As soon as she’s asleep, I dial Daphne to have a little heart-to-heart with her. My sister means well, but sometimes she needs to remember who her audience is and how her words may affect them.
“What’s up, Ang? Missing me?”
“Sister.”
“What?”
“We need to have a little talk.”
She lets out a very dramatic sigh. “I’m busy being a human buffet over here. All this baby does is eat. I swear, if I ate this much, I’d have an ass bigger than Old Lady Benedetto. What’s wrong now?”
“Tate heard you say I need to get back in the saddle.”
Daphne snickers, getting a little joy at my expense. “Well, you do.”
I groan. “Now she wants a horse.”
Daphne’s laughter grows louder. “The kid has big dreams. Can’t blame her for that, brother. I like her style.”
Of course she would.
“Sister, don’t fill her head with the impossible.”
“A horse?” She pauses. “Or you ever having a girlfriend?”
I rub my temple, trying to massage away the tension that never seems to vanish. Why did I even bother having this conversation with Daphne? I knew what she’d say. We’ve been talking— Scratch that. She’s been on my back about this for months.
“Both.” I grit my teeth.
“Marissa’s been gone a few years now. You need someone to love. It’s time.”
It’s time? My life isn’t an appointment or a recipe cooking in the oven. There’re no rules when it comes to mourning and moving on. I don’t know why everyone in my family thinks it’s time for me to start dating.
I don’t.
And I’m pretty fucking sure my opinion is the only one that matters when it comes to my life, my kids, and my heart.
“I have someone,” I snap.
“Angelo, I love you, but eventually you’re going to have to open your heart again. Marissa wouldn’t want you to be alone.”
“I know.” I hang my head, hearing my wife’s voice and the promise I made to her. “I’m just not ready.”
“I don’t think you’ll ever be. Just don’t wait too long. I swear I saw a gray hair on your head last week.”
“Fuck off with that.”
I know she’s yanking my chain the way she always does because that’s her lot in life. Ballbuster extraordinaire and way too much like my ma.
“Anyway, you messed around with Michelle for far too long. You two never would’ve worked. It’s time for you to find someone to really settle down with.”
“What?” I stare at the phone, mouth hanging open, wondering how she knows. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh please, Angelo. I’m not stupid or blind. I know you two have been fooling around for a few months.”
“Well…”
I thought Michelle and I were stealthy in our hookups and that my entire family, including my sister, was in the dark.
