The Rival Roomies Page 18

“You honestly don’t feel anything more?”

  I should’ve known she wouldn’t let go easily. She wanted me to say point-blank that what we had meant nothing.

  “I told you, Val, I’m not a marriage kind of guy. I prefer casual and uncomplicated.”

  Her whole body sank into the bed, and the weight of all the Manhattan skyscrapers crumbled on top of me. How could I do this to her? My eyes flickered to a picture of Ryder when he was six, playing on the same beach we’d made love on last night. He was with Val but smiling at whoever was holding the camera—Max, I assumed.

  “I’m sorry if you thought different,” I said.

  “Get out,” she seethed through gritted teeth.

  I rose from the bed, every footstep feeling as though I’d added another pound of cement to my shoes. After throwing on my T-shirt, I grabbed my bag, leaving behind any toiletries. If I didn’t get out of there fast, I’d lose my nerve and beg her forgiveness.

  Max saw me with my bag, and I wanted to punch the cocky grin off his face. Instead, I slid into the kitchen and grabbed the jewelry box off the breakfast tray I’d prepared. I looked at the diamond ring I’d designed for her, the large oval diamond in the center and the diamonds on the band glittering in the morning sun and shut the box before shoving it into my bag.

  Without a glance back, I walked out of Val’s house, leaving my entire heart inside.

  I push back the memory because we’re not there anymore. I need to concentrate on the here and now, so I don’t lose my nerve.

  “What happened with you and Max last year?” The question slips out. Though I shouldn’t care, I need to know.

  She blinks. “What? Why?”

  “Did you guys give it a shot?”

  “We did. It was brief. Things were okay at first, but then Max’s true colors came out again. We kept it on the downlow and didn’t really go out in public so that Ryder wouldn’t find out about it in case it didn’t work out, thank goodness.” She puts her beer on the table and faces me. She stares at me for a moment, and I realize that she’s nervous.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t want the annulment.”

  A slow smile slips across my face. “Neither do I.”

  My hand slides to the back of her neck, and I bring her lips to mine. That’s all I need right now. To know that just because Ryder is coming home, it doesn’t mean we’re over. I’ll take that for now.

  I get her on her back, and she splays opens her legs. “For old time’s sake?” I nod at the couch, then my lips travel down her jaw and her throat, my hands unbuttoning her blouse.

  “God yes.” She opens her legs wider and her hands pull at my shirt.

  I devour her under me, stripping us bare, needing to be skin to skin with her. Her arms tighten around my torso and I guide myself into her, sinking into her wetness and warmth. She’s mine. She’s finally truly mine.

  “I love you,” I murmur into her neck.

  She freezes for a moment, her legs losing their pressure against my hips. She tightens them again, puts her hands on either side of my face, and maneuvers me so I’m staring into her eyes. “I love you… always have.”

  I crash my lips to hers, my hands greedy and my pace chaotic, but I can’t get enough of her. I’m mid-thrust when the sound of a key entering the door makes me freeze. She pushes me off of her, but we’re not fast enough.

  “Mom!” Ryder screams, seeing the two of us naked on the couch.

  “Great example, Val.”

  Max follows him in, and I grab the blanket from the back of the couch and toss it to her. The last person who will see her naked again is Max.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Valentina

  * * *

  “Max! What the hell are you doing here? Why wouldn’t you call me?”

  Dom tosses me a blanket, and I cover myself enough to slide on my clothes.

  Ryder heads down the hall. “Hey, Dom. I’m out.”

  “Ryder,” Dom says, putting on his own clothes.

  “Surprise, surprise, I guess the whole Vegas wedding thing worked out for the two of you?” Max sits on a stool at the breakfast bar, facing us.

  “I thought you were getting in tomorrow. What happened?” I wait for Dom to finish putting on his shirt.

  “I had to come home early for work.”

  “And Ryder?”

  “He was cool with it. He’s kind of a mama’s boy.” He shrugs, looking at Dominic. “Funny, we’re in very different places this time, huh?”

  “Seems the same to me.” Dom puts his hands into his pockets. “I was just inside your ex-wife before your surprise appearance.”

  I slap Dom in the stomach and glance down the hall.

  “She was always willing to let you in more than me. That’s why our marriage never worked. It’s hard when there are three people involved.”

  “You’d know.” Dom steps forward. “Don’t blame me. I stepped away for thirteen years. You’re the one who fucked it up.”

  Max slides off the stool, stepping up to Dom, but Dom is bigger in both height and weight. “You might not have physically been there, but you were always on her mind. Hell, half the time I’m surprised she wasn’t screaming your name when she came.”

  “Stop it,” I seethe under my breath. “The both of you. Ryder is down the hall.”

  Dom crosses his arms over his chest and pins Max with a stare.

  “Well, your boy is back safe and sound. I told him I’ll be at his game in two weeks. I have to go out of town for a story, so I’ll let you know.” I roll my eyes as he heads to the door. “Dom. Don’t fuck it up again, you two.”

  Dom steps forward, but I grab his hand, keeping him at my side. Max leaves, and I glance down the hall for the fifth time since Ryder disappeared.

  “I need to talk to him,” I say, taking Dom’s hands.

  “I know. Call me after?” He releases my hands and presses his to my cheeks, tilting my face up. I nod. “And tomorrow, dinner at my parents’ house. Bring Ryder.”

  I nod again. I hope Ryder wants to go.

  “It’s going to be hard to sleep without you.” He kisses me, his tongue sliding into my mouth and his arm falling around my waist and pulling me to him.

  By the time he releases me, I’m gasping for breath, wishing we could do it all over again.

  “Goodnight, Val.” He kisses my forehead and steps back.

  My hands want to reach out for him, but I let them fall to my sides. He has to leave, and I want to spend time with Ryder and feel him out on this whole situation.

  When I shut the door behind him, hoping Max isn’t lurking down the hallway and the two of them don’t have words, I head to Ryder’s room and knock on the door.

  “Come in,” he says in his tortured voice.

  I open the door a crack and see him on the bed with his phone in his hands. “I’m so sorry.” I sit down on his bed, embarrassment heating my cheeks.

  He shrugs. “So you and Dom?”

  I shift on the mattress. “Yes, but there’s more I have to tell you.”

  “I know.”

  “You do?” I messed this up good. I should’ve known he’d find out. “You saw that blog?”

  “Dad slipped.” He shrugs like what else did I expect.

  I tighten my fists. Asshole.

  “Do I have to call him dad?” He looks at me with a smirk so similar to his father’s, I’m surprised it makes me laugh.

  “No.”

  He nudges me in the shoulder. “You could’ve told me. I’m almost sixteen, Mom. I’m over the idea of you and Dad getting back together. Besides, I like Dom. He’s always been cool whenever I’ve seen him over the years.”

  “I know, but it was Vegas and I was…”

  “Wasted?” He raises an eyebrow.

  I push him in the shoulder. “I had a few drinks.”

  “It’s okay. Nonna’s talked about you and Dom before. He makes you happy.”

  Did I really raise my son to be so g
reat?

  “Well, she’s always put him on a pedestal.”

  He shrugs. “I’m good with it, but I don’t want to walk in on the two of you again. I’ll be reliving that moment with my shrink twenty years from now.”

  I chuckle and squeeze his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d be home tomorrow.”

  “But the couch? How can I sit there ever again? Just keep it in your bedroom.”

  I look at my fingers. “Can we not talk about that at all?”

  “I’d prefer it that way.”

  I smile. “So tell me about Europe. What did you see? What country did you love the most?” I get comfortable on his bed, crossing my legs.

  He glances at the door. “Did Dom leave?”

  I nod.

  “He didn’t have to.”

  “It’s fine. We’ll see him tomorrow for Sunday dinner.”

  “So it’s really happening, huh?”

  “It appears so.”

  He nods a few times as though he’s soaking in this new information. “Where are we going to live?”

  “Let me handle all those details. I’ll let you know as soon as we discuss it.”

  “I’d like to move to his place. It’s probably fancier than ours. He has lots of money.”

  “Ryder!”

  He laughs. “Spain. I loved Spain the most.”

  Ryder continues to tell me about his trip with his dad. We chatted once a week while he was gone, but he never went into too much detail as to what they were doing. He tells me about all the countries they visited and how up until the last week, it was only the two of them, but then Max met someone. Ryder breezes by that fact as if it’s meaningless. They didn’t go to half the museums I would’ve taken him to, but that’s Max. He likes to absorb the culture by submerging himself in it, and it appears Ryder likes that too.

  We end up ordering a pizza, which Ryder says is what he missed the most. No one can make a pizza like New York can. I watch him eat, happy to have him home. Happy that he doesn’t mind that Dom is technically his stepdad right now. Happy that everything in my life is even-keeled at the moment.

  After dinner, I message Dom that I’ll see him tomorrow. There’s no more discussion about I love yous, and I figure that’s a topic best left for when we discuss exactly where we’re at. Saying we don’t want an annulment doesn’t mean we’re ready to move in together and be a real family. When it comes to my relationship with Dom, I need to take things slow.

  I ring the Mancinis’ doorbell. Ryder’s on his phone with his AirPods in. He doesn’t notice how nervous I am with my sad excuse of a cheesecake that I bought.

  Anna opens the door, wipes her hands on her apron, and opens her arms. “Valentina!”

  The woman has a way of making people feel welcome.

  I nudge Ryder, and he startles before taking out his AirPods and shoving them into his pocket. He puts out his hand. “Hi.”

  Anna looks at me then at Ryder, laughing and shooing his hand away. “Come here.” She envelops him in her small frame before he has a chance to realize what’s happening. “Ryder, so happy to have you. Welcome. You’ve grown so much since the last time I saw you.”

  She releases him just as fast, and he stumbles for a second to find his footing. Ryder isn’t used to a big family. Max’s parents live in Texas and he rarely sees them, and though Ryder’s close with my parents, there’s no other family nearby.

  “Hey.” Dom comes out of the kitchen. He must’ve come from the gym because he’s in track shorts and a T-shirt, freshly showered.

  My breath hitches and Ryder glances over. Did he hear me?

  Dom puts his hand out in front of Ryder. “Welcome, Ryder.”

  Ryder shakes his hand then busies himself with his phone.

  Dom kisses me on the cheek. “I missed you like crazy,” he whispers.

  I bite my lip to calm myself.

  “No phones,” Anna says to Ryder.

  Ryder looks at me like ‘tell this lady she’s crazy because I’m not spending an entire afternoon with your new husband and his family without using my phone as a distraction.’

  “I have a job for you.” Anna slides her arm through Ryder’s and escorts him into the kitchen.

  “He’s good?” Dom asks, turning me around so I’m facing him, his hands locked behind my back.

  I chuckle as I watch Anna pull his stiff frame into the kitchen. “Appears so.”

  “Good.” He looks around, opens the door, and pulls me outside with him.

  As he tucks us in the corner of the stairs, his lips land on mine and his fingers dip under the waist of my shorts in the back. My skin comes alive and I bring our kiss to a ravishing state.

  “Jeez, get a room you two.” Bella walks up with Carm, both of them laughing.

  We unlock from one another, and I slyly wipe my mouth.

  “Thanks for ruining the moment,” Dom says, taking my hand and pulling me back into the house.

  “I should check on Ryder.”

  “I heard your little guy is here.” Bella hands Carm the wine they brought. I think they’re the designated alcohol suppliers for Sunday night dinners. “I want to meet him.”

  “Come on. Anna has already put him to work.”

  “Poor guy.” Bella follows me.

  When we walk into the kitchen, Ryder looks at me from where he’s rolling meatballs with plastic gloves on like he did the day I dropped him off at kindergarten.

  “Wow, he’s not so little. Damn.” She washes her hands, puts on plastic gloves, and sits down next to him. “I’m Bella, Carm’s girlfriend.”

  Ryder nods, still pleading with his eyes for me to save him.

  I kiss the top of his head. He tries to dodge me, but I hold his head firm. “Thank you.”

  “Remember this when my birthday comes up next month,” he says but continues to roll the meatballs.

  “What do you do for fun?” Bella asks him.

  Before he can answer, Annie barrels into the room and stops in her tracks. We share a look. Although I don’t know her well, the smile on her face says she’s happy Ryder’s here because that means things are good with Dom and me.

  “Hi, Ryder, I’m Annie.” She smiles.

  Ryder blows out a breath and glances at me again. He’s done being the center of attention. I jab his side with my finger.

  “Hi,” he says as though Annie’s the dentist.

  “Are we making meatballs?”

  She heads to the sink to wash her hands, but Anna turns around with her wooden spoon. “You’re on sauce.”

  “Sauce?” Annie’s eyes light up. She glances at Bella.

  “Favorite,” Bella mouths.

  Annie shakes her head, but it’s the truth.

  “I’ve been teaching the girls to cook,” Anna says with pride.

  Dom and his brothers walk in, Enzo hugging and kissing his way around. He pats Ryder on the back. “I’ve heard great things about you on the football field.”

  “Really?” Ryder’s eyes light up for the first time since we arrived.

  “Yeah. I was a running back.”

  “Yeah, in about two thousand BC,” Carm says.

  “Want to go to the park and throw the football around?” Enzo asks.

  Ryder looks at me. and I shrug. “Sure.”

  “Perfect.” Enzo looks at Anna. “Ma?”

  “Go.” She waves him off. “The girls and I have it.”

  I smile as Ryder wastes no time taking off his plastic gloves and throwing them away.

  “We’ll be back.” Dom kisses my cheek.

  “Okay.” I sit down in Ryder’s empty seat.

  The front door slams shut, and all eyes turn my way.

  “So?” Annie says.

  “So… we’re not getting an annulment as of right now.”

  “Yay!” Bella screams, hugging me while trying not to get me dirty from the meat on her gloves.

  “That’s great,” Annie says.

  Anna looks at me and smiles con
tently with an expression that says, “See, I’m always right.”

  Blanca walks in. “What’d I miss?”

  “The marriage is still on,” Annie says.

  Blanca drops her purse on a kitchen chair before washing her hands. “Well, duh.”

  “Yeah, but they were going to get it annulled since they were drunk and—” Bella notices Blanca’s expression.

  “What?” Blanca comes over with her paper towel, drying her hands with wide eyes.

  “You didn’t know?” Bella asks.

  “No! Am I the only one?” She points at Anna’s back as she pretends like she didn’t know.

  I nod. “We were drunk and were going to get it annulled, but now we’re going to try to make it work.”

  Blanca plops down on a chair. “Why am I the last to know everything?”

  We all share a laugh, but Blanca reminds me a lot of Gia with the cupcake thing.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Dominic

  * * *

  “You prick!” Blanca hits me square in the upper arm.

  “What?” I hold it though she’s not tough enough to hurt me.

  “You never told me the marriage was a sham!”

  I inhale and glance at Val setting the table. She shrugs and bites her lip. I nod to Blanca to head outside. She follows, and I sit on the ledge of my parents’ small porch while she takes the swing.

  “I’m sorry, but I liked that you thought it was real.”

  “Why?” she asks, pulling her legs up to her body.

  I shrug. “It made me think we could make it. There’s so much against us. So much past to overcome. I didn’t deliberately leave you out.”

  She tilts her head. “Are you guys really going to make it work?”

  I look at the street, dodging her question. After I left Val’s last night, I was able to think clearly. I want Val so badly it hurts, but so much of me still doubts we can work. Every time we’re together and I feel like that wound has healed, something opens it back up like a scab that won’t heal.

  “We’re going to try.” I shrug.

  “You don’t sound like it.”