“I’ll tell you why,” she continued.
I knew she would.
“Because you requested spicy crab roll, and the only time you eatspicy crab rollis when Ciro has done something.” She placed my mineral water in front of me. “Drink. Then talk.”
“It should be a crime to know me so well.” I rolled my eyes and gulped my beverage. Nigiri was my favorite and healthier than a roll doused in spicy mayo. Grr. I should have known better.
“Also, Paolo told me you talked to Ciro and it didn’t go well.”
“Oh my gosh! Paolo. Paolo. Paolo. What the hell, Alba?” I tilted my head back and stared up at my popcorn ceiling. “You’re supposed to hear everything from me, not Paolo.”
“Would you have told me what happened if Paolo didn’t mention it to me?”
I lowered my head and studied her. “Is something going on between you two? There’s a strong energy coming off you right now. It’s telling me yes there is something going on and you’ve already dropped your panties for him.”
Alba gaped. “I have a strong energy coming off of me?”
“Yes, dear. It’s calledI-had-sex pheromones.” I took another drink. “You’re glowing, too.”
“It’s the green smoothies you drink after you meditate, right? All that healthy leafy stuff gives you superpowers andan ability to smell my pheromones.” She blinked her eyes and her face turned red.
“Probably.” I set my glass down. “How? When? Paolo is always with me.”
“When you’re at work and Pippa is napping.” She covered her face in shame. “He’s so freaking delicious; I couldn’t resist him.”
“I know all about that.” I shook my head, but I wasn’t upset with her for sleeping with Paolo. Like all the Remotti men, he was handsome. It was obvious he had rocked Alba’s world, which she needed. It’d been years since she’d been with a man.
“I feel awful. Worst babysitter ever.”
“No you aren’t. I know if Pippa needed you during your dirty activities, you would have stopped and tended to her.”
“I swear to you, I would have.”
“I just hope you didn’t scream and moan. She could be traumatized.”
“Paolo stuffed a rag in my mouth to keep me quiet.” She gasped and covered her mouth, eyes bulging. “Oh, shit. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
I couldn’t help but giggle. Alba could always make me feel better.
We continued laughing and eating for a spell. I so needed this time to decompress and process what had happened earlier.
“Apparently, I was mistaken. Those pictures of Ciro and the redhead didn’t tell an accurate story.” I wiped my mouth and hiked my leg up, setting my foot on the corner of the chair.
“Is that what he said?” Alba’s intense stare drilled into me from across my little dining table.
“Not at first. Roman called me, but Ciro and the whole family were there listening to me on speaker.”
“You’re joking.”
“I wish I were. Shame on me for trusting Roman. For trusting any of them.” Suddenly, I felt deflated.
“Then he wasn’t cheating on you. That’s good, right?” Alba asked.
“How can he cheat when we aren’t a couple? Just because we had sex and share a daughter doesn’t make us a couple. He can be with whoever he wants. I’m done, Alba.”
“Oh, babe. I’m so sorry he let you down.”
“No, I let me down. I should’ve been stronger.”
