DEREK
Nonna Lucia’s smelled exactly the way I remembered it–like garlic, fresh bread, and something slow–simmered and sacred. The kind of smell that belonged to memory more than to food.
Aiden was practically bouncing in the seat beside me, legs too short to sit still, eyes wide as he watched a server bring out a sizzling platter of meatballs to a nearby table.
“Those smell amazing,” he whispered.
“They’ll be here soon,” I said. “Best meatballs in three counties.”
“You always say that.”
“Because it’s true.”
Elena chuckled across the table, folding her napkin into her lap. She looked beautiful in the soft light, her hair up in a loose knot, wearing a navy dress with sleeves that slipped slightly off her shoulders every time she shifted.
Casual, but polished. A version of her I hadn’t ever taken the time to see. Hadn’t been able to see past my own prejudice.
This was the first time the three of us had gone out when Elena wasn’t just there as Aiden’s mom. This was a… a family date.
And it was going well.
Shockingly well.
Aiden was in his element–ordering his own lemonade with no pulp, asking the waiter if there were extra meatballs in case he got “super hungry,” and trying to talk Elena into letting him have dessert first.
“You can’t just reverse the rules of meals,” she said, half–laughing.
“Why not?” he asked. “Maybe the Moon Goddess wants us to.”
I nearly choked on my water.
Elena gave me a side glance like this was somehow my fault.
But even she couldn’t hide the small smile playing at the corner of her mouth.
The meatballs arrived with a flourish–steaming, perfectly browned, bathed in a sauce that smelled like home.
“Magic meatballs,” I said, passing the plate to Aiden. “Go easy.”
He dug in with enthusiasm. Sauce on his cheek before the first bite was down.
Across the table, Elena caught my eye and mouthed: Thank you.
I nodded. No words necessary.
For the first time in months, maybe longer, it felt like things were starting to settle. Like we might actually figure out how to do this–how to be together in a way that didn’t carry all the weight of everything we’d lost.
Then the front door opened.
And all that ease unraveled.
Cassandra.
Red lips. Black dress. Hair curled into deliberate waves. She walked in like she owned the place, followed closely by Caroline, who wore her standard expression of tight–lipped smugness.
My gut went cold.
Thadn’t told anyone we were coming here. I hadn’t put it on the books. This was a family meal. Private. Unscheduled
So how the hell did she know?
She caught sight of us immediately. Her smile bloomed like poison. She touched Caroline’s arm and murmured something, then walked with slow, deliberate steps toward our table.
“Derek,” she said, voice sweet. “Elena. Aiden.”
I stood instinctively. Not out of courtesy–but readiness.
“Cassandra,” I said, keeping my tone polite. “Caroline.”
I gave my beta a long look. She shifted uncomfortably.
“I didn’t know you three would be here,” Cassandra breezed, all smiles and friendliness.
Like hell she didn’t know. Nonna Lucia’s wasn’t Cassandra’s kind of place. There’s no way she and Caroline had just dropped in for lunch.
Elena’s posture went stiff. She hadn’t moved since Cassandra spoke—just watched her with the kind of stillness that could turn sharp in a heartbeat.
Cassandra looked at Aiden. “I heard about your injury,” she said, warm and falsely maternal. “Living with an old silver wound can be tricky, but you’re so brave.”
Aiden blinked, unsure how to respond.
Elena’s hand slid from beneath the table, resting lightly on his back.
Cassandra turned to me again. “Mind if we join you?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Actually, yes. I do.”
Her smile flickered for a split second.
Then she laughed like I’d said something mildly charming. “Of course. I wouldn’t want to interrupt your family time.”
