“Because they heard about me, and your mom wants to skin me alive, and your father’s sharpening her knife.”
“No, not entirely.”
His casual tone grates on my nerves. I try to turn away, but he shifts to block my way as he speaks.
“Chica, people will be at the house because we always gather for Sunday dinner. They’d be there anyway.”
“Marvelous. You want to introduce me to your entire family during a time that’s set aside for just the family.”
I’m rigid when he hugs me. I can feel an invisible noose tightening around my neck. Today is surely the day I will finally die. He strokes the hair down my back and kisses my temple. My forehead falls to his chest. This is yet another time where his touch is soothing. However, the circumstances keep it from calming me the way it has in the past.
“Do you fearTíaElle more than you do meeting my parents?”
“No, I dread them equally. How could I not? I told you your mom is probably waiting to kill me, and your father will hand her the weapon. How could I not fear meeting them? Pablo’s probably told them all about me already.”
“I told them about you.”
“What?”
I jerk away from him, or at least I try. He loosens his hold enough for his hands to rest on my waist.
“I sent a text to my cousins andtíoswhen I was in the bathroom in your hotel room. I asked Pablo to come with extra guards and wait outside the room. Right after that, I sent a message through our family group chat saying I’d be introducing them to someone soon and that they’d better not pass judgment until I explain the situation. That—as usual—there’s more to this than the obvious.”
“I can’t believe you did that, Alejandro. What the hell? You didn’t even know I wouldn’t still try to kill you, and you told them you’d bring a girl home to meet your parents? Great. Not only are they going to dislike me because of my job and how we met, but they’ll dislike me in general because I’m some strangerto them who they think is after their son. I can’t believe this is happening. This is truly one of the shittiest days I’ve ever had.”
I stare at Alejandro as though he sprouted a second head. When he opens his mouth, I glower at him.
“Don’t you dare tell me to calm down.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it. The last thing you do is tell an irate woman to calm down.”
“You are not funny.”
I curl my hands into fists to keep from jabbing him in the chest with my index finger.
“You’re assuming the worst before anything even happens,chica.”
“They’ve had hours to plot my demise, and you’re just springing this on me now, telling me that we’re leaving in ten minutes? I don’t appreciate this, Jandro.”
“Well, I don’t appreciate you trying to kill me, but I’m not holding that against you, am I?”
Now I try to pull away in earnest. “That’s a seriously fucked-up thing to say.”
“But am I wrong? I think if I can get over you stalking me, intending to put a bullet through my brain or heart, then you can get over the surprise of Sunday dinner with people you’re going to get to know pretty damn well.”
“Why? Why would I get to know them well?”
He stares at me as though I’m the one who sprouted a second head.
“Do I really have to spell this out for you, Vita?”
“Clearly you do because I’m missing something.”
“We talked about this already.”
“Maybe in your head, but definitely not out loud. What are you talking about, Alejandro?”
“Well, Vittoria—” The sarcasm in his voice makes me want to throat punch him.
