"What?" I ask.
"You're not telling us something."
"I told you everything."
"No, you told us the facts. But you didn't tell us how you feel about her."
"I don't feel anything. It's an arrangement."
He doesn't believe me. "An arrangement that's got you wound up tighter than I've ever seen you."
"I'm not wound up." Bruno leans against the table. "Something about this girl is getting to you."
"Nothing's getting to me."
"Is it that she's not what you expected? That she's not falling in line like you thought she would?"
"She's falling in line fine."
"Then what's the problem?"
I don't answer. Because I don't know the problem. That's the problem. Liana does everything I ask. Shows up when I tell her to. Agrees with whatever I say. Smiles and nods and plays the role.
But something feels off. Like she's performing. Like there's another version of her underneath the enthusiastic, slightly chaotic surface.
And I can't figure out which one is real.
"Just talk to her," Bruno says finally. "Actually talk to her. Not about logistics or schedules or what's expected. About real things. Get to know her."
"Why?"
"Because you're going to marry her, boss. And spending the rest of your life with someone you don't understand? That's a special kind of hell."
He leaves.
I sit there alone, thinking about Liana. About the way she smiled when she put lettuce on my plate. About how she held my grandmother's hand. About the kiss on the cheek before she went inside. About how she ended her text with talk of lavender paint colors for Nonna's room.
Like it was already decided we would be married.
My phone buzzes.
A text from her.
Liana: Good morning! Hope you're having a great day! Should we have dinner this week? Just the two of us? I promise to order my own meal this time!
She adds a smiley face.
I stare at the message.
She promises to order her own meal. Which means she knows she ate mine. Which means it wasn't an accident.
Was it?
I type back: Sure. When works for you?
Her response is immediate: Tomorrow night? I know this great little place. Very casual. You'll love it!
Me: Sounds good. I'll pick you up at 7.
