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Angelo’s at the stove when I walk into the kitchen, but Sunny isn’t, which delays the good-morning kiss I’m hoping to get, but it’s fine because I’ve got a mission.

“Morning, Angelo.”

He grunts, and makes me smile as I start the coffee machine.

“You remember those scallops and angel hair pasta you made last week?”

Another grunt.

The dish made Sunny moan all throughout dinner. Maybe he was playing it up for the boys who weren’t sure at all about the validity of eating scallops, but I could tell those moans were at least a little bit real—I would know.

“I want to give you the rest of the day off after breakfast, and tomorrow of course, but I was hoping you could leave that ready for me to heat up for tonight?”

No response, then very slowly, he turns and stares at me with a quirked eyebrow. I look right back, not giving him anything unless and until Sunny tells me he’s fine with Angelo knowing.

“You’re gonna have to sear the scallops yourself, but I can leave instructions and ingredients ready.”

That’s possibly the most number of words I’ve ever heard him string together, but I don’t mention it because I value my life.

“Thank you,” I say instead, keeping it simple.

Now I need to tell Sunny, so I go looking for him.

It takes me a few minutes, but I find him in the boys’ closet. He has a little notebook in his hand and it looks like he’s making a list.

“Hey,” I say softly, not wanting to startle him, but he jumps about a foot in the air anyway. “Sorry.” I wince, then wrap my arms around him and wait to see if he’s agreeable. He is, even stretches his neck up to reach my lips.

The kiss is soft, familiar, and tells me everything I need to know.

Or just confirms it.

I really am in love with this beautiful, kind man.

And I need to romance him.

But I know he can be skittish about anything related to us, so I have to set him at ease. I have to be vigilant to know if he needs space or reassurance.

All I want is to give him a night where he feels like he’s the center of the universe. It’s the least he deserves.

“Will you go out on a date with me?” I whisper against his lips. He rears back, eyes wide, but I hold on tight. I can do some convincing. “Not actually out out, but here. Dinner, just the two of us, an actual date.”

I’m planning to give Wes the day off too, since he won’t let me drive to the Hamptons by myself, so it really will be just the two of us tonight.

The idea occurred to me the first time I woke up with Sunny in my arms, and it’s only grown from there.

It sucks, that it had to take Sunny getting stalked by a PI and everything with his piece of shit ex, but us having a weekend at home—alone, since Sunny doesn’t want to show up at Hannah’s house until he’s sure the PI won’t be lurking—means I can finally treat Sunny to an actual date.

He doesn’t want to go out, which means most of my initial ideas are useless. This is the next best thing.

“Yes.”

My cheeks stretch to their limit at his simple agreement, and nothing could be better than watching him match my smile.

“With everything.” I motion all around us. “I forgot to tell you that Avery texted on Thursday, told me she was taking the whole family to the Hamptons for the Fourth. I know you probably want to spend it with Hannah and Nessy, but⁠—”

He shakes his head. “I don’t want to go to their place until I’m sure no one will be following me.”

I nod. I thought as much.