From the heart?I swoon. My hand goes to my chest.
“Miss D’Medici, are you alright?”
I jump, startled by the familiar voice as it echoes through the entryway over to where I’ve come to a stop at the bottom of the staircase.
I look over and standing inside the elevator, one hand barring open the door, is one of my usual drivers.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. Sorry. The car is waiting for you in the garage if you’re ready to go?” He shuffles a little like he’s moving out of the way for me to join him in the enclosed space.
“Oh.” I lock my phone screen, hiding away the evidence of my emotional response. “Yes, let me grab my coat.”
The rideto La Fatal Piedra isn’t long, but it sure feels like it. The longer I’m in the car, the more anxious I become. My palms are a little sweaty, and I think about talking to Toni. My curiosity and awakening, if that’s what you’d want to call last night, are the only things I can think about.
I don’t have to give Toni any specifics. I could just ask her questions about her, it’s not like we haven’t talked a little about this sort of thing before. Maybe it wasn’t in such specific terms, but I’ve always lived vicariously through her. That’s all I’ll chalk my questions up to being.
That is... if there is any alone time for us to be had. It’s not like I can have this conversation in front of a child.
I close my eyes and hold my breath, making a wish.Please let me get some alone time with Antonella.
“Here we are, Miss D’Medici,” the driver says as I’m midway through the third time saying my wish.
Snapping my eyes open, I push a smile across my face. “Thankyou. I’ll call when I’m ready for a ride home. I’ll be with Antonella all day.”
I expected an argument, but the driver nods and climbs out of the vehicle to come around and open my door. The cold wind whips off the lake down the side streets and bustles my coat in one long gust. It chills me, taking the heat of embarrassment right off my skin and freezing my face. At least I can use the cold to brush off any pink in my cheeks when talking to Toni.
Through the door and into the foyer, I see Toni sitting at a table in the front section of the restaurant.
Odd that we’re not in the section reserved for family.I look toward the back of the restaurant. It’s nearly empty, and the usual family tables are available, but I don’t long for dark corners. Even with what I want to talk about.
Strolling over to her table, I shrug off my coat. “Wait, where’s my new niece?”
Toni is quick to flag me to sit down, quieting me with her low volume. “She’s coming. I may have lied to get out of the house a little early so I could pick up a few gifts she wouldn’t see. Declan is bringing her in a little bit. Besides, it gives us a little time to catch up.”
“It’s weird sitting up front and not being squirreled away to the back room with the family. I like it.” I sling my purse and coat over the back of the chair, where Toni’s purchases and purse are resting. Looking outside, I steel my nerves and take the first line I thought of out on the ride here. I fan myself with my hand and give her a scandalized grin. “Oh my god. That means we can finally talk about how hot Valor is.”
“Yes, he is very hot.” She rolls her eyes, but I see a smile poking through.
“Leticia. I haven’t seen you in forever!” Cesare, a cousin my age who used to tease me in elementary school, strolls over to the table. He smiles at me and makes a pained face, slackening his jaw. “I thought you were avoiding good food. Get you the usual?”
“Rude, but yes, my lover, please bring the usual.” I giggle, teasing him right back with the ridiculous joke from the last family reunion.
“Isn’t he like our fifth cousin?” Toni, perplexed, looks between me and him with narrowed eyes.
Shaking my head, I explain only half of the long story that is the inside joke, but mostly I answer her question so I can move forward with what I do want to know. “Not by blood. His mom married my mom’s cousin. She had him before they met.”
“Well, okay then.” She raises her glass and draws a sip of water.
Cesare is quick to come with my glass of wine and leave again.
Toni breaks the silence. “It’s still so weird you’re twenty-three.”
“Yes, well, that’s what happens when you move so far away for school. In five years, your little cousin becomes not so little.” I hum, taking a sip of my favorite vintage. The joys of being Italian mean a glass of wine at lunch is normal, and it can help calm your nerves if you’re about to give your cousin the fifth degree about all things — okay, notallthings — men. “Okay, Valor. Is he like amazing in bed?”
“Could you have said that any louder?” She glares before flicking her eyes to the rest of the restaurant.
I hadn’t realized I was so loud. But I feel this internal clock ticking down like time is running out. Soon Kerrianne will be here, and we can’t talk about this sort of thing anymore. I lean forward and whisper, “So, does he make you come?”
Redness paints Toni’s cheeks, and I try not to let my mouth hang open as she answers while pressing her fingers to her temple. “Yes, okay. God, why are we talking about this?”
