At first, he ignores me. I know this because he glanced my way, then quickly looked forward like I did a second ago. I tap his arm again, this time with a bit more force. “Sir?”
He gives me those eyes again.
“What?” he snaps––the T is emphasized.
I ignore it and go ahead. “I meant what I said. Thank you for your service. You don’t have to be rude about it.”
He blinks. Slowly. I count. One blink. Two blinks. Three. Equally as slow, he states in a mocking tone, “Thank you for thanking me for my service.” A fourth blink happens. “Better?” Then he looks back in the direction of the Vicky and Anthony.
As for me? I’m incensed. Well, as much as I can be.
“Wow.” I make a scoffing sound. “You’re something else, aren’t you?” And I don’t mean that in a nice way.
“I like to think so.” The guy, the one I thought was good-looking a minute ago but now think is only mildly attractive since his attitude has diminished his appeal, doesn’t even bother to look my way.
I release air in frustration, which causes my lips to vibrate, creating that raspberry sound. “Unbelievable.”
I turn my body so that I’m facing the front again and realize that everyone has stopped talking. I could hear crickets if we weren’t inside a fancy dance studio. Know what else? They’re staring––at me. I say the only thing I can think of. “What?”
It’s my cousin who responds. “Were you even listening, Mattie?”
“Yes.” No, I absolutely was not listening.
“Okay.” Vicky’s got her arms crossed and her leg jutted out. Her toe is tapping. “Tell me. What’d Anthonyjustsay?”
I smile because it’s the only thing I can think to do. Since I have no idea what her fiancé said, I go with, “He was explaining why we’re here. To make your dreams come true, Vicky. We’re here to rehearse the wedding dance, and it’s going to be fun.” I say it with as much enthusiasm as I can muster, which isn’t a lot, to be honest.
This time, the scoffing sound coming from Mr. Army is loud enough for everyone to hear.Great.
“That isnotwhat he said, Mattie.” She gives me her best stink eyes, then turns to her mother. “I don’t know why she’s here, Mother. I told you she was too weird.”
Chrissie chooses that moment to interject in her usual snotty tone. “Yeah, Mrs. Russo, Mattie is a disruption. I warned you she’d do something to ruin this whole thing. AndIwas right. This whole event is about Victoria.NotMattie.” She uses her thumb in a jerky motion to point to me repeatedly. That red-tipped talon of hers gets so close to my eye, if I didn’t back up a little, I think I’d be one of those people who’d have to wear an eye patch.
On second thought, those people look cool. Maybe losing an eye at Vicky’s wedding dance rehearsal wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Everyone’s eyes are on my aunt. Annabelle Russo is a force, that’s for sure. She isn’t the kind of woman you second-guess. At least, I don’t. She’ll chew you up and spit you out if she thinks you’re disrespecting her family—not just her immediate family, either. Any of us. She got that trait from Nonna Vicky. And since I come from a big family with thirty-two cousins just on my mom’s side alone, it means Aunt Annabelle has quite a large territory to protect.
I’m holding my breath. I know for a fact that she doesn’t care for Chrissie—at all. She thinks Chrissie is a––what were her words? Oh, right, a backstabbing gold digger.
Aunt Annabelle steps forward. At first, she glares at Chrissie, causing all eyes to turn to her. Her face drains of color immediately. She knows she said too much.
My aunt’s head then swivels to face her daughter’s. “We discussed this. We will not discuss it again.”
Okaaaaay.
“But, Mother,” Vicky whines, “this ismyday.”
“Everyday is your day, dearest.”
Oh. Snap.
No. She. Didn’t.
“Wh-What?”
Vicky’s eyes are starting to water. I can’t take the tears. And while I do love to watch Aunt Annabelle in action, I’d prefer the reason not be because of something I did or didn’t do. Raising my hand, I wait for someone to acknowledge me so I can bow out of this whole thing gracefully. My aunt sees me first. “Yes, Matilda?”
“I think I’ll go.”
