“Yeah. Key West.” I cursed myself for a fool when that snafu pricked Ma’s attention. “We talked on the plane and hit it off because we were sitting together. On randomly allocated seats!”
She pursed her lips. “So, because of a chance meeting on a flight a handful of days ago, a Sicilian betrayed theCosa Nostraand you were kidnapped as a result?”
When she put it like that…
“He wasn’t Sicilian,” Stan offered.
“He wasn’t?”
“No, he was Italian.”
Ma proved she was Irish through and through because she didn’t question the difference. “I’ll expect a better answer when you’re not looking like death warmed up, my girl.”
“Why won’t anyone believe me?! This is so frustrating!”
Disbelief prevailed when she left us with a final tut and a kiss to my temple.
Stan immediately leaned over and snatched one of the large sandwiches Ma had made. “Well,duci, I’m glad I had this confirmed early on in our relationship.”
I scowled at him as he took a massive bite of what looked to be an Italian sub—my ma was so cute sometimes—while juggling a hot chocolate. “What did you learn?”
He swallowed the sandwich and shot me a smirk. “That if anyone’s a terrible liar in this room, it’s you.”
SEVENTEEN
TEXT CHAT
Stan: All’s well
Luc: Figured as much when I didn’t get a 911
Rory: You’re not bringing her back here?
Stan: She wanted to stay
Rory: Makes sense. I’ll tell Matri.
Stan: Thanks, soru
Stan: GTG - watching reruns of hockey games until a live one starts lol
Luc: The sacrifices a man will make for the love of his life
Rory: I’ll remind Jen of that.
Luc: Please don’t
EIGHTEEN
TEXT CHAT
Kitty: You owe me forty
Kitty: WHOOOPEEEEE - we did it!! Through to round two
George: I hate you
Kitty: Don’t hate the player, hate the game
