Page 64 of Bittersweet

“Cuz? As in cousin?” I don’t realize I’ve said it aloud until everyone turns to look atme.

“Yeah. Sophia is my cousin. She's over here playing nanny to my brother's kid. Why? Do you two know eachother?”

“No. Not really,” Sophia says. “I’ve seen her only once, in your brother’sbakery.”

Oh God. There it is again. Affirmation that I’m the world’s biggest idiot. Sophia’s not Elio’s wife at all. She’s his cousin, and I . . .I had sex with his brother. I came here with hisbrother.

Marc frowns. “AtBittersweet?”

“Si.”

“Oh yeah, you live upstairs, right?” Marc turns his gaze on me, but I can’t answer. I glance at B, who looks like she’s ready to slap me, or Marc, or . . . both of us. She might be small, but the woman is trulyterrifying.

“Romy is Elio’s . . . regular customer,” Biancasays.

I close my eyes, wishing she hadn’t finished that sentence, wishing I hadn’t been such afool.

“Well, no wonder you were so fat when you walked into my gym,” Marc says, patting myass.

“Marco!” comes the exclamation from all the women on theporch

My jaw drops, my face turns crimson, and I lower my gaze to the sun-bleached boards of the front porch so I won’t open my mouth. If I do, I’m not sure what will comeout.

Marc grins and shrugs. “What? Romy knows I’m kidding, don’t you,babe?”

I give him a half-hearted smile and follow him inside when all I really want is to run in the otherdirection.

God, I can’t wait to ditch this egotisticalass.

24

Elio

“My anna-conna don’t wantnone unless you’ve got buns, hun,” Coco sings at the top of her lungs, and I shut off the stereo and glare atNico.

“Daddy!” sheprotests.

At the same time, Nico shouts, “What the fuck,man?”

“Yeah, what thefu—”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence, young lady.” I hold her gaze in the rearview mirror as she pouts and turns in a snit to look out the window. Then, I shoot a quick glance at my supposed best bud. “Will you stop teaching my daughter inappropriate songs,please?”

“What? This is a classic. Besides, it’s better than that indie folk you listen to. Jesus, I’d get all hyped up about Sir Mix-A-Lot too if I had to have that hipster shit lull me tosleep.”

I roll my eyes. “Remind me why you’re hereagain?”

“Because Nonna loves me. I’m an honoraryMoretti.”

“More like an honorary asshole,” I say under mybreath.

“That’s what Aunt B says. That Uncie Nico is anasshole.”

“Coco!” I use my mirror to give my child death stares. I glance back at the road—shit! I’ve run us right off it. I jerk the wheel suddenly, bringing us back onto my grandparents’ longdrive.

Nico turns in his seat and frowns at my daughter. “She does not saythat.”

“Yep, shedoes.”