Page 99 of Cassio

Bianca rolled her eyes. “Umm, Nico bought his vendors out.”

“Oh.” Uncomfortable silence followed. “How is Angie? Those two dating again?”

Bianca shook her head. “Um, no. She hooked up with a guy that works for Nico. They just broke up, so she’s on the mend.”

“Oh.” I was certain Angie and John would have ended up together somehow, though I kind of wanted someone better for him. He was too good for Angie, but unfortunately the guy didn’t have eyes for anyone else.

“Áine, you sit next to me and Bianca will sit next to you.” My mother started directing our seating arrangement at the table.

The air between my mother and I was so tense, you could slice it with the knife.

“How about if Margaret sits next to you?” I suggested. It would be a good way for the two to talk out their issues and be done with it.

“You’ll have to talk to me eventually, Áine,” Mom reprimanded. I just couldn’t believe she would do it in this setting. We still haven’t talked about the whole change of paternity and lies that apparently loomed over our family. It was important, but it freaking hurt that she couldn’t have somehow eased me into it when those two got married. After all, I was old enough.

I avoided looking her way. “Of course,” I muttered. “I was just going to sit next to Cassio. Getting to know my future husband and all that. Since the wedding is this weekend. This is like speed dating to the altar.”

Someone choked out a laugh but quickly stifled it. Yes, I was using Cassio as an excuse. A chair dragging over the dining room hardwood floor echoed through the silence, and I took a seat next to Cassio with a smile on my face. His eyes twinkled while amusement played on his face.

“I think your mother is trying to butter you up,” Margaret blurted out as she sat herself down. “The whole wrong daddy thing. But don’t worry, your favorite dinner plate will fix it.” My head snapped to Margaret. She was unusually cranky. She shrugged. “Hormones.”

My lips tugged up. I had a feeling she’d use that excuse a lot. Though something was up; she usually wasn’t snappy nor the type to attack verbally.

“If you would have been responsible, Margaret Callahan, there wouldn’t have been any need to butter up.” Oh, shit! My mother was in the attack mode too.

“Well, excuse me for being the reason you finally had to divulge the truth,” Margaret snapped.

“Lovely,” I muttered, sneaking a view our guests’ way. They didn’t seem uncomfortable, almost as if they were used to family bickering. Sharing a glance with Bianca, I mumbled, “Just ignore them.”

I smiled sweetly to Luca and Cassio. “Welcome to the family,” I announced.

Bianca chuckled. “Oh, we’ll have to visit a lot. You live here?”

“No, in the city.” I glanced at Mom. She and Margaret were bickering sotto voce.

“Oh, that’s right,” Luca chimed in. “Cassio owns that building.”

My head snapped to him, everyone else forgotten. “What?”

“Luca,” Cassio growled.

“Oops.” Though I was certain Luca didn’t slip. He wanted me to know Cassio owned the building.

“So Áine, are you all ready for the wedding?” Bianca asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the bomb.

I shook my head. “Not sure,” I muttered. “I think so.” I hadn’t done a single thing to prepare for it. I figured Mum had it all going. I locked eyes with Cassio. “So you own that building?”

He nodded in confirmation.

“I guess it makes sense now why it’s so secure.” Because what else could I possibly say. “You live there too?”

“Yeah, sometimes I stay there.”

“You knew I lived there?”

“Yes.” Well, at least he didn’t lie.

“Anything else I should know?” I questioned him.