Serenity (Inevitable #5)(147)

"Yeah, I know. Though ordering two extra larges plus a medium might be overkill, even for you," joked Matthew.

Casey gave another nervous laugh. "Leftovers. Pizza always tastes better the next day."

Matthew rolled his eyes. "You're going to have enough leftovers for about three days. And what's with ordering a Margherita? You usually only eat pizzas with meat, meat, and more meat on top, not tomatoes and cheese." 

"Just sounded good for a change. Oh, cool. Sounds like it's finally here."

Casey practically flew across the room at the peal of the doorbell, leaving Matthew to chuckle at just how hungry his son must be. It had been wonderful to have Casey living here with him, a dream come true to be together again. Matthew reflected on just how much his life had changed in a scant two weeks - his long-contested divorce from Lindsey was finally going to happen; he had permanent custody of his son, something he should have fought for from the start; and he'd begun to make discreet inquiries about the possibility of selling his company. There was only one more thing - correction, one more person - who was missing from the picture in order to make his happiness complete. He knew he had to be patient, to give Sasha the time she'd begged for, but it was hard, so damned hard, when all he wanted was to have her by his side, to hear her soft, sweet voice say his name.

"Hello, Matthew. I hope you don't mind my joining you this evening. But, well, I was invited, after all."

Astonished, his gaze flew in the direction of that voice, and his heart immediately starting beating double time when he saw Sasha standing just inside the entryway. Her multi-hued hair curled riotously about her face, those green-gold eyes sparkling with silent mischief. She wore a floaty cotton sundress of blues and lavenders, a dress he recognized as one he'd bought for her during that blissful vacation to Kauai. As usual, she'd slipped off her shoes the moment she'd walked through the door, and he wanted to drop to his knees and kiss her bare, dainty feet in adoration and gratitude.

"Sasha. My God, you're really here. How - why?" he asked, vaguely aware that he was babbling.

She smiled, that lovely, warm, serene smile that he'd missed so much. "I told you - I was invited. By your new roommate. Is that all right with you?"

In answer, he surged forward until he was close enough to swoop her into his arms, lifting her up until her feet left the ground. She made a small sound of surprise, but merely looped her arms around his neck, holding on tight as he twirled her around in a circle.

"Do you really have to ask?" he murmured as he carefully set her back down. He gave her a soft, sweet kiss, not daring to do more for fear he wouldn't be able to stop. Then he gave his son an inquiring look. "The pizza order makes more sense now - both the quantity and the vegetarian one."

Casey grinned. "I wasn't sure she was going to show up, you know. Though I did my best to convince her at lunch today. Guess my guilt tripping worked, huh?"

Sasha rumpled his hair playfully. "It didn't hurt, kid. But in the end I just decided to follow my heart. And it led me here, to the person I was always meant to be with."

Matthew looked from Casey to Sasha and then back again, a perplexed expression on his face. "Sounds like this is going to be a very interesting dinner conversation. Speaking of which, that must be the pizza."

Casey waved him off, and went to answer the door for the second time in as many minutes, leaving Matthew to turn to Sasha, cupping her cheek tenderly.

"Does this mean you're back for good?" he asked urgently. "That you've decided to give me another chance?"

She gave a quick but decisive nod. "Yes, that's exactly what it means," she whispered. "We have a lot to talk about, Matthew, but at least I'm willing to start the conversation."

"Thank God." He gave her another fast, hard squeeze before taking her by the hand and leading her over to the dining room table.

Matthew intentionally kept the conversation lighthearted and casual during dinner, a fact that Sasha seemed grateful for. As usual, she proved to be a good listener, especially when it came to Casey. Matthew didn't miss the way his son's face lit up with pleasure when Sasha demonstrated a real interest in his stories, asking him specific questions that indicated she'd been paying close attention to what he'd said. Lindsey had always been too wrapped up in her own selfish agenda to bother much with either of her children, though at least she and Hayley had had more in common - fashion, makeup, celebrity gossip. For the life of him, Matthew couldn't imagine his ex listening patiently as Casey almost giddily described the new school he would be attending, and what classes he would be taking. The thought occurred to him that Sasha, who'd yet to have children, had far more of a maternal instinct than Lindsey, the mother of two teenagers.