Avvolge di bellezza tutto ciò che sfiora.
Sono legato a lei.”
Then, slowly, he faces me directly. Staring into my eyes with furrowed brows, he then repeats the last line of the poem: “Sono legato a te.”
No, it’s not the same line. One word changed. What does it mean?
Light applause from his parents interrupts my reflections, but Giovanni’s focus is relentless, his eyes glued to mine.
Shaking my head, I snap out of my Italian hypnosis. I’m burning to ask for a translation, but my practical side takes over, knowing that any curiosity would alert Maria and Roberto to the smoke and mirrors of it all. Instead, I try to quell my intrigue.
He clears his throat and shifts his gaze to his beaming mother.
“Gio, who knew you were such a poeta?” She throws a look to Roberto. “He gets that from me, you know.”
“Of course he does.” Roberto kisses Maria on the cheek and tosses me a wink.
“Tessa, I didn’t get to say it earlier, but you look bellissima in my father’s design.” Roberto gestures to the dress I’m wearing. “I haven’t seen it in quite some time, at least five years. It’s even better than I remember. I’m so happy Gio asked that I get it out of storage for you.”
Giovanni clears his throat awkwardly. “We should start the game before it gets too late.”
Maria’s eyes sparkle as she scoots one of the armchairs closer to Roberto’s and sits down. “I agree, Gio. And now that you have a partner, we can play in teams. How wonderful!”
I lean closer toward Giovanni’s ear, and we both sit back down on the sofa. “Your parents are so sweet,” I whisper.
He gives me a wry grin as Maria passes the cards out. “Prepare to have your ass handed to you by my ‘sweet’ parents.”
Chapter 25
Giovanni
“Well, this has been a delight.” Mamma puts the cards back in the box before standing up with a huge smile on her face. Having just destroyed us at UNO, she’s as smug as ever.
I raise an eyebrow. “A delight forwho, exactly?”
“I didn’t even know it was possible for someone to win that fast,” Tessa mumbles.
“Now, now. You won’t stay sad for too long, because we have a special treat for you. Tesoro, Papa went to the alimentari earlier and got your favorite dessert.”
My face heats, knowing exactly what Mamma’s going to say next.
She claps her hands excitedly. “Gelato!”
Tessa chokes on a sip of water and starts coughing beside me. Mamma screams in horror, dropping the box of cards she was holding. She rushes to Tessa’s side, squatting down on the floor. “Oh mio Dio!Are you okay? Is it another reaction?”
Tessa points to her throat, signaling that the water went down the wrong pipe.
“Ididn’t put nuts in the crostata, Gio, she must have eaten something inyourcar. A delayed reaction,” Mamma accuses, pointing a finger at me. “Youdid this to her, and now you’re just sitting there! Get the pencil!”
“Calm down, Mamma,” I say evenly. “What pencil?”
“Oddio, Gio! The stabby pencil!” She fists her hand and punches it through the air a few times in a stabbing motion.
“She’s not having a reaction, Mamma,” I reassure her, gently rubbing Tessa’s back.
Or maybe she is having a reaction. But in this case,Iam the tree nut.
Mamma frantically gestures, waving her hands around. “What do you mean? Look at her!Aiuto!”
