Page 30 of Easy Steal

We wandered over towards where Mum was, and she smiled up at me, opening her arms for a hug. Livie let go of my arm, and I hesitantly went into the arms of my mother. She patted me on the back once, before she let me go.

“Samuel,” she said, “how are you?”

“Good.”

“And the business?”

“Fine.”

She smiled, “and who’s this?”

“Oh,” I grabbed Livie and yanked her forward, “this is Liv. My… girlfriend.”

“Oh, wow,” Mum cupped her own cheeks.

“We’ve met, Mrs. Santino,” Livie smiled, shaking Mum’s hand, “at Rome’s bachelorette party?”

“Oh yes! I remember you. The hair stands out,” Mum ran her fingers through Livie’s purple locks.

Livie laughed politely, but I could tell she was uncomfortable with the touch.

“So how did you two meet?” she asked.

Livie looked up at me, raising her eyebrows.

“At Toni’s wedding, Ma,” I said. “Val actually introduced us.”

“I see,” Mum nodded, “and however did you win this one’s heart?” she asked Livie.

Liv laughed, “I have averynice car, ma’am.”

Mum chuckled, harder than I had heard in a long time.

“That will do the job with this one,” Mum pointed to my chest, “though I am surprised that he brought you here. Sammy doesn’t like to interact with us, usually.”

I sighed.

The conversation was going so well.

Mum had always had trouble holding her tongue.

There was always some remark, some comment that had to be made.

“Well hopefully we both see you again soon,” Livie replied, dodging the comment swiftly.

Mum nodded once, and looked between the both of us, before walking away.

“Well, that went well,” Livie smiled up at me.

I nodded, but she didn’t know Mum like I did.

I saw the looks that she gave Liv, and knew that now she had put together that she was another Lilith’s girl. We all heard about it when Toni and Rome had started a relationship. Though she was far more invested in Antoni’s love life than my own. As Don, he had more responsibility attached, more expectation surrounding who he would take as a wife. Everyone who knew Toni, knew that Rome was perfect for him - as much as it pained Mum to admit it.

I also knew that I would be having a conversation very soon about how Livie is not right for me. Luckily, it wasn’t something she had to worry about.

Two weeks, and it would be over.

We mingled among the rest of The Family for as long as we could take.

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