“What did you do?” Uncle Sal asks.
“Threw that shit out,” Joe growls.
Uncle Sal ticks his head toward his granddaughter. “She know?”
Joe shrugs. “Don’t give two shits if she does, but she hasn’t said anything yet. My kid doesn’t need a G-string.”
“She’s going to give you a run for your money, son. Just prepare for things to get worse before they get better.”
Joe mutters under his breath, lifting the beer to his lips and staring at his daughter with hard eyes.
“Thank God I have boys,” Izzy says from behind us, and we all jump at the sound of her voice. “I’d rather them be the predator than the prey.”
Joe turns his hard glare on his sister. “You’re not helping, Izzy.”
She shrugs. “Want me to talk to her?”
“We’ve had the sex talk.” Joe tips his head back, searching the clouds for something, but he doesn’t elaborate.
“I’m sure it was super informative.” Her voice oozes judgment. “You want me to have the real talk with her?”
“The real talk?” I ask, busying myself with the beer in my hand as I wait for her to explain.
“Kids get general sex education in school. She probably knew everything you already told her. But I’ll tell her the real shit. The stuff to watch out for. Just like that asshole boyfriend of hers. She needs to walk away from that one. He’s a world-class clinger, and he creeps me the fuck out.”
A smile slides across Joe’s face. “You get her to dump him, and I’ll owe you anything you want.”
“Anything?” She raises an eyebrow.
“Anything.”
“I’ll make it happen.” She smirks and runs her hand along her brother’s back. “Don’t worry. I’ll tell her how things are supposed to be, and that doesn’t include fuckers like him.”
“Have at it,” Joe tells her, tipping his head toward Gigi. “She could use a little nudge.”
“Just think of the losers I dated when I was her age.” Izzy laughs. “We all had some real winners in high school.” She shifts her eyes to me. “Except Angelo. He married his high school sweetheart.”
My stomach knots for a second at the mention of Marissa, but the feeling fades as Tilly walks into my eyeline. “I got lucky to have two great loves.”
“She’ll find her way,” Izzy tells Joe, still trying to soothe the anger that’s simmering just underneath his cool, calm exterior. “I’ll make sure of it.”
After those words, Izzy walks across the yard and sits in the grass next to Gigi. They exchange a few words before they both tip their heads back and laugh.
I glance around the yard, filled with cousins and so many family members that life finally feels right again. After so much time of not knowing where I fit in or if anything would feel normal again, I finally feel whole.
Kids are everywhere, running, playing, chatting like we did when we were young. There’s so much joy and happiness in this small patch of land, my heart can’t help but feel content.
“Are you going to have more?” Joe asks.
I turn to face him, wondering who or what he’s referring to. His eyes are on me.
“Anymore what?” I ask.
“Kids. Are you and Tilly going to have more?”
“Whatever she wants.”
Joe nudges me with his shoulder. “Smart answer.” He laughs.
