You’re damn right I want to erase Bethany and her toxic aura from my life. I’ve never been this content in my life.
Bella’s e-reader falls from her hands as she nods off again.
“Hey, ladybug, that book will be here tomorrow,” Lizzy says softly as she looks down at Bella tucked into her side.
“But I like sitting here with you. I’m not ready to go to bed.”
My heart swells. I know the feeling. Lizzy has this thing about her. She makes you want to be close to her.
“I’ll tell you what. We have skating tomorrow, but we can sit together and read when we get home.”
“Okay.”
I stand and place my glass down. “Come on, baby. I’ll read you one more for bedtime,” I croon as I pick Bella up into my arms.
“Are you coming, Lizzy? You and Daddy can tuck me in as a family.”
I look to Lizzy, and she has that shocked, bewildered look on her face again. I wonder what she thought I meant when I said she’s mine. I would never dangle a relationship I didn’t intend to keep in front of my daughter.
I didn’t think twice this morning about showing Liz affection in front of Bella because, in my mind, she’s ours. I’ll do anything I have to, to make sure she’s happy and never leaves our lives.
I smile at Liz and hold my hand out for hers. She shakes her head as if to clear it and takes my hand. When our palms touch. I know this is right. Everything else in my life will kneel to my command because I’ve found my other half. This is the life I want. I won’t allow the other to take that from me.
Chapter 36
My Calm
Lizzy
Two months later…
“You look so pretty,” Bella says as she sits in my lap while I finish my makeup.
Dante had offered to bring someone in to do my hair and makeup. While I did accept the help with my hair, I refused the offer to have my makeup done, feeling it was overkill. When it comes to my hair, my natural curls can be a lot of work.
I could use all the help I could get. Knowing Dante has a few events he wants me to accompany him to, I took my braids out and decided to wait a bit before getting them done again.
“Thank you.”
“I wish I were big enough to go to the party too.”
“Someday, you will be, and you won’t want to go.” I laugh. “I would love to stay home with a book in my hands.”
“But you’re going because you love Daddy, right?”
Butterflies take off in my belly. God, do I love that man. I have to fight every day not to tell him how much I’ve fallen in love with him. Waking up in his arms every morning still feels so surreal.
“I care for your father a lot,” I reply.
“Baby, we need to go.”
I look up in the mirror, startled. Dante stands dressed in his tux. His legs are spread wide as his hands are shoved in his pockets. I don’t miss the heat in his eyes as he looks at me.
Gah, the man is putting a hurting on that tux. Dante is simply gorgeous in every sense of the word. The hard-muscled body beneath his suit is a testament to how much God loves him and his entire existence.
Bella jumps from my lap and runs to hug her father’s leg. She’s tall for her age, but she looks so small next to her father. He places a hand on top of her head and smiles down at her.
“Daddy, will you see Grandpa at the party?”
A look I can’t explain crosses Dante’s face quickly. Bella has been asking after her maternal grandfather lately and Dante gets that same look every time.
“No,” he says. “I’m not sure where your grandpa and grandma are. You know they take off whenever it suits them.”
“Oh, okay. Is Nonno coming back soon?”
“Actually, I’m going to take you and Lizzy to see Nonno and Uncle Dario soon.”
“Yay,” Bella squeals. Dante lifts her and kisses her cheek. Her face is lit with excitement.
I furrow my brows. This is news to me. I’ve always wanted to go to Italy. Nyla has been a few times. My chest fills with excitement.
Dante lifts his hand for mine. I grab my clutch and move to place my hand in his. He tugs me close and pecks my lips.
“You look stunning,” he says against my mouth.
I smile. I wasn’t sure about this dress when Nyla helped me pick it out. The slits on both sides feel so inappropriate to me. You’re not supposed to wear underwear because of how high up the waist they go, but I found a high-waisted thong, which makes me feel a little more comfortable.
“It’s not too much?”