“Maybe come back with a business plan, and we can take a look then,” Matteo suggested.
Elias knew that would be the end of the discussion. They would hear about another business idea in a year or two, maybe, but he knew they wouldn’t hear about this one again. After so many failed attempts, his dad and uncle had started requiring that they come with business plans that outlined everything before they would give one cent.
His zia, looking as dejected as she always did when his uncle said something that wasn’t in her favor, went back to her food, and everyone else went back to their original conversations.
“I’m not tripping, right?” Avian asked as they stood outside beside Marco’s car after dinner. “Celia has a weird crush on Matteo, doesn’t she?”
“No, Micio, you’re not. She does,” Marco replied.
“Is this a new occurrence? Did it happen after her husband passed away?” Avian asked. “Because that’s kind of shitty of her.”
“No, it’s been over thirty years,” Elias responded.
“That’s even worse,” Avian said.
“Tell me about it,” Elias replied.
“And Mamma just what? Ignores it?” Avian asked.
“Pretty much,” Marco started. “I think she feels bad for her.” When Avian raised a questioning brow, he continued. “Celia met my dad first, and she liked him, but he never saw her that way. Let him tell it, he didn’t even know she liked him. Then he met my mom, and it was pretty much love at first sight. He learned they were sisters afterwards.”
“Wow,” Avian said. “Talk about a coincidence. And then the sisters ended up dating cousins.” She paused, giving him a sly smile. “On the subject of sisters dating cousins. How’s it going with Eri?”
“It’s true what they say.” Elias poked her on the forehead, and she swatted his hand. “Little sisters are so nosy.”
Avian glared at him before puffing her cheeks out while Marco chuckled. “To think I was going to give you some cheat codes. Now, I’m not going to,” she teased.
“I don’t need them. I got it handled,” he assured her.
“I know you do,” she replied. “Because I’m sure you know I’ll kick your ass if you mess this up.”
Elias raised an amused brow at her. “Oh yeah? How are you going to manage that?”
“My husband’s going to hold you down for me.”
Elias shook his head while Marco snorted, but he wouldn’t put it past the other man to do it if she asked him to.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Eri stared at the screen that housed one of the many assignments that she’d already finished for one of her classes, but admittedly she wasn’t seeing it. Her mind was on Valentine’s Day and the kiss she’d shared with Elias. It was where she found her thoughts drifting to since it happened.
She’d been surprised to see him because they’d made plans to see one another Sunday. She almost told him no because she didn’t think there was anything he could do that would make her see the day as something other than the tainted memory she had of it. But he’d succeeded with flying colors, and Eri’s chest had felt so heavy. The butterflies in her stomach felt like they’d started a riot. She hadn’t been able to convey in words what she felt, and she’d chosen action instead.
Then, when he’d dropped her off, he’d kissed her again, and she’d felt as if he’d stolen the air from her lungs, and the only thing helping her breathe were his lips on hers. The entire day had been more than she could have imagined, and him doing it, when he didn’t have to, had her conflicted.
On the one hand, she wanted to bask in the day's memory and feel as special and cherished as she did while it was happening each time she thought about it. On the other hand, she felt guilty that someone she wasn’t in a relationship with, someone she was straddling the fence with had done something so thoughtful for her when she couldn’t seem to be honest with him, with herself and solidify what she wanted from him. What she wantedforthem. Eri still wasn’t quite sure she was there yet, because it meant baring her soul and letting him in on something so ugly.
She knew she needed to decide, and that she didn’t have forever to do so because, at the end of the day, she had to think about Elias. She needed to be fair to him in this situation, and she didn’t feel she had been so far. From the outside looking in, it was almost as if she was leading him on, and that wasn’t her intention. Her internal struggle had her stagnant, but it was unfair for her to stay in one place for much longer.
Focusing her attention back on the screen, she closed out of the assignment. It wasn’t as if she’d changed anything about it. She’d finished it ahead of time, like she had with most of her assignments. She’d only opened it to give herself something to do and try to keep her mind off the events of a few days ago. Eri had not succeeded.
Putting her laptop aside, she grabbed her current cross-stitch project. She was about halfway finished, and it was coming out better than her last one.
Eri worked on her project for an hour until her phone rang. She glanced at it on the table, and Elias’ name flashed across the screen. She put her project aside and answered it.
“Hey,” she greeted.
“Hey, Amate. What are you up to?” he asked.
