Page 71 of Driftwood Daffodil 2

“Don’t worry, Maw Maw, you’ll find life much easier this way.”

Her finger snapped up in sharp point. “Don’t test me, child.”

What happened to her giving up?

“Aren’t you late?”

Like Gio, Maw Maw’s bridge club had a thing about punctuality.

“Don’t sass me.”

How was that sassing?

She walked over to the screen door muttering something about the good lord testing her, then spun around and pointed at me again.

“I want to see that report when you get it back.”

Great. So not only did I have to spend a weekend at Mancini hell house, but I also had to write a report on arranged marriages in the modern age. Oh well, at least I’d get some extra credit out of it.

I rolled my eyes back down to my phone and waved over my shoulder. “Okay, Maw Maw.”

“I’m watching you Little Girl.”

Again, what happened to her giving up?

I heard the screen door squeak open, then clack shut as a smirk curled the corner of my mouth. My phone wasn’t buzzing this time. It was ringing. While the call was two minutes before my estimated timeline, I still considered it a win.

My finger hovered over the end call button. It was so tempting to hit that little red icon, but I’d already dug myself in a deep enough hole. I didn’t want him showing up here after all – which I assumed would be the next step after ignored calls.

“Damnit,” I muttered and clicked to answer. “Hello.”

Gio’s deep tone was extra gravely. “Why the fuck didn’t you answer my texts.”

“Because I didn’t want to.”

“So you were purposefully ignoring me?”

“Yeah.”

I couldn’t decide if the moment of silence that followed was brought on by anger or shock. Because who would ignore the great Gio Mancini.

“When I text you FUCKING ANSWER!”

Ah, okay, it was anger.

“Where the fuck are you?”

I dropped my eyes down to the yellow laminate flooring, then looked over at the wooden counter tops. The easy answer would be my house or the kitchen, but why be easy when one could be a vague as possible.

“I’m sitting in a chair. Where are you?” I made sure to add a little sweetness in my voice at the end, just to pull on his nerves a little more. And it seemed to work.

“I’m at my house where you should fucking be!”

Damn someone was extra snappy today.

“It’s Friday night, Nova.”

“I’m aware.”

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