Page 3 of Valentino

I glance over at him. “Who?”

“Giuliano and his girl, do they fuck in the library? Like on the shelves and shit….”

“Nobody fucks in a library,” I scoff. “What the hell’s wrong with you?” I look over and see a bodyguard. “Look, there’s her guard coming around now.”

“I can’t believe she has a bodyguard,” he whispers as if the guard can hear us. “What’s her brother’s name again?”

“Enrico Ferrara.”

“He’s rich…right?”

“Loaded.” A black Ferrari drives past, and we both stop to watch it drive by.

“I’m going to have one of those one day,” I say.

“How are you going to get one of those?” Carlo scoffs. “Dream on.”

“Watch me.” I think for a moment. “I’m going to buy my parents a nice car too. You should buy yours one.”

He screws up his face. “No way. My parents can get their own fucking car; they wouldn’t appreciate it anyway.” He flicks his cigarette onto the sidewalk.

Carlo isn’t close to his family like I am, in fact, he spends a lot more time with my family than he does his. Sometimes he stays there when I’m not even home, he doesn’t talk about it, so I don’t ask.

“You know what? When I’m rich, I’m going to spoil you too,” I tell him. “Buy you a nice car, get you a fancy big house.” I shrug. “You’re my family too.”

He smiles wistfully as he listens. “Thanks, man.”

We sit on the wall and watch the world go by,

“How long do we have to wait here for him?” he asks.

I glance at my watch. “Another half hour or so.”

“Screw that.” He flicks his cigarette and stands. “I’m going.”

“Where to?”

“Delfina’s.”

My eyebrows flick up in disgust. “I cannot believe you like her.”

“Who said I like her?” He winks. “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.” He begins to amble up the road and I smirk as I watch him disappear.

A text vibrates my phone as it arrives.

Come inside.

She brought a friend today.

I twist my lips, annoyed. Fuck’s sake, now he wants me to babysit her friend so that he can sneak her away.

I type,

Seriously?

He replies,

Come on man.