Page 111 of The Wrong Game

“You guys are so cute, it’s grossing me out,” Belle said around a mouthful of ice cream. She sucked her spoon dry and pointed it at where I was texting Zach back with a smitten grin. “Like that. Stop that. Stop that weird smiling right now.”

“I can’t help it,” I said, finishing my text and tucking my phone beside me on the couch. I let out a sigh. “We’ve seen each other every day since we had dinner with his parents Saturday. Tonight is the first night we haven’t hung out. He misses me.”

Belle’s face was flat. “You saw him this morning when he was leaving your place. And also, you see himagaintomorrow night for Thursday night football.”

I chewed my lip with a shrug. “Okay, we’re maybe a little gross.”

Belle chuffed, dipping her spoon back in for a new scoop. We had the television on, but neither of us had been watching it, spending the evening catching up, instead. Work had been crazy, and I’d been spending so much time with Zach. We needed a girls night.

“So,” I said, changing the subject. “Did you ever hear back from Jordan after that game?”

Belle scoffed. “You mean, the guyyoubrought and then ditched so I politely offered him a place to hang out after the last quarter?” She batted her lashes, pressing a hand flat to her chest. “I was simply showing some hospitality.”

“I’m sure he wasverythankful for that.”

“Oh, he might have even gotten down on his knees to thank me a time or two.”

Belle winked, and I threw my head back on a laugh. But before I could respond, there was a timid knock at the door.

I paused, Belle and I both looking at each other like we weren’t sure we actually heard anything. “Is someone at your door?”

“They would call me to let me know someone was here,” I said, trying to make sense of it.

The knock came again, and I hopped off the couch, making my way toward the door.

“Unless it’s someone on your guest list,” Belle pointed out.

“Yeah, but the only people I have on there are my family and…” I peeked through the peephole, heart stopping in my chest when I saw the small figure standing outside. “Shit.”

“Who is it?” Belle whisper-yelled from the couch.

I let out a long sigh, closing my eyes and holding the door handle as I tried to brace myself.

“Gemma, who is it?” Belle asked again, this time louder.

But I didn’t answer. I just opened the door, greeting my former mother-in-law with a soft smile. “Sofia… hi.”

Sofia was a small woman. So small, in fact, that I’d often wondered how she could have given birth to the giant baby who one day became my hulk of a husband. Her hair was short and dark, and it framed her sharp jaw bones, calling attention to her thin, sad lips. Though she was small, she was fierce — an Italian woman with grit and attitude. But today, she had neither.

Today, she only had a box, one she held in her hands like a bomb set to explode any moment.

“I’m sorry to just show up,” she said, her voice timid. “I’ve tried calling a few times… I know you must be busy.”

Guilt knotted my stomach, and I let out a sigh, running one hand through my hair as I searched for the right apology.

“It’s okay,” she said before I could answer. “It really is. I know things are still… well, I know we’re all just adjusting however we know how to.”

Sofia shook her head, as if she wanted to say more but realized there was no point.

“I brought this for you,” she said, holding the box toward me. “I know we went through all of Carlo’s stuff at your old house, and I realize you probably want to be done with it and moving on but… this was the last of his things from the hospital.”

“That’s the one they tried to give me at the hospital,” I said, staring at the all-white cardboard. “I told them to donate what they could and trash the rest.”

“I know, I know you did,” Sofia said, her eyes falling to the box in her hands. “But emotions were high then. And when you left the room, the nurse gave me the box, instead. I’ve held onto it, and I guess I didn’t want to face what was inside it because… well, because it’s the last of him.”

Her lip quivered, and she shook off the emotion, clearing her throat.

“But, I didn’t go through it. I just opened it and I saw some of what’s in there but… there’s a letter, Gemma. One with your name on it. And I didn’t read it or move anything or go past that I just… I thought maybe…”