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“Romina?”
“How can you even look at me? How?”
Zio shuffled over, sighing, “Easy. I love you little lioness. I’ll never turn my back on you. Never.”
“But I… love him. I’m falling in love with him.”
“Love is a lie. Love and hate are a coin, bella. Yours has flipped. It won’t take much to flip back again. Things between a man and woman...,” he gestured with his hand… “they can get complicated.”
“I know,” I sighed. “He’s going to New York. Clubbing with his boys.”
“Come. Eat your supper. Finish your schoolwork and go find a party.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Go party. Take pictures with your phone and put it all on that what’s it called Snapchat?”
I rolled my eyes. “Zio you are a genius.”
He nodded. “I still want to hurt that fucker. Go kiss another boy. Dance.”
“Who are you right now?”
He shrugged. “Go. Do it. Otherwise how will you know if it’s him or just your first awakening of desire?”
“Is this the part where you give me a sex talk?”
“Do I need to?”
I shook my head and stood. “No. I’m good. We’re good.” I squeaked, bounding up the stairs. I grabbed my phone off the bed and texted Tati. Zio’s my second father. I hid nothing from him but talking to him about s-e-x with Roque? I’d rather be interrogated by all five families.
Me:Zio ordered me to find a party tonight.
Tati:Seriously? Your uncle is cool AF.
Me:?? Party?
Tati:I’ll text Seb.
Me:Seb?
Tati:Yeah. I think we’re kind of a thing…
The smellsof Zio’s homemade sauce wafted up the stairs. I grabbed my laptop and followed my nose finding a heaping plate of homemade cavatelli with sauce waiting. Zio took a seat opposite me and bowed his head. Together we prayed in Italian then spread our napkins.
We chewed in silence for a few minutes and then he lifted his head. “We need to prepare.”
“For what?”
“For when this thing between you and Roque falls apart.”
My fork paused halfway to my mouth, “Why are you so sure it will.”
“Because I’m an old man with plenty of bad romances in my past. You’re too young and he’s too hot headed. He’s already making moves in Italy. Even if he wasn’t a Salvatore, I wouldn’t want you near him.”
“That’s ironic since I’m the head of the Palermo’s now.”
Zio scoffed, “You? You are the head of nothing. Where’s your army?”