“Sì, ma procedi, per favore.”Yes, but please proceed.
“You know I don’t speak Italian.” Enzo’s voice feigns boredom, but I know him well enough to hear the hint of amusement shining through.
Playing into the ruse, my lips part in mock surprise, and I bring my hand to my chin, rubbing it lightly before pushing my fingers through my hair as though I’m in distress. “Oh no. Sì. Sì, naturalmente. Sarò lì.”Oh no. Yes. Yes, of course. I'll be right there.
Pulling the phone from my ear, I hangup quickly to hide the caller's name, and push the phone back into my pocket.
Turning to Norah, I take her hand off my arm, kissing the top of it, before letting it go. It falls limply, as though she has no control of her body. “I’m so sorry, but I must go. That was mia madre, and she requires my assistance immediately.”
Sighing, Sully butts in. “It’s after nine o’clock. What could Valentina possibly need?”
Above Norah’s head, I shoot him a glare before looking back down at my date. “I apologize, Ms. Dayton. It is not my intention to cut our night short.”
It’s actually always been my intention, but she doesn’t need to know that.
Her expression looks sad for a moment before she claps her hands together triumphantly. “I’ll go with you!”
Immediately, I shake my head no. “Family matters, I’m afraid. You stay and enjoy dinner. I’ll hail a cab.”
“No,” Sully says, shaking his head. “Take the limo. The restaurant is only a few blocks away. We can walk there and Stephen can come back for us later. I insist.”
Hera huffs impatiently. “But I’m wearing six-inch stilettos, Sully.”
“You’ll be fine,” he responds quickly, giving her his infamous smile. “I’ll carry you if I have to.”
“I don't want to be a third wheel,” Norah pouts, giving me doe eyes. She’s still fishing for an invitation that won’t be extended.
Forcing myself to refrain from rolling my eyes, I offer, “I could have Stephen drop you off on my way?”
Her eyes light up, and I momentarily feel guilty. “That sounds great, thank you!”
Nodding, I close the distance with Hera and politely kiss her on each cheek, thanking her for including me in a lovely evening, then turn to my best friend with my hand extended. He takes it with his opposite hand, and pulls me in by the shoulder with his other.
“You’re lucky Norah’s going home too, or you’d be in big, big trouble, my friend,” he whispers, then gently pushes me away.
Keeping up the charade, I give him a small smile and say, “Thank you, Sullivan. I will let you know how everything works out with my family. I’ll call you tomorrow, amico mio.”
When Norah and I are in the limo, she gives Stephen, the driver, her address, which to my dismay is about twenty minutes away with this late evening traffic.
Leaning back, I get comfortable against the leather and pull my phone out. My messages with Enzo and Sully are the first tab I swipe to, so I type out a quick message to my cousin.
Grazie
Immediately, my phone vibrates with an incoming message.
Sully
You suck
But also, thanks! Maybe Hera will suck too…
Enzo
It’s baffling how often you actually get laid with such an eighth-grade outlook on life.
I’d say he has a face only a mother can love, but he’s proven that to be untrue.
Sully
