Page 151 of Punishing His Runaway Bride

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"I don't know," I said, "I-I want to take Leo and leave."

"Now?"

"Yeah."

"Olivia," Ella sighed, "the more you run, the more it looks like you're admitting something."

I went quiet.

"If Leo's really not his kid," she said, "why bolt? Ezio's not sure yet. Just suspicious. Run now, and you confirm it."

I stayed silent.

"Chill out," Ella said, "wait for him to come to you. If he's suspicious, he will. Decide then."

"What if he tries to take Leo?"

"He won't," Ella said, "not yet. He'll confirm first, test the waters. You've got time."

I drew in a deep breath.

Ella was right. I couldn't freak out like this.

Maybe I was overthinking it all.

"Okay," I said, "got it."

"Don't panic," Ella said, "I'm here."

I hung up, leaned back on the sofa, and closed my eyes. From the bedroom, Leo's steady breaths seeped through the door crack, long and even.

The next afternoon, my phone rang. Ezio's name lit up the screen. I stared at it, heart skipping. Took a deep breath and answered.

"Hello."

"Next week work for you?" His voice was low, laced with cautious probing.

"For what?"

"Dinner at the house. Juliet wants you and Leo over."

Juliet. Not him.

"Uh, well..."

"Juliet said she wants to play with Leo," I hadn't answered yet, and he jumped in like he was explaining, "she misses him bad."

I wanted to say no. I should say no. But Leo bounded over from the living room, draped across my lap, tilting his head up. "Mom, is that Juliet? She inviting me over?"

"Yeah."

"I wanna go!" He jumped up, eyes sparkling like stars. "Mom, I wanna go! She said she'd show me her bunny last time!"

I glanced at Leo, then at the glowing name on the screen.

He hung on my leg, head up, those green eyes full of light.

He didn't do this often.

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