Back In The Game E-Book

Mary E. Thompson

• Herausgeber: BluEyed Press
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

Becky put everything she had into being there for her girls when her husband was killed by a drunk driver. After five years of sacrifice, she’s forgotten who she is and what she wants from her life. But she’s feeling ready to figure it out. 
Family is everything to Matt. Being one of four kids, he always imagined he’d have one of his own, with a woman like Becky. If she was his, he’d cherish her, unlike her two-timing husband who has no problem flaunting the new woman in his life. Matt refuses to let it stand and tells Becky just how big of a jerk her husband is. 
Except her husband died years ago. 
Matt’s attempts to apologize bring him closer to Becky. She’s funny and smart and kind, everything Matt always wanted in a partner. But moving on isn’t as simple as finding someone who seems to be a perfect match. Moving on means letting go of the past. And that’s not always as easy. 

Leseprobe

BACK IN THE GAME

A SMALL TOWN SPORTS ROMANCE

PARADISE PARK

BOOK TWO

MARY E THOMPSON

Back In The Game

Paradise Park, book two

Copyright © 2014 Mary E Thompson

Cover Copyright © 2023 Mary E Thompson

Cover Photo (man) from depositphotos, Copyright © kiuikson

Cover Photo (volleyball) from depositphotos, Copyright © yupiramos

Cover Photo (striped background) from depositphotos, Copyright © A-R-T-U-R

Cover Photo (wood background) from depositphotos, Copyright © Alexis84

Published by BluEyed Press, All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, businesses, locations, and events are either products of the author’s creative imagination or are used in a fictitious sense. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Ebook ISBN: 978-0-9899954-8-1

Created with Vellum

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

About the Author

CHAPTER1

Becky Callahan pulled into the parking lot of Davoli’s. She was starving. And thrilled. She felt more alive than she’d felt in the five and a half years since her husband, Brain, was killed by a drunk driver. It was going to be a good night.

Becky’s best friend, Chloe Davis, pulled into the spot next to her and they both got out. “That was an awesome game. I still can’t believe you haven’t played in over ten years.”

Becky nodded and thanked Chloe for the compliment. “It felt good to be out there again. Of course beach volleyball is a bit different than playing in the gym like we used to. It’s going to be a good summer.”

“Definitely,” Chloe said, holding the door for Becky. “There are a ton of teams in our league and it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m going to need to buy more sunscreen though. I’m already starting to burn and it’s only our first game.”

Becky laughed and agreed. “I borrowed the girls’ today. It’s that ridiculously high SPF stuff that’s supposed to last forever. I guess it worked.”

“Maybe I need to get some of that.”

Chloe and Becky stepped up to the counter to place their orders. The oldest Davoli brother, Matt, was behind the counter. He gave Becky a sad smile. She’d gotten used to that look over the last five years. When Brian died she nearly fell apart. Even though Paradise Park is a decent sized town, Brian was a police officer which meant everyone within 50 miles knew what happened. And Becky’s face, along with her daughters, Amy and Candace, was plastered all over every TV station in the area for months.

Five years later most people had stopped asking her, ‘How are you?’ with that sadness in their voice. But Becky still got the looks. The ones that said she’ll never be more than the widow of a cop.

Chloe ordered two slices of veggie pizza and Becky chose two slices of everything, needing a little meat to boost her energy back up. She was going home to her seven and nine year old daughters. Even though the game was over, Becky’s day wouldn’t be over for a while.

Matt swiped their cards and gave them the same number so their food would come out together. Chloe led them to a booth in the far corner after they’d gotten their drinks.

“Matt Davoli has gotten hotter since I was last in here. Not that he noticed me. He only had eyes for you.”

Becky rolled her eyes. “Whatever. He had that ‘sorry your husband died’ look. I’m not touching that one.”

“Please, he looked like he wanted to devour you. Speaking of which, you should come out dancing tonight with me.”

Becky laughed. “Yeah, right.”

“Come on, why not? It’ll be fun.”

Becky shook her head with a smile. “Well, for one thing, I’m not usually up past ten. Secondly, I wouldn’t have anything to wear. And third, I have two kids, remember?”

Chloe waved her hand like it was no big deal. “First, drink a Red Bull, or some coffee. Second, you can borrow clothes from me. And third, Caleb and Amber are always willing to take the kids. Isn’t that what they told you?”

“Yeah, well, they’ve had them all day. I’m sure they’ll be worn out by tonight and not in the mood to keep the girls all night long. Plus, I don’t think they got much sleep last night judging by the noises I heard coming from their side when I got up to pee at three this morning.”

“Ew, really? You can hear them having sex?”

Becky lifted her eyebrows and nodded. It certainly wasn’t what she wanted to listen to all night. Usually being in bed by ten meant she could avoid hearing them, but every so often she would hear way more than she wanted to.

“So I take it Uncle Caleb is pretty good in the sack.”

“Yuck, I don’t even want to think about it. I need to find a new place to live before the girls start asking questions about it. Their rooms are on the other side so I don’t think they hear anything, but if they ever did I’d be mortified.”

“Imagine how Caleb and Amber will feel if the girls ask them what they’re doing at night. Oh, I would almost pay to see that.”

Becky laughed at the thought. “As funny as it would be I don’t need to traumatize my kids.”

“Yeah, well, I guess. Are you getting along better with Amber these days?”

Becky shrugged. She and Amber didn’t really hit it off when she started dating Caleb a few months earlier. Amber was perfectly nice, but it was just strange sharing Caleb with someone all of a sudden. But Amber had gone out of her way to be nice to the girls, something Becky knew spoke wonders about her. As a former pitcher she’d also started helping teach both girls to pitch and improve their softball game.

“Yeah, Amber is fine. I’m still getting used to not having Caleb around all the time, but it’s good for us in a way.”

“I know you and Caleb were never together, but did you ever think about it?”

“Honestly, no. Caleb was always just there. He was great, but he wasn’t someone I was ever attracted to. Brian was the only man I ever noticed. It’s taken me a long time to see other men.”

“And now?”

Becky’s eyes drifted back to where Matt stood behind the counter taking orders. He was talking to the customer placing an order, laughing at something the man said. Becky let herself look over him, from his dark hair the color of midnight and deep brown eyes to his broad chest that looked just right for her to rest her head.

Or her tongue.

His lips were the perfect shape, full enough to feel know there was something there, but strong and sure. His broad shoulders transitioned to thickly muscled arms, defined from years throwing pizzas. His tight chest and narrow waist turned to his hips that Becky wanted to press herself against. She couldn’t see his legs, but she knew they were tense with muscles just like the rest of him.

Working in a pizza shop should have made him chubby from all the dough and cheese he likely ate. But Matt was anything but soft. And Becky ached to feel every inch of his hardness against her.

“I guess that answers that question,” Chloe said. When Becky looked back to her friend a smirk played on her lips. “Matt Davoli is definitely a specimen. If you hadn’t noticed him I’d start to check you for a pulse. Or wonder if you’d switched teams.”

“Okay, you’re right. He’s hot, but he’s out of my league.”

“Becky, no one is out of your league because you’re not playing. You haven’t had a date since Brian died. I know it’s gotta be hard to get back out there. But you need to let yourself have a little fun.”

Becky twisted the wrapper from her straw around her finger. “I’m not sure I’m ready. I mean, yeah, he’s gorgeous, but I haven’t dated. A man like him isn’t going to want to hang out with me and the girls. Heck, no man is. Men want wild and free sex. Look at Caleb.”

“Yeah, look at him. He’s happily settled down with one woman. Granted they haven’t been together long, but I’ve never heard him tell anyone else he loves them. He’s done. He’ll marry Amber within a year, and you know it.”

Becky sighed. She’d watched her husband’s best friend, Caleb Peterson, change in a matter of weeks once he met Amber Wilds. Despite their history, a history neither of them were aware of at first, they fell hopelessly in love with each other.

Becky was happy for them.

Really.

Even though she’d never seen Caleb as a potential boyfriend or husband, he was still there for her over the last five years. He was her rock when she fell apart. If she needed anything with the girls, and she did, a lot, he was always there. With Amber in his life Becky knew it would only be a matter of time before his own family took precedence. Becky didn’t begrudge him a family. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t a bit jealous that Caleb had finally moved on and she hadn’t.

“Okay Caleb is as whipped as every other man in love, but you know he wasn’t that way until recently. Before that he hopped around faster than the Easter Bunny. I just can’t handle that.”

Chloe froze for a minute before she burst out laughing. “Oh, shit that was funny. I just got a picture of Caleb dressed as the Easter Bunny! Oh, God!” Chloe clutched her side and wiped at the tears falling from her eyes. “But not every guy is as bad as he was. I’ve dated a few guys on the other end who were looking to settle down. Honestly, I think those guys are harder to take. There’s so much pressure with them. The ones who are out there for fun are easier because you know it’s nothing serious.”

Becky frowned and glanced back over to Matt. She didn’t want to be attracted to him. Hell, she didn’t even know him. But for some reason she thought he would be different. Of course the way he flirted with most of the women who came through the store Becky was pretty sure he was just as bad as Caleb.

“I guess I need someone in the middle. I’m not looking to settle down just yet, but I don’t think I could jump into bed with someone. Hell, even dating is stressing me out. Thinking about sex and I’ll probably break into hives.”

“It’s not that bad. You’ll figure it out. Plus, it’s like riding a bike.”

Becky snorted. “You’ve ridden a lot more bikes than I have. I never really dated, and when I did, it was Brian. We were basically just always together and I didn’t date anyone else. He was my first, and only, in bed too. I know getting to that point with someone will be tough. It’s like being a virgin all over again. Except with two daughters.”

“Wow,” Chloe said with her mouth hanging open. “I never realized. I guess I figured you’d been with someone, but shit. Okay, we’ll start off slow then. Get your feet wet before you jump into the deep end. Definitely no men like Caleb. Which means Matt needs to be off your radar.”

“Yeah, tell me about it.” Becky agreed. Too bad her body argued with every part of itself. Just a glance at him and her vagina was singing. She would definitely be in trouble if she let him near her.

“Our pizza should be here soon. I’m going to wash my hands.”

Becky nodded and watched as Chloe walked to the back of the restaurant. Heads turned to follow her friend. Why wouldn’t they? Chloe could have been a model but chose to be a physical therapist instead. With a parade of injured athletes in her practice every day she shouldn’t have had any trouble finding a man, but Chloe had a strict ‘no dating the patients’ rule. A rule Becky could respect.

Of course she struggled to see why it would be a problem once they were all better, but Chloe wasn’t willing to date any of them. Something about how wimpy they were when she was pushing them during therapy.

Lost in her thoughts about Chloe, and dating again, Becky didn’t notice Matt walking over to their table. When he set the food down in front of Becky she jumped.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said. His voice was smooth and rich, like the cheese heavily applied to the pizza in front of her. Her mouth watered, although she was pretty sure it was from him and not the delicious smell of pizza wafting over her.

“It’s okay,” Becky mumbled. She didn’t want to talk to him. She knew nothing good could come of hearing his voice more than she had to. It would only haunt her dreams and make her think about him when he wasn’t there.

“Listen,” Matt said. He slid into the seat opposite Becky and glanced behind him toward the bathroom. Chloe still wasn’t in sight and they were relatively alone. Becky watched as he took a deep breath and seemed to gain confidence from the air. “I know it’s none of my business, but I wanted to tell you I’m sorry about your husband. It eats me up inside whenever I see you in here and I just couldn’t keep quiet any longer.”

“Thanks,” Becky said. She knew he was being polite, but he made it sound like Brian died a week ago instead of over five years ago.

“I mean it. I just think he’s such a jerk for leaving you the way he did. So public. It just made me sick that he did that to you.”

Becky sat and stared at him, astonished and pissed. How dare he? Brian didn’t do it on purpose and he’s making it sound like he chose to die. Like he stepped in front of that drunk driver. The nerve of the guy!

Chloe walked up and looked back and forth between them. Matt jumped up and let her have her seat. He gave Becky a half-smile and headed back behind the counter.

“What was that all about?” Chloe asked with a sly smile. She must have seen the horror, anger, and sorrow on Becky’s face because she quickly changed her tune. “Whoa. What did he say to you?”

Becky swiped angrily at the tears running down her cheeks. “He told me he’s sorry Brian left me like he did. He said he was a jerk.”

“What?” Chloe bellowed. Her hands balled into fists as she stood up. “Go to the car. I’ll get boxes and meet you at the beach. We’re not going to stay here and take that shit.”

Becky stood and felt her legs move to the door. She vaguely heard Chloe behind her and pushed her way through the door, barely able to move to her car. She started her car and drove toward the beach, putting that asshole behind her.

Matt nearly ran into the back when he saw Chloe coming straight for the counter. He’d just dropped their pizza off and said something to Becky Callahan. He’d been watching her for years, with her husband and two daughters. And he couldn’t take it anymore that she was alone with her kids. She’d been haunting his fantasies, but since he found out she was single again she’d taken up the starring role. But he knew better than to mess around with a single mom, especially one who was still dealing with her husband leaving her.

“What the fuck is your problem?” Chloe’s voice brought him back to the reality in front of him. “Who do you think you are talking to her like that?”

He fixed her with a glare that should have had her peeing her pants. Instead, she stood tall, looking up at him from nearly a foot below. Her nostrils flared and her chest heaved with the anger inside her. Her green eyes burned bright, almost like she was trying to burn him.

“I just told her I was sorry. Her ex is an asshole. That he left her with the two girls and has the nerve to run around with another woman all over town. I’ve nearly punched him a few times, but I knew it wouldn’t solve anything. Still, he’s an ass.”

Chloe shook her head and recognition dawned on her. “Actually, you’re the ass. Are you talking about the guy with close-cut dark brown hair, brown eyes, always comes here after softball games and is now dating the pretty woman with long brown hair and striking blue eyes?”

Matt was confused. He nodded and waited for the explanation that seemed to be right behind the description of Becky’s cheating husband.

“You shithead. That’s not her husband, that’s her friend. Actually her husband’s best friend. Her husband was a cop. And he was killed, five years ago, by a drunk driver. So the cheating asshole you’ve been pissed at wasn’t doing anything wrong. And the man you just insulted, was a devoted, loving husband until his life was stolen from him.”

Matt felt like someone had taken all the air out of the restaurant. He wondered how he could have been so wrong. Instantly he knew. They’d all been two years younger than him in high school and he’d never given any of them much thought. It was only in the last few years he’d noticed Becky. Obviously he’d only seen her with Caleb, so he assumed.

“Oh, shit. I had no idea. Fuck, she must think I’m such an ass.”

“Actually, yeah, that’s exactly what she said.”

“Shit,” Matt looked out the door and saw Becky pull out. “I need to go talk to her. Do you know where she went?”

Chloe smiled and tilted her head at him. “Yeah, I know exactly where she’s going. But I’m not telling you. You stay the hell away from her.”

And with that Chloe stormed away from him. Matt stood watching her as she boxed up their pizza. He felt like a complete shit. It figures he would piss off the only woman to get his motor going in months, hell years. ‘Fuck,’ he thought, ‘she’ll never talk to me now.’

CHAPTER2

Matt turned around to see his brother, Mark’s, smiling face. “She’s a feisty one. And her friend is never going to give you the time of day. I hope you weren’t planning to hit on her again.”

It was times like that when Matt wondered why he’d gone into the family business. If he had chosen his own path and gotten a job as an accountant or something else at a regular job he wouldn’t have to deal with his shit-eating brothers and sister every day.

Not to mention his meddling mother and stuck-in-his-ways father.

Yep, Matt was definitely considering a career change.

“I wasn’t hitting on her. She’s the single mom I told you about, the one whose husband was cheating on her and left her. Except he wasn’t her husband. I just thought he was.”

Mark’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean you thought he was?”

Matt blew out a frustrated breath and ran his hand through his short dark hair, trying to figure out how much to tell his younger brother. Matt and Mark had always been close, best friends as much as they were brothers, even though there was a three and a half year age difference. But Mark was a flirt and good with women. He always teased Matt for his general lack of skills. Sure, Matt could get a date and had plenty of exes, but usually they chased after him. If he had to do the chasing it ended badly.

And Mark was always more than happy to remind him of it.

The good thing was the brothers rarely were interested in the same woman. Mark liked older women as much as any guy, but he tended to go for the young, innocent ones. Matt liked a strong, independent woman who would be able to take care of herself. He knew exactly what his hours would mean for a relationship. He knew how to have fun and take care of a woman, but he’d also learned the hard way exactly how damaging it could be when one person works more than the other.

He wouldn’t go through that again.

Matt stared into his brother’s green eyes, eyes that matched their mother’s, and decided it was better to just get it over with. Mark would be relentless but it would be over.

Just like his chances with Becky.

“The guy I always saw her with wasn’t her husband. They showed up here together most of the time and the kids were always hanging all over him like he was their dad. According to her feisty friend their dad was a cop who was killed five years ago. The assumed husband was the dad’s best friend.”

Mark’s lips curved up at the corners until a full grin took over his face. He burst out laughing as Matt cringed, knowing it was at his expense. He deserved it for making Becky feel horrible, but did his own brother have to enjoy it so much?

Mark finally pulled himself together, pushing off the counter he’d fallen against while he laughed. “So all this time you’ve been pining for her and she’s been single? Shit, brother, only you could have pulled this one off. So now’s your chance. Ask her out!”

Matt groaned. For one thing it was never that easy for him. He didn’t have Mark’s charisma and flirtatious personality. For another thing, he’d insulted Becky. “I sort of pissed her off. That’s why feisty-pants was lecturing me. I told Becky I felt badly that her husband left her so publicly like he did. She thought I was talking about her husband dying and ran out. I was talking about the jerk I thought was her husband cheating on her by bringing that other woman around. Oh, fuck.”

“What now?”

Matt scrubbed his hands over his face. Screwed up didn’t even begin to explain away how much of an idiot Matt was. He’d been treating the ‘husband’ like a jerk for the last few months, ever since he showed up with ‘the other woman’. Matt had no right to be pissed, not just because he had no connection to Becky, but because he was flat out wrong.

“I was an ass to the guy I thought was her husband. Shit, I need to apologize to him too.”

Mark rolled his eyes. “At least that’s something you’re good at.”

Matt glared at his brother. Mark always said apologizing was over-rated. He thought being a nice guy was for wimps, not ‘real men’ like he was. If he wasn’t harassing Matt about being horrible with women, he was harassing him for apologizing so much. Mark said you need to own your mistakes, not apologize for them.

Matt couldn’t wait for the day that Mark met a women who made him apologize for everything.

“Shut up, asshole.”

“Excuse me, I don’t approve of you speaking to my son that way.”

Maria Davoli breezed into the space like a queen. She immediately took Mark’s arm and glared at Matt. Their mother was dressed in her standard linen pants, in a rich purple shade, paired with a loose-fitting short sleeved shirt that looked like a garden threw up on it. Matt’s mother had always loved flowers and definitely lived her life out loud. She missed her calling as an Italian chef to make pizza, but she was damn good at it.

“Why do you always take his side, Mom?”

Maria smiled at her oldest son and took in the look on his face. She could tell something was wrong, but the time to press was not in front of his brother. She needed to wait until Mark was doing something else and then she would ask Matt what happened.

“I take his side because I know you, my dear, are able to take care of yourself. Mark here is not as strong as you are and could use some back-up.”

“Hey!” Mark exclaimed. “I’m just as strong as he is.”

Mark pulled up the short sleeve on his polo shirt, emblazoned with the Davoli logo of course, and flexed his bicep. He stood an inch or two shorter than Matt, but Mark was just as muscled as his brother.

But Matt knew their mother wasn’t talking about physical strength. She’d been telling him for years that he was the strength of the family. Their father, Anthony, was getting older and closer to retirement and Maria made sure Matt knew he would be the one to keep the restaurant running after Maria and Anthony left.

It was a huge load for Matt to bear, but one he welcomed. He’d been trying to get his father to let him make some changes. He had tons of idea to get more customers in the door, but Anthony shut him down every chance he got. The only thing he’d been able to convince his father of was his satellite shop, a pizza truck, for the summer.

“You are plenty strong, Mark dear. I don’t know what I would do without such strong, wonderful men around all the time. You two, with John, are pictures of your father when he was young. Such beautiful young men. Now if only one of you would give me some grandchildren!”

Mark rolled his eyes and Matt ground his teeth. He would give anything for kids. A family. It’s what he’d always wanted. He watched his parents as he grew and knew their love always made things okay. When Matt was little his dad worked days fixing cars in a local garage and his mom worked nights as a janitor in the school. They saved and fought to get ahead. When Matt was in his senior year of high school they opened Davoli’s Pizza, their dream.

Matt went away to college and got a degree in marketing but returned to work at the store. His parents and younger siblings did a great job getting the place started and thriving within two years, but Matt knew it would take a lot of work to keep things going.

One day he would have the chance to do everything he wanted to do, but until then he was under his dad’s thumb. A thumb that was powerful and stubborn.

Just like his father.

“Matt here was just telling me how he screwed up with yet another woman. The one he’s been pining over, Mom, she’s been single this whole time. Except this moron insulted her instead of asking her out like he should have done.”

Maria turned to him, sympathy and compassion in her eyes. “Is that true, Matt? The sweet woman with the two little girls? She’s single?”

Matt nodded and waited for the pep talk. Maria was a wonderful mother, but she got too involved in her kids’ lives, always thinking she could help with some old Italian saying her mother had told her. Maria’s parents had moved to the States in the 1960’s when Maria was just barely a teenager. Being a teenager is difficult enough, but adding a language barrier only added to the struggle. Maria regaled them with tales of how horrible her life was in the 60’s and always telling them they had it so good compared to her.

Matt didn’t once believe she had to walk to school uphill, barefoot, in the cold, both ways. The uphill part was easy enough to believe. But both ways? And barefoot? Not possible. But that was the story and Maria never let it go.

Maria pulled Matt away from Mark and gave Mark a look that told him to stay put and take care of any customers. Matt was always amazed at how much Maria could convey with just one look, but figured it was a mom thing. Or an Italian thing. Or maybe an Italian mom thing.

It didn’t matter, she was amazing.

Maria directed Matt to one of the booths away from the customers in the store. It was quiet, the lull between lunch and dinner, but there were still a few people hanging around. It was Matt’s favorite time of the day, a time when he could enjoy what his family had created but not be overwhelmed by it.

A time he usually took to fantasize about Becky.

He looked into his mom’s green eyes. He knew if he ever got married he wanted a woman just like his mother, kind and caring but firm and fair. Maria always put her family first but never neglected taking time for herself. She was a woman who would do anything to make the people around her happy and knew they couldn’t be happy if she wasn’t also.

“How did you insult this woman, Matt?”

Matt took a deep breath and told his mother what he’d said. He explained how he’d thought she was married because of all the time he’d seen them all together and that he’d been horrible to the guy and insulted Becky because of a mistake but had really hurt her. He capped it off with the explanation from her friend and his unimaginable guilt.

Not to mention Mark’s teasing.

Maria listened quietly while Matt talked, letting him get out all the information he had while she silently processed what had happened. When Matt stopped talking Maria sat for a moment, trying to figure out what to tell him. Matt was used to his mother taking her time so he waited patiently for her to respond.

“The first thing you need to do is apologize to both of them. The woman, Becky, and the man you thought was her husband. If you were less than pleasant to him you need to make sure he understands you’re not a jerk but that you were mistaken.”

“I know,” Matt grumbled. He always apologized for errors he’d made, but he didn’t exactly enjoy it.

“I know it’s hard to say ‘I’m sorry’ Matt, but you need to do it. The strongest people on earth are the ones who can admit when they’re wrong. My mother always used to tell me that.”

Maria smiled as she always did when she talked about her mother. The far-off look in her eyes told Matt she was remembering a time her mother had used those words on her. Maria’s parents died when Matt was little, but the stories Maria told of them made him feel like he knew them more than he did. His brother, John, wasn’t born when Maria’s mom, Marie, died and was only a few months old when her dad, also John, died.

Matt knew he and his siblings missed a lot by not knowing their grandparents, but Maria made an effort to help them feel like they’d known them. Anthony’s parents lived in a retirement community in Florida so they didn’t see them much. But none of the Davoli’s ever felt less than loved. The family was close and always watched out for each other.

Maria focused back on Matt and rested her hand on his cheek. “My sweet boy. I know you care for this woman, even though you don’t know her. You wear your heart on your sleeve, but you need to be careful. A single mother is tough. You aren’t just dating her, but you’re dating her kids too. If something goes wrong that’s three hearts you’ll be breaking.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that, Mom. She’s pretty pissed about what I said. Not that I don’t blame her. I’ll apologize but I doubt I’ll talk to her much again.”

“You never know, amore. She might not be that upset.”