She turned back and looked up at me. “And you might want to take a minute to enjoy life, because one day you’ll look back and be twenty years older.”
“Twenty years would make me fifty-three.”
“You’re ten years older than me.” Her mouth gaped.
I glanced down at her. “I assumed you were older than twenty-three. At least, twenty-seven.”
“Nope, I’m not that old. Not sure if I should be insulted.” She seemed annoyed with me, and I liked it.
“This way.” I led her toward the doors to where we’d be sitting.
“Good evening, Mr. Ferrari.” The person at the door opened it and waved us through.
“Thank you,” I replied. Then I whispered to Cyndee, “Your age doesn’t bother me.”
“Well, if we weren’t pretending to be together, your age might bother me,” she said in a serious tone. She was irritated and wouldn’t look at me. “Like you, your age doesn’t bother me since this is just a job.”
“Is this our first fight?” I asked, teasing her.
She stopped and faced me. “I’m not fighting. I would have to care about you to fight.”
I studied her face. Really looking at her. If we’d met on different terms and she was someone my family would approve of, I just might fall for her.
“Why are you staring at me?” she asked.
“Zio!”
“It’s Zio Fabio!”
I heard familiar voices calling me uncle in Italian and peered over my shoulder. My nieces Amara and Allegra were standing behind me with my brother.
“Why are you standing here?” Remo asked. “The show is inside.”
“Yes, and why are you not inside?”
“We had to go to the bathroom,” Allegra answered for her father.
“Yeah. The Nutcracker is a long show, Zio,” Amara said.
“Yes, I know. Look how big you’re both getting.” I opened my arms to my nieces. They happily hugged me, while my brother checked out Cyndee.
“And who is this?” Remo asked.
“Cyndee.” I released my nieces and put my arm around my fake girlfriend’s waist. “Tesoro, this is my brother, Remo. And these cuties are my nieces Amara and Allegra.”
“It’s nice to meet you all.” She smiled sweetly and directed her attention to the girls. “I love your dresses. Are you excited to see the ballet?”
“I’m excited to see Zia. She’s the Sugar Plum Fairy this year,” Amara said.
“Me too.” Allegra nodded.
“Good. Then we should go in before it starts without us,” I said, leading Cyndee away. Knowing Remo, he had a million questions to ask. It would be challenging to keep him away from Cyndee.
Naturally, everyone perked up in their seats when they saw Cyndee on my arm. I waved to my single brothers, and Remo’s wife, Anna. Why she hadn’t taken her daughters to the bathroom was beyond me. She was a horrible mother.
“Hello, Mama” I kissed her cheek and kissed my sister’s. “Lettie, glad you could make it.”
“So am I. Who did you bring?” Lettie asked, wiggling her dark eyebrows.
