Three Days

Chapter 18

We get to the car and just sit for a couple of minutes in silence.

"Can we go to your house for a little bit?" I ask.

"Of course, we can go and relax before dinner," he says as he heads to his beautiful house. We walk in and I pull him to the couch, I take his hand in mine.

"Do you think less of me after today?" I ask quietly.

"Of course not, you were protecting your family and my family. I don't even want to think of what could have happened to Chase," he said, shaking his head.

"I want to tell you what I did today," I say with a smile.

"Okay, tell me," he says all excitedly.

"I bought Mr.Tosoli restaurant. It's mine and I am going to turn it into an authentic Italian restaurant," I say with a huge smile as I hold onto his hand.

"You're staying?" he asks as his eyes fill with hopeful tears.

"I am staying. It is hard enough living two towns over, let alone three hours away. I don't want to miss the important moment with the boys and Mia. I really don't want to miss any moments with you, good or bad. I just want to be here with you."

He jumps up and kisses the hell out of me, "I love you," he says for the first time. "I am in love with you."

I gasp and say, "I am in love with you too. I don't ever want our lives to be separate."

"Me either, but I want you to open your own place for you, not me. I don't want you to have regrets," he says as he holds me close.

"I won't have regrets. Opening my own place has always been my dream, being with you just gave me the confidence to make it a reality," I say as I run my hand up and down his chest. "I love you," I say again.

"I love you too," he says with bright eyes and then kisses me like he can't believe I am real."What do you think about moving in here with me?"

"Seriously? Are you sure?" I ask.

"I have never been more sure. I want us to create our life together," he says as he kisses me again.

"On one condition," I say, "We take one of the other bedrooms and give Mia a room. I want her to have a room here so I can watch her for Chase."

"Deal, as long as we get a dog," he says happily.

"Yes! I have always wanted a dog," I say with the biggest smile ever.

After an unexpected round at the house, we head to the grocery store for family dinner. Still reeling with sparks, we grab a basket and Ryan cages me between the basket and himself.

"Okay so what to make for dinner tonight?" Ryan asks me.

"Well how about we get some steaks and let your dad grill. Then all I have to do is the sides," I say with a shy smile as I look back at his face. "Someone has been wearing me out lately."

"That I have," he says with a smug smile. I elbow his rib lightly and chuckle. "And my girl deserves a meal she didn't have to cook."

"Ryan, is that you," we hear a voice squeal behind us.

"Is that.." I ask.

"Lisa," Ryan says with irritation. We turned around in union and faced her.

Her face dropped as she took in Ryan's arm around me, but she quickly composed herself. "It is nice to see you again, Giana."

"And you," I said with a smile. I was trying not to laugh at her red face. She looked like she was about to explode.

"We really have to get going Lisa, but it was good to see you," Ryan says as he pulls my body away.

"Okay, well have a nice day." she said loudly.

Ryan pulled me to an aisle and busted out laughing, "Did you see her face?"

I nod as I laugh along with him, "She looked like she couldn't believe that you had the audacity to move on. I think she has a screw loose."

"Yeah well she knew how I felt, I don't know why she was surprised," Ryan said before kissing me lightly.

"Come on, let's get this shopping done so we can go home and cuddle on the couch," I said, pulling his arm towards the meat department.

"Okay, but what if we do baked potatoes and grilled veggies, that way you don't have to do any sides. That way we can spend more time cuddling on the couch," Ryan asks as we pick out the stakes.

I drop the steak I was holding into the cart and lean up to kiss Ryan, "That sounds perfect, mio caro."

"Mhm, I love my nickname. It means that I'm yours and you are mine," He says as he pulls me close and kisses the tip of my nose.

"Only you can get all cheesy in the grocery store," I smile, "I love you."

"Anch'io ti amo," he whispered to me.

"You have been working on your Italian," I note before I turn and throw some steaks in the cart. "Let's hurry and get out of here. All that Italian talk is too sexy for the grocery store," I say with a wink.

We quickly finish our shopping, and head to checkout. I snicker as I see Lisa in the lane besides ours, but Ryan doesn't seem to notice as he holds my back to his chest and kisses my neck.

"It was great to see you today, Lisa. We are having a barbeque this weekend, you should come," I say as I smile over to her.

"Are you sure? Wouldn't that be uncomfortable?" she asks.

"Not at all. We all live in the same town, so we might as well get used to seeing each other," I say with a shrug as Ryan smiles at me. He kisses my forehead at my words.

"Are you moving back?" she asks.

"Yeah, I am," I say looking up at Ryan. "There is no place else I would rather be."

"Are you ready to checkout?" the cashier asks.

"Yes sorry," I say as Ryan heads to pay. "Please think about coming. I hope we can have a clean start because I don't want any enemies in town."

Then I walked to Ryan, and we headed out to the truck.

"What was all that about?" he asks with a smile as we settle in the car.

"I plan to spend my life doing little things like going to the grocery store with you and I don't want it to be a weird encounter every time we see her," I say with a shrug.

"I love that you are thinking about our life together, but seeing you be nice was weird," he says as he grabs my hand.

"It felt weird too," I say before turning our hands over and kissing his hand.