Page 82 of Just A Little Fling

Babbo

Got it. You’ve been running late a lot this week.

Nico

Yeah, I need to get to bed earlier.

Babbo

Insomnia?

Nico

Staying out too late.

Babbo

Understandable. Did you decide the morning reminder wasn’t working for you?

Nico

I didn’t think you were still interested.

Babbo

You didn’t ask me.

Nico

No, but I just figured after the club that you wouldn’t be.

Babbo

Next time, let me decide if I’m not interested. The door code hasn’t changed. See you in the morning.

* * *

“Nonna, what kind of weirdo eats mayo with their fries? You woke up and chose violence.” The weather was beautiful, and I’d mentioned to Gabe that I was going to swing by Nonna’s assisted living facility and take her out for an afternoon walk. He’d suggested I take off early and have lunch with her, too, so we wouldn’t be rushed.

The past couple of weeks had been a whirlwind of figuring out how to manage the added responsibilities I took on at work in addition to my regular job. Gabe, as always, had given me leeway to make it fit as needed, but it was still an adjustment. The responsibility of working for an outside client versus one of his friends made a huge difference in my time obligations, but I was absolutely loving it. It had been a long time since I’d felt like I was actually progressing in something, and every day, I went in and saw a little more progress toward the ultimate goal of closing out the file with a happy client. Maybe this was something I could make happen regularly?

Unfortunately, the project management didn’t do anything to fix my problems with Babbo. The part of me that wanted to follow him was at war with the part who wanted freedom. For better or worse, I followed the independent route and stayed at the club. There was no damn way I’d have gone home with anyone, but he’d given me the opening if I wanted to take it. I hadn’t stepped through the door. In hindsight, why the fuck I’d stayed when I’d had no damned intention of doing anything with anyone didn’t even make sense to me. For all the plans made with the boys, I never even got the chance to ask him on a proper date before I blew everything up.

Today was a mostly good day for Nonna. After the front desk reminded her of my name, it all clicked back into place, and she was back to the woman I remembered from my childhood. She was irreverent, funny, and a little bawdy. It was the cutest thing. The recent medication change had worked wonders, and some days, it was easy to forget, no pun intended, that she had any impairment. At her request, we drove down to the waterfront to walk along the water and grab some lunch there.

“I don’t remember everything, but I know the proper way to eat french fries.” I remained dubious but dutifully tried them as instructed. Not a fan. Just like I hadn’t been a fan the last time she’d insisted I try them. Or the time before that. I split my lobster roll in half and put one side on her plate while she divvied up her fish. We’d split our meals for as long as I could remember. Once properly split, we dove in.

“How’s the boyfriend?” Nonna asked when we came up for air.

“Levi isn’t my boyfriend, but he’s fine.” After I’d stayed away for more than a week, he’d summoned me back to the house and restarted my morning spankings. I’d instantly felt better, but I wasn’t ready to acknowledge that to him. Even now, the familiar ache in my ass from sitting on the wooden bench reminded me of him. And how much I missed being around him for nothing besides his company.

“He cooked dinner for your entire family.”

---