door, realizing she was in the way.
“Let’s go into the kitchen,” she says over her shoulder, leading the way.
Enzo hangs back as I follow her. Giving me time with my family.
Once in the kitchen, I can’t help but come to a stop.
“Is everything okay?” I ask as I take in the disaster of a kitchen. Or what should be a kitchen.
“Oh, everything is fine,” Sofia says with a wobbly smile. “Rosa had to leave because of a family emergency. Which is okay! But Alessa refused to take a nap. Doesn’t help that she’s a total daddy’s girl, and he had to actually work today. Anyway, I decided to make dinner for tonight and well, the kitchen ended up being a casualty,” she says fondly as she picks up the baby from the pack n’ play by the island.
“I didn’t even see her there,” I tell her as I slowly approach.
I stand next to her and stare at the baby in her arms. All olive skin and dark tufts of hair. Alessa opens her eyes and I’m pulled in by the honey-colored eyes.
“Gorgeous,” I say softly, reaching out and running my hand over her head.
“We think so too,” Sofia says while staring at the baby. “Would you like to hold her?”
“Are you sure?” I ask, biting my lip, really wanting to steal Alessa from her arms.
“Your aunt Greer asks such silly questions,” she says to the baby, getting a gummy smile in return.
I take the baby from her arms and can’t help but instantly fall in love. Alessa nuzzles into my chest, trying to hide her face. “Are you hiding?” I ask in a baby voice, catching myself off guard.
I look up and see Sofia smiling, leaning against the counter. “It happens to the best of us. As soon as we hold a baby, the baby voice comes out. No matter how hard we try.”
I move slowly, trying not to jostle the baby too much as Sofia cleans the kitchen up. I watch as she pulls an impressive charcuterie board out from the fridge, already put together.
“That looks fantastic,” I tell her as I check out the designs she did with different meats and cheeses.
“Thank you.” She blushes. “I figured at least with this, I can’t go wrong and we will have something to soak up the wine,” she says as she pulls out a bottle of wine from the wine fridge. She moves to a cabinet and pulls out two glasses.
“This wine okay?” she asks, showing me the label.
“Works for me.”
“Oh, good. I hate picking out wine. All reds taste the same, all whites taste the same to me. But your brother, God bless his soul, loves to pick out wine based on what we’re having for dinner,” she says, rolling her eyes, making us both laugh.
“I’m not too picky when it comes to wine. Whiskey though...” I wink, lightening the mood.
“Have you always been a whiskey girl?” She smirks.
