Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out his wallet. Flipping it open, he slid out something the shape of a credit card and held it up. “Your license?”
I gaped at him. “How— When—“ The pieces weren’t clicking.
“You ran off so fast you forgot to grab it this afternoon, babe. So, I promised our new bestie, Vince, that I’d make sure you got it.”
Again, with the babe. This guy needed professional help. His delusions were off the charts.
But at least now I didn’t have to lie awake tonight trying to figure out how he knew not only my name but where I lived. All that info was printed neatly on the driver’s license perched between his fingertips.
When he didn’t move, I was forced to close the gap between us to snatch the laminated card from his grasp.
“Thanks. It’s been fun, but let’s not do this again, okay?”
Sasha chuckled. “You’re adorable when you’re all grumbly.”
And you belong in a straitjacket.
Unlocking my front door, I stepped inside, shooting one last parting shot before I hoped I would never see his face again. “And get a haircut.”
Latching the door, I slid the deadbolt, but I could have sworn I heard his dejected voice say, “You don’t like my hair?”
Jesus. Thank God this day was finally over.
“What happened to keeping a low profile, Gemma?” My brother, Enzo, didn’t bother with pleasantries when I picked up his call.
Plopping down on the couch, I dramatically threw an arm over my eyes, even though he couldn’t see me. At least he could hear the accompanying sigh.
“I tried, okay? But shit’s not exactly going my way right now.”
“I’ll say.” Enzo huffed. “Your public meltdown is all over social media.”
I sat up straight. I’d thought he’d gotten some chatter through the police channels about Joey and him having a gun registered in my name. I had no idea his call was related to the run-in with the kooky blond giant at the DMV.
“Look, Enzo, I was having a moment,” I tried to explain.
“More than a moment from the looks of it. You look like you’re about to have a stroke. And do me a favor. Stay off the internet. The comments aren’t kind—that’s putting it mildly—and I don’t need you getting into an argument with the keyboard warriors.”
“Fine.” He was right. I didn’t need to add fuel to the fire I’d started.
He might be my little brother by two years, but he’d never had trouble talking down to me like I was a child.
“Part of our agreement to let you branch out on your own was that you fly under the radar. A stunt like this is asking for trouble. You’re putting yourself in danger, letting everyone—including our enemies—know exactly where you are.”
“I’m sorry. I am. But this guy just walked in off the street right as they called my number, and the desk clerk basically told me to sit down and shut up, and I lost it.”
I could hear Enzo scraping his hand over the scruff along his jaw through the phone. “And you couldn’t let him go first? You decided that making a scene big enough for people to whip out their phones to record it was better? You assaulted a DMV employee, Gemma. I’m honestly surprised that I didn’t have to come down there to bail your ass out.”
Eating crow was never fun. Having the time and space to reflect on my behavior, I knew I’d overreacted. But in that moment, I couldn’t see past the injustice, having been triggered by a history of being treated like a second-class citizen in my own fucking family.
“I was late for work.” I sighed, knowing how stupid and trivial it sounded.
“You work in a bar, Gemma.” God, he was so judgy. In his mind, it was beneath a Bellini to hold a job in the service industry. Bellinis were expected to be served by others.
“I’m well aware. Thanks for stating the obvious,babybrother.”
If he wanted to play this game, I could lean on years of practice pushing the right buttons.
“Do youwantto come back home?“ The condescension in his tone had me flipping him the bird. Too bad for me, he couldn’t see it.
