Chapter 26
Lorenzo
“Dammit.”
I hear Vanessa curse as I step into her sewing room. Material is everywhere, and the room looks like a bomb exploded in it.
When I glance over her shoulder, I find a shaggy-looking brown thing in her hands, and I immediately know what it is.
“You know,” I say, making her jump, “we can buy Leo’s Halloween costume at the store.”
I’d imagine most of the costumes have been wiped off the shelves since today is Halloween, but I’m sure there’s something available. Besides, it’s not like he understands what Halloween is or will remember what costume he wore.
“Are you crazy?” Vanessa glares up at me.
“This is his first Halloween, and he needs the perfect costume. I’m not going to be that mom.
The one who buys a shitty costume that makes you itch the entire time you’re trick-or-treating,” she spits.
“My mom did that shit, and I still have nightmares about it. And I will not allow that to be Leo’s experience. ”
I snort out a laugh. “Okay, I get it. He needs the perfect costume.” I lean in and kiss her lips. “And for the record, you could never be like your mom.”
Her brows furrow as what she said hits her. “I didn’t mean I’m his mom,” she splutters. “I meant that person. Like the person in his life who’s responsible for ensuring he’s the best-dressed kid in the neighborhood.”
“I know what you meant,” I say with a grin, loving how much she cares about my son. “But there’s no neighborhood. It’s just us going to Peyton and Dominick’s for some good ol’ trunk-or-treating. Hell, Leo won’t even be able to eat half the shit he gets.”
“Actually, he will.” She grins. “I made sure to order all his favorites and have them sent to Peyton and Dominick’s house—mini packs of fruit snacks, Goldfish, Cheerios. He’s going to think he hit the jackpot.”
Not for the first time since Vanessa came into our lives, my heart clenches in my chest at the way she loves and cares so selflessly.
Without thinking, I pull her into my arms and kiss her, hoping to convey how much I love and appreciate her.
We haven’t spoken the words out loud—I think we know it will only make shit harder when it comes time for her to leave.
But I also want her to know how much she means to me.
I don’t know what the future holds, and maybe it’s reckless to ignore it, but right now, for the first time in years, I’m genuinely happy, and I just want to enjoy my time with her.
“No, no, no.” Vanessa pushes me away. “Leo will be awake soon, and I need this costume to be ready. If you keep kissing me like that, I’ll never get it done. Go.” She playfully shoves me out the door. “I have important things to do.”
When Leo wakes up from his nap, I feed him lunch and spend the afternoon playing with him.
Around four o’clock, I start to worry that Vanessa won’t be able to finish the costume before it’s time to head to the Antonovs’.
But then Vanessa skips down the stairs with the biggest smile on her face, and I sigh in relief.
I don’t give a shit what he wears, but it’s clear this is important to her.
“Okay, Monkey!” Vanessa says, lifting Leo into her arms. “You ready to get your costume on?”
He smiles at her, as if he has any idea what she’s talking about, and her grin widens.
“Stay here,” she tells me. “We’ll be back, and make sure you have your phone ready to record.”
They disappear into his room, and a few minutes later, he comes walking down the hall, dressed like the most adorable monkey.
Since we’re in Florida and it’s still in the high eighties, the costume is a one-piece jumper-looking thing that appears to be made out of cotton, and it’s thin instead of the usual thick shit you buy at the stores and then sweat all over because it’s too damn hot.
“I present to you … Leo the monkey.”
Vanessa’s lips curve into a beautiful grin as Leo hobbles around with his adorable hoodie over his head, which doubles as the monkey’s ears, and a curly tail trailing behind him. The costume is brown, but in the front, the belly part is a tan-colored heart.
“Lorenzo, pictures!” Vanessa chides.
“Oh, right.” I chuckle, pressing record as Leo runs around in circles, making noises like a monkey.
A year ago, my life consisted of sitting alone at a bar, debating whether to date again, and now, here I am on a Friday night, videoing my almost one-year-old in his Halloween costume that the woman I’ve fallen in love with made for him.
This is not how I envisioned this year going, but damn if I wouldn’t change a fucking thing.
After we’ve taken a hundred pictures and videos of Leo, Vanessa says she’ll be right back, and when she returns, she throws a shirt my way.
“Your Halloween costume,” she says with a smirk.
I open the shirt and bark out a laugh when I see what’s written across the front—Where I go, trouble follows.
And then I glance at her and laugh even harder when I read what’s on the shirt she’s wearing—I’m trouble.
“Seemed fitting.” She shrugs with a smile.
“It is,” I agree, sliding my arm across her shoulders and pulling her into my side. “But I happen to love your kind of trouble.”