I shrug. "Let's go."
He groans, but puts the car in park and gets out.
The supermarket air-conditioning hits like a blessing from the gods. I exhale slowly, dragging a basket behind me as Gio walks a few steps ahead. He hasn’t said much since we stepped out of the car. I keep trying to think of something normal to say.
Nice weather we're having?
So how's your trauma?
Nothing comes out right. We are walking down the produce aisle when he finally speaks. "So what are you grabbing?"
"Uh. I don't know. I just said that so Lorenzo wouldn't make you go alone." He stops. Turns. "Seriously?"
I shrug, trying to look cool and failing. "I figured you didn't want to be left alone with the grapes and your rage."
That earns me a breath of a laugh. "You're not wrong."
God, this is fucking awkward. I can't believe we're back here. If I don't say something, this is it. We'll split. I'll leave Italy and we won't even say goodbye. Not even ahey, take care. I need to do something. Say something. Anything.
We keep walking. He finds the grapes easily. He inspects it with the intensity of a bomb technician. I am pretending to examine some overpriced peaches, but I hear a voice.
"Hey—you."
Unfamiliar voice. I turn. A guy, some dude with sunglasses on his head and cargo shorts that scream, 'thinks he's funny' is pointing at me.
"I know you," he says. "You were at the protest outside the mayor's office, right? You're that teacher's assistant who got in that argument with the security guy. What was your name? Don? Dave?"
My heart starts beating faster. Not because I'm embarrassed, but because of the tone. My brain blanks. "Um, I think you've mistaken me for someone else, sir."
"No. I remember you. You looked nervous then too."
What the hell? I take a step back. My hands are cold even though I'm sweating. He is staring me down like I'm some criminal on the run. "Ireallythink you're confusing me—"
"Bullshit," he snaps. "I don't forget faces. Especially ones sneaking out of shady shit." No one around us is doing anything. Just passing glances, pretending not to see.
"Back away from him."
The guy turns. And so do I. Gio is there, with an unreadable expression.
"Who the hell are you supposed to be?" the guy mutters.
"I'm the one who'll make you regret talking to him like that," Gio says. "Back off."
The man laughs awkwardly. "What, is he your little pet?"
Gio smiles. "Keep your mouth clean. I won’t be embarrassed to make a scene right here."
The man snorts. "Oh, fuck off, I’m not even talking to you, dude. Why are you getting involved? He knows what he did."
Do I?
Gio smiles."Tell me your name."
"Why the hell would I tell you my name?"
"So I can remember it when I’m explaining to security why you ended up on the floor."
The guy is trying to decide if Gio is bluffing.
