Gigi collapses back into the couch, clutching her phone in one hand like it’s her lifeline. She’s a typical bratty teenager. I swear they’re God’s revenge on parents for all the awful things they’ve done in their lives.
“You’re going away to college next fall, aren’t you?” Fran asks.
“Yep. I can’t wait to get to FSU.”
Maria goes back to tossing ingredients into a bowl, Fran leans against the couch, looking like she’s about to give Gigi the business, and I turn my attention back to the women at my side.
Izzy’s holding Suzy’s hand. “She’s just a teenager. They’re all assholes, babe. Don’t let her shitty attitude get you down.”
“She was always such a sweet thing.”
“Then hormones got involved,” Izzy reminds Suzy with a pat to her hand. “And boys. Lord, the boys. How’s Joe handling it?”
“Well.” Suzy gives Izzy a tight smile. “He’s not in jail yet.”
“The real shit hasn’t started to hit the fan, then,” Izzy says.
Suzy looks horrified. “What’s that mean?”
“Cock, babe. Every boy has one, and they’re looking for a place to put it.”
Suzy’s smile vanishes as she clutches her chest. “I can’t think about that. Keith is her first real boyfriend, and I don’t think they’re anywhere near having sex.”
Max turns to Suzy, leaning backward like she’s just heard the craziest thing ever. “Boys are always ready for sex. If you don’t think that’s his goal, you’re wrong. Get your head out of your ass and get that little girl on birth control.”
“She’s not even eighteen.”
“And?” Max asks.
“She’s just so young,” Suzy says, glancing over at her daughter.
Fran’s still talking Gigi’s ear off, and neither one of them is paying any attention to what’s being discussed.
“As a doctor, your friend, and her aunt,” Mia says, rubbing her hands together and staring down the island at Suzy. “You need to talk to her about sex, make sure she understands the importance of condoms and to always use them, and get her on the pill. It’s better she’s protected and safe when the time comes.”
“And it will come,” Izzy adds.
“I guess I should have bail money ready too. Because Joe will…” Suzy clutches her face in her hands and groans. “Oh, sweet baby Jesus.”
“Lord help any boy who wants to date one of our daughters. He’ll have a daddy and four very angry uncles after him.” Max laughs. “I know Anthony won’t put up with any bullshit.”
In my head, I try to think of Tate as a teenager, all raging hormones and sass. Angelo would lose his ever-loving mind. She’s his little girl, and she has him wrapped around her little finger. I can’t imagine what he will do the first time a boy shows up at our doorstep to take Tate out on a date.
I’m thankful we’re at least a decade away from that happening. And I’m pretty sure I’m going to be the one tasked with having the birds and the bees talk with her because no girl wants to discuss sex with her father… ever.
12
Angelo
“I’m proud of the man you’ve become.” Uncle Sal grips my shoulder as we stand away from the patio and the rest of the family.
“Thanks, Uncle Sal. That’s a big deal coming from you.”
Unlike my father, Uncle Sal has always been a family man. He dedicated his life to raising his kids right and putting them on a path to being good human beings.
My mother did that for our family. If she hadn’t been in the picture and we’d been left with my father raising us, I don’t know what would’ve happened.
Pops was too deep into the mob and knew no other life. Most likely, we would’ve been pulled in too eventually and ended up in jail right alongside him.
