Page 99 of Anyone But You

She snapped her lips together, and I was prepared to continue my lecture when Amelia came through with her fingers plugged into her ears.

“Don’t mind me. Don’t mind me. I’m not even here,” she proclaimed. “Carry on.”

I refrained from chewing my mother out and offered to help, but Amelia refused my assistance and quietly made a plate of food I imagined was for Victoria. She snagged a bottle of wine from the wine fridge before dashing out of the kitchen with a tray laden with food.

“I didn’t quite get who she was when she introduced herself. She spoke so fast that I couldn’t keep up. Who is she, Gio?” my mother asked, pointing in Amelia’s direction.

“The help. Let’s continue. You may not acknowledge Victoria as my wife because, as you said, we didn’t get married before a priest, but we will be married soon enough once we get our lives back on track. I plan on making Victoria the mother of my children, and somehow, I think I can convince her to allow us to have ferrets.”

“Ferrets are disgusting, and they smell. You should give up this obsession you have with those creatures.”

“Maybe if I had parents who loved me and bought me the ferret I asked for like clockwork for my birthday and Christmas, then I would be over my obsession.”

“You’re still overdramatic and long-winded. Please finish making your point.”

“Sure. I’ll cut to the chase. My point is that I love Victoria, and as her husband, it’s my duty to provide, protect, and all that other wholesome shit. You have to decide right now if you want to be a part of my family. If not, then it was nice knowing you.”

She gasped and clutched the base of her throat.

Look who’s being overdramatic now. On another note, I feel like a parent scolding a child. It’s euphoric, and now I realize why my parents constantly fussed at me. I can’t wait until I have my own children and can drop the D-word. Let me test it out.

“I’m disappointed in you, Ma.”

She nearly crumpled.

Yep. That hit the spot.

“May I speak?” she asked, nearly in tears.

I didn’t want to make my mother cry, but I had to let my boundaries be known.

“You may.”

“Giovanni, I apologize for behaving in an untoward manner. I have some concerns.”

“Let’s hear them,” I said, finally taking a seat when my leg began to ache.

“What do you know of this woman?”

“Everything I could possibly ever know. Trust me—a lot is revealed when you’re stuck on an island with no cell or Wi-Fi reception.”

“What if she has ill intentions towards you, like—”

“Like Naomi? I can assure you, she doesn’t, or she would’ve left me for dead on the island. What is your next concern?”

“How do you know you love her and you’re not suffering from White Knight Syndrome or something similar?”

“White what?”

“White Knight Syndrome; it’s when someone falls in love with their rescuer,” she explained.

“I loved her before I was injured. Next, and please make it interesting.”

“She’s only with you for your money.”

I rolled my eyes and reclined in my seat, elevating my leg with another chair.

“You know, I do have other shining qualities besides my wealth.”