Page 131 of Stolen Bases

Perfect little Lia. Don’t worry about her, she’ll accommodate everyone’s needs.

The old me existed in the background, disappearing behind the other, bigger personalities of my brother and cousins. Not anymore. Being with Cam has given me the self-confidence I need to ask for what I want. To stand on my own and be the star in my life, not just the supporting character in someone else’s.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I lean back against my dresser, exuding my newfound confidence. “Maybe I have changed. Or maybe I’m still me, and I’m just tired of being what everyone else needs. You were there, Zia. You know what happened. As usual,she asked me to put Nico’s needs ahead of mine. She didn’t even give Cam a chance. She just kicked him out and forbade me from seeing him. I’m not a child. I’m a grown woman, and I can make my own decisions.”

Zia Rose blows out a frustrated breath. “I know you are, and while I don’t agree with how Cat handled things, her feelings towards the situation are valid. This cold war the two of you are in is too much. It’s not doing either of you any good. You need to talk to her. Apologize.”

I huff, shaking my head. “She knows where to find me.”

“You’re right. She’s the parent, and she should talk to you first. But—”

“I did nothing wrong by falling for Cam. I’m not acting out. This isn’t me being childish and rebelling. I fell for him because he’s amazing, and he treats me like a freaking queen. Cam listens to me and holds me when I need him. He’s sweet, kind, and funny. He’s … he’s everything, Zia.”

“I’m going to throw this out there: if you didn’t think you were doing anything wrong, then why did you hide your relationship?” Zia Rose watches me as I scroll through a list of comebacks in my head.

She’s got me.

“Because…” I bite my cheek to keep from answering. I don’t have a suitable answer for her, and she knows it. The truth is I knew Nico would be pissed, and I didn’t want to hurt him.

“You are the smartest one in this family, Lia. You obviously see something in Cameron we don’t. But you have to fix the problem, not run from it. You will only end up hurting the people you love in the end, Cameron included.”

I gnaw on my lips. She’s right. But why can’t everyone just trust me?

“I see how strained your relationship with Cat has become, and it breaks my heart. I know you’re still seeing him, and I promise you this will not end well. In no way am I telling you to break upwith Cam. I am asking you to think about what happens when Cat and Nico find out before you get the chance to tell them the truth. We both know your brother is stubborn. You will lose him if you’re not honest with him.”

She stands and gives me a tight hug before walking to the door without another word.

My conversation with Zia Rose has been on replay in my head throughout the entire first half of my shift at the hospital. She made some solid points about how running away from my problems will only make things worse.

It’s why I find myself standing outside our family restaurant, between my double shifts, my head and my heart battling it out with one another.

I don’t want to date Cam in secret, and I certainly don’t want this rift between me and my mom to get wider. I love her. She is one of the most important people in my life, and if I want my relationship with Cameron to work, I need her support. I need her to listen and see things from my perspective.

She always talks about my brother and the sacrifices he made for our family. I made them too, but I’m not sure she sees the things I gave up. It makes me feel less than when she dismisses my feelings and needs for Nico’s.

The bell above the door rings as I walk into the nearly empty dining room at Belladonna. A few staff members wave at me as they prep stations and set tables for dinner service. I wave back and make my way to the back office, where my mom is going through orders for the week.

Zia Rose smiles proudly at me and shoots me a wink. She mouths,You got this, as she stirs a pot of sauce.

I breathe in the rich aroma of her fresh marinara.

Sofia waves my way before pulling out a tray of focaccia bread from the oven. I’m hit with the smell of garlic and rosemary, and my mouth waters at the delicious and homey scent of my childhood.

Feeling less nauseous and more confident than when I walked in, I move past the walk-ins towards the back where the office is located. It’s a small workspace—only twelve-by-twelve feet—with various calendars, schedules, and photos printed out and covering the walls.

I used to spend hours here studying while my mom worked, hiding away from the kitchen mayhem and getting lost in my books to cope with often feeling like an afterthought.

I look through the window and, as expected, my mom is sitting behind her desk, with her glasses perched on her nose, working through a stack of invoices. My body buzzes with nervous energy as I watch her tackle the pile.

Deep breath. You got this.I pump myself up before I knock and wait.

“Come in,” my mom calls out.

I push open the door and peek my head in. “Hey, Mamma.”

“Lia, what a surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Removing her glasses, she shuffles the papers in front of her and moves them to the side as I take a seat across from her.

“I was between shifts, and I thought we could talk a little.”

---