Alyssa sat outside on the back deck with Gavin, driving his little cars and trucks around, as she thumbed through a fashion magazine.

She was feeling very smug after her epic performance this morning. She nearly laughed out loud at the expression on Rocco's face. She knew he probably had doubts, but she'd cement it at dinner tonight. She'd promise whatever she had to swear and be whatever he needed her to be.

For now, anyway, she had to make sure she could continue enjoying the lifestyle she'd become accustomed to. That darn prenup made it impossible to do anything else right now.

 Edward needed to have enough funds to do what he needed. She didn't like him signing other models, but he wasn't making enough from Alyssa alone.

She wanted every ounce of his energy to go into making her famous—no one else. The two of them, along with his sister, Becks, had been plotting to be rich and famous since she and Katherine had moved in next door to them after she divorced Alyssa's dad.

To be fair, Eddy was more concerned with the rich than the famous, but Alyssa would have it all. Whatever it took.

Gavin was making truck noises, and it pulled her from her thoughts. She looked down at the little boy, who was so focused on his cars that he didn't look up.

"Boys and their toys," she rolled her eyes and flipped to the next page.

He looked up as she spoke, his green eyes even lighter in the bright sun. He looked so much like Rocco; it bummed her out.

She never intended to have children. She wasn't left with another choice, though. She hoped she'd have a daughter that would look just like her. Sadly though, she ended up with a boy who hardly looked like her.

She loved Gavin and everything. She tried hard not to regret having him, but sometimes she couldn't help it. The time away from the industry, when she was just starting to come up, ruined  her career. Now she was stuck working her butt off when she should have been famous already.

"When is Auntie Dani come home?" Gavin asked.

"Later," Alyssa said absentmindedly as she studied some summer clothing trends.

"I want her to come home now!" Gavin demanded.

"Do not raise your voice at Mommy," Alyssa looked at him in his eyes, her tone stern. "That's a bad boy."

"I not bad!" Gavin shook his head, his eyes wide and his cheeks reddening slightly. "I a wonder boy."

"A wonder boy?" Alyssa rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, I am! Auntie Dani says so!" He said, stomping his foot in anger.

"That's enough, Gavin." She sighed in annoyance.

She glanced at her phone for the time and saw it was getting close to noon. Dante and Rocco would be here soon. Time to get back to work on her perfect wife and mother performance.

"What if Gavin and Mommy do something fun?" she asked in a softer tone.

"We can go see manimals?" Gavin asked hopefully.

"No, no zoo." Alyssa shuddered at the idea of going back there.

"How about we watch a movie? We can even watch it upstairs on Mommy's nice couch." She offered instead, to which he just shrugged.

"Come on, any movie you want," she urged.

"I do not want to watch a movie. I want to play blocks with Auntie Dani." He got the identical crinkle on his forehead as his dad when he was being stubborn.

"Dani can play blocks with you later. Right now, we're going to go watch a movie." Alyssa said.

"I don't wanna!" Gavin stomped his foot angrily.

"Gavin James Romano. I said I do not raise your voice at Mommy!" She yelled a little louder than she meant. His stubborn expression started to falter, and his lip quivered a little.

"Don't even think about crying." She said between gritted teeth. "Do you want to watch a movie, or do you want a time out?"

"Movie," he said in a small voice, his little eyes pooling with tears.

This wouldn't work at all. If Rocco came home to a sniffling little boy, he'd surely blame her. He was spoiling the kid rotten, and it was starting to show. 

"Okay, it's okay. What if we have some snacks while we watch a movie?" She suggested in a lighter tone, and his eyes perked up.

"Cookies?"

"We don't have cookies, but I can find something.". She wasn't a fan of using sugar to motivate, but she was running short on time.

"Please, we can make cookies?" Gavin asked. "Auntie Dani, show me how."

"Your aunt made cookies?" Alyssa frowned.

No wonder he loves her frumpy sister so much; she plies him with sugar!

"Yup. They were good!" Gavin told her. "I want to make more!"

"Not right..." she stopped when she heard the distinct sound of a car pulling up into our front driveway.

"Okay, we'll make cookies." She said in her best cheerful voice, and Gavin cheered out loud.

She cringed but followed her excited little boy into the kitchen. She lifted him onto the counter, silently cursing Dani for teaching him this.

She started fishing for random things from the cabinets and placing them on the big island. She had no idea what she was doing, but it couldn't be that hard.

She could hear Rocco and Dante talking as they entered the house.

"Is she home?" She heard Dante ask in a low voice as the footsteps got closer.

"Yes, she is," Alyssa answered as the brothers entered the room. "Honestly, Dante. It's like you're scared I'll bite you or something."

"Well, I'd rather not risk it." Dante shrugged as he walked in with Rocco behind him. "What if becoming a life-sucking narcissist is contagious?"

She annoyingly glanced over at Rocco, but he looked like he was stifling a laugh instead of defending her.

"Daddy! Uncle Dante!" Gavin cheered.

"Hey ya, little buddy!" Dante ruffled his hair.

"Whatcha guys doing?" Rocco asked curiously as he eyed the contents all over the counter.

"We are making cookies!" Gavin cheered happily.

"Seriously?" Rocco's eyes widened.

"It's what Gavin wanted." Alyssa shrugged. "We're having a great day, aren't we, Gavi?"

"I wish my Auntie Dani was here," Gavin said bluntly.

Alyssa ignored Dante's loud and rude chuckle.

"He only said that because I just said I wish she were here to help us. Cookies are new to me." Alyssa said smoothly, focusing her gaze on Rocco.

She made sure she gave him a soft smile before pulling her following statement. "Do you have any of your Nana's cookie recipes? I know you always cooked with her. I'd love to pass that tradition on to Gavi."

"I... uh... yeah. I have her old book in the junk drawer." Rocco looked stunned as he went to go get it. On the other hand, Dante was giving her a very suspicious look.

"Great!" Alyssa said in her most cheerful voice as Rocco handed her the book.

"Now go on and get to work, you two. Gavin and I will have these ready for you when you're done. Right, Gavi?"

"Right!" Gavin cheered out loud.

"Is she high?" She heard Dante whisper as they headed outside.

"Asshole," she muttered after the door firmly clicked shut. "Not a bad idea, though."

Smirking, she knelt to open a lower cabinet. Inside were several older pots, pans, and silly kitchen devices they never used, including the crock-pot Katherine gave them for their wedding. She started using it as a hiding spot some time ago.

She pulled a little bag of edible weed gummies out and helped herself to a small handful. She still needed to keep her wits about her to keep up this act, but these would help make it less dreadful. She then stuck them back in the pot and grabbed the cookie tray.

"Ready to make some cookies?"

"Okay, Mommy!" Gavin cheered from the counter where he sat watching her.