Page 79 of Between Us

“Trust me, nobody can forget it.”

“You have a problem with me, Matteo?”

“Other than you touching my sister?” the fucker said mockingly. “Nah, we're good.”

Roman managed a smirk despite how pissed he still was. “Don't worry, she loves it when I do.”

Matteo's expression darkened, but before he could open his mouth again, Alessandra walked in their line of vision.

“Hey, Matty,” she said when she was close enough, walking over to give him a hug.

His lips curved up. “Hey, shorty.”

“Really? I'm wearing five-inch heels.”

“You'll always be shorter than me.” He playfully messed up her hair, and she pulled away with an annoyedtsk, quickly smoothing it back down with her fingers.

Alessandra glanced from him to Roman, and she seemed to realize that something was going on. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah, don't worry about it,” her brother was quick to reassure her.

“I thought we were having lunch with just the close family. There's a lot of people here.”

“Yeah, well, you know how Ma is. She wanted a party.”

“Isabella was looking for you. She says she has a friend she wants you to meet.”

That seemed to pique Matteo’s interest immediately. “Yeah?”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like you lack female company. I don’t know why she even bothers when everybody knows you’re going to dump her after a few dates.”

“I don’t date, sis. I fuck them then send them on their merry way.”

“Ew. You’re a pig.”

He just laughed.

Someone called Matteo’s name, and he smiled, raising his hand to salute them.

“You two enjoy yourselves,” he said as he started to leave. “I'll see you later, alright?”

Alessandra turned to watch him walk away, and she suddenly went as white as a sheet.

“What's the matter?” Roman asked, not needing to look to see that she'd spotted Luca. “You look pale.”

She met his eyes with trepidation. “Luca is here.”

“And?”

She paused at his apparent calmness. “You're fine with it?”

“Define fine,” he muttered, giving her an annoyed look. “Of course I'm not fine with it, Alessa. I want to beat the shit out of him.”

She let his words sink in as she sawed her bottom lip. Then she stepped closer and kissed him. “You're doing agreat job ofnotdoing it.”

“Very funny.”

She smiled, his acceptance of Luca's proximity seeming to put her at ease. “I really appreciate you coming today. I know it can't be easy to be surrounded by a bunch of mouthy Italians. We're loud, especially when there's so many of us.”

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