“It’s about damn time he stopped playing so many games. He’s getting a little long in the tooth to be out there trying to repopulate the world on his own.”
“Gram, you’re on fire tonight,” Tate says to her.
Betty holds her champagne glass out to Gigi. “I’m getting too old not to say what I’m feeling and thinking, baby. I don’t know how much time I have left here with you kids to point you in the right direction.”
“You’re not going anywhere anytime soon, auntie. I forbid it,” Gigi says, filling Betty’s glass to the top.
“If it were only that simple, kiddo,” Betty replies. “Now, let’s toast my granddaughter and her new handsome devil.”
Once Gigi’s done filling the flutes, we lift them into the air, and Betty clears her throat. “To eternal love that burns bright and long.”
We clink our glasses together and then take a sip. The champagne’s bitter and has never been my favorite thing to drink, but I do it to appease Betty.
“You made this old woman very happy tonight,” Betty says, but she isn’t looking at any one person. “There’s nothing better than being surrounded by family.”
I take in her words, hating that I’ll never have this with my family. Sure, I have my mom and kids, but I can’t imagine Thumper ever settling down. And even if he did, we don’t like each other enough to be thankful for our time together. I wouldn’t think our kids would be friends because we aren’t. We are a fractured family, but that is my brother’s choice by being a dipshit his entire life.
“How are your parents?” Betty asks as I slide my hand under the table and intertwine my fingers with Tate’s.
She doesn’t even look my way as their length tightens around mine. “I miss them,” Tate says to Gigi.
“They’re good. Busy as ever with the grandkids. I didn’t think they’d be better grandparents than parents, but they’ve proven me wrong. They live and breathe for them. Dad works sometimes when he needs a break from retirement, which is getting to be more and more. I think he has a hard time realizing he’s getting older.”
“Oh, he knows, baby. He just doesn’t like it. No one does,” Betty explains.
From her lips to God’s ears. Every single new pain is a reminder that my body is already starting to break down, and I hate every minute of it.
“But they’re great, otherwise. Just as in love as they always were.”
“Joey was such a little troublemaker. I still can’t wrap my head around him with your mother. She’s a good girl.”
“Dad’s the best, auntie,” Gigi tells Betty.
Betty chuckles into her champagne flute. “He is, but when he was young…phew. The man was a hellion.”
“Well, isn’t that the Gallo way? Which one of your kids was the angel?”
Betty smirks. “Not a damn one of them. We have to marry the good ones so our blood doesn’t become too corrupted. We’re already hell on wheels.”
“Where’s everyone else?” Gigi asks, looking around the bar. “I was hoping to see the other cousins.”
“They’ll be around all week, and if they aren’t, we’re having a family dinner before you guys head back,” Tate tells her cousin. “You’re stuck with just us tonight.”
“It’s okay,” she says, “I’m exhausted anyway. Traveling always sucks the life out of me, and tomorrow’s going to be another long day.”
“You don’t have a client until two. I made sure not to book you too early.”
“You’re a smart cookie, Tate Gallo,” Gigi replies, giving her cousin a big smile.
“You want to get out of this place?” Tate asks me. “You can walk me home.”
“Yeah, princess. Let’s go.”
I’m not going to let a single evening go to waste while the girls are away at camp.
I lean over, placing my lips next to Tate’s ear. “I guess I didn’t fuck you good enough the last time if you didn’t realize you are mine. We’re going to fix that tonight.”
Tate swallows as her eyes darken, and she turns her head so her gaze meets mine. “Don’t promise me a good time if you aren’t going to deliver.”
