Page 92 of Own Me

They were all truly concerned for Ysabel, and although this could be considered proof that Ynez was telling the truth about her sister's ability to manipulate other people—-

Tra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il mare. Between saying and doing, there's the sea in between.

His mother of all people had spoken those words to him when he was seven, and her drunken state had made her unusually candid.In vino veritas. In wine, there is truth—-and so it was, with Sheila bluntly warning her own son at that timenotto believe everything she said just because she was his mother.

It was a hard lesson to learn, but Massimo had taken her words to heart, and since then, he had only trusted the few people who were able to meet his standards. People like his ownfamiglia,and people like Ynez, who was the opposite of Sheila...on paper.

But then on the other side of the coin, there was Ysabel. She had a college degree that she did not put to use. Preferred to work in her step-aunt's diner with no seeming ambition of her own. Was eccentric to the point of taking a canoe to work. Had no friends except for the regulars inMammina's,all of whom Massimo had originally expected to sing Ysabel praises while dissing her sister.

But none of them did, and when he questioned one-armed Ric bluntly about this, the older man looked at him in surprise,asking, "Why would we say anything bad about Ynez? We have not even met her."

"Are you saying she hasn't come here? Not once?"

"They say it is because of Arnoldo. That she never got over her father's death." One-armed Ric shrugged. "But that is all gossip, really. We do not ask, and they do not speak. Life goes on,sì?"

The conversation went no further since Ysabel had already returned to his side to let him know that she had cooked something for him.

"I was told this was your favorite..."

All eyes were on them as Ysabel took Massimo to one of the diner's corner booths, and she presented her masterpiece with a flourish. "Clam chowder for starters, and the entrée, a triple-layered Philly cheesesteak sandwich made of organically sourced wheat bread, vegan cheese, and plant-based meat. Oh, and double scoops of mashed potato on the side. Made from scratch—-" Her voice then lowered into a whisper as she revealed her secret. "—-usingLa Strega'svery own recipe."

The whole diner burst into laughter at Massimo's visible surprise, and they laughed again when it was Ysabel's turn to gasp in surprise, with Massimo suddenly giving hisfidanzataa little tug that had her tumbling into his lap.

"Let's put it to a test then," Massimo murmured.

"Of course." She tried to get to her feet, but he wouldn't let her leave his lap. She offered him a fork, but he only raised a brow.

"You are not going to feed me?"

"Only if you will feed me back."

"Of course."

Ysabel, having expected him to argue like he always did, was surprised at the swiftness of Massimo's concession, and she looked at him suspiciously. "You promise?"

"You have my word as a Marchetti." He then took the fork from her hand and replaced it with a soup spoon. "Since you're feeding me, we should do this properly..."

Ysabel rolled her eyes but took the soup spoon all the same. "Whatever..."

Massimo's expression turned veiled when he saw her give the spoonful of soup a little blow. Had she forgotten he was from one of America's wealthiest and toughestfamiglie? So why then was she acting like the mother he never had? Ynez had never displayed such care towards him—-porca miseria!Why did his brain keep making these pointless comparisons between the two sisters? Was it because Ysabel was more and more becoming like what he imagined Ynez could be?

"Here you go,Master."The word had already slipped out before she realized what she was saying, and her heart nearly stopped beating when she saw the way Massimo's gaze suddenly narrowed at her.

"Why did you call me that?"

Because it's what I heard the other girl call you.

And as much as she wanted to say the truth out loud, Ysabel couldn't muster the courage to do so. Today was one of the best days of her life, and she just didn't want to risk ruining it. If another lie would keep Massimo by her side, then so be it.

"Because you're bossy," Ysabel quipped instead, and her heart ached at the way he visibly relaxed. Was he finally starting to suspect the truth?

Massimo finally took a sip of her clam chowder, and she looked at him hopefully. "Well?"

"It's fine."

The dismissive tone had Ysabel bristling. Why was he being unnecessarily rude and hurtful? Would it kill him to—-

Oh!

---