Page 81 of Matteo
“Always talking about business,” she grumbled, but there was no anger in her tone. “I’m guessing all his friends are in there too.”
“Some,” I admitted. “Raphael Santos just joined them, so I made myself scarce. There’s only so much of their bickering I can handle.”
She chuckled. “They’ve known each other a long time. Just wait until Sasha joins in.”
“I can only imagine. Nikola is one of my best friends, and his humor”—if you could even call it that—“supersedes his uncle’s.”
“I’m so happy you have good friends.” She stroked my hair away from my face. “They make all the difference in this world, especially when times get hard.”
I caught a sad expression and knew she was thinking about Ella’s passing. She was hit just as hard as Uncle Massimo.
“It’s okay, Mom.” I pulled her into a hug. “I miss her too.”
She cleared her throat, squeezing me tightly. “I’m also happy Massimo found someone to help him…”
“Move on,” I finished gently for her. “It doesn’t mean he’s forgotten her.”
“I know.” She straightened and grabbed my hand, holding it tightly. “And I’m so lucky to have you and your dad. Having a partner who’s also your best friend makes life so much sweeter.” The sadness was momentarily replaced with pride and joy. “I’m so happy you found that too.”
“Let’s hope she doesn’t hate me for blindsiding her,” I joked.
A soft frown etched across her features. “I doubt it, son. It’s been a long time?—”
“There you are. I’m starving. When is this party starting?” Nikola leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, thankfully with a shirt on. “More importantly, where is the food?” My mom crossed her arms and he added, “Hi, Mrs. Vitale,” in his sweetest voice.Suck-up.
I raised a brow. “Have you tried the kitchen?”
He waved his hand.
“Ever try to meddle in the kitchen when someone’s cooking?” Nikola rolled his eyes. “I love my mom, but when she gets distracted, food poisoning follows.”
Mom chuckled, then grabbed his hand and mine. “Come on, boys. I’ll feed you before the party gets going.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
ARIANNA
“Iwant to wear that dress.” Hannah tugged on the yellow gown while Gianna held on to it with firm fingers. “It’s my day.”
“Said who, bitch?” Gianna hissed. “It’s mine and it won’t fit you. Besides, it looks so much better on me. Yellow washes you out.”
“Hannah, let Gianna have it. There is another dress.”
Despite Hannah and I being identical twins, we didn’t always see eye to eye. This was one of those moments. Nonetheless, whenever we were together, I felt at peace.
“No, it washesyouout, Gianna, not me,” Hannah argued back, although she knew full well it wasn’t true. With her complexion, Gianna looked good in almost every color. “Arianna, tell her.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose as I stared at my sisters fighting over a dress that didn’t belong to either one of them. It was one of Mom’s.
“Pick a side, Arianna,” Gianna demanded, yanking on it.
Before I could even open my mouth, a loud shredding noise filled the space, followed by a loud gasp and an immediate screech.
Gianna was quick and immediately let go of the dress.
“What’s happening here?” Mom’s voice pierced the air, her eyes traveling over the remains of the yellow dress my twin was still clutching. “And what happened to my dress?”
Hannah immediately dropped it. “Gianna said it’s hers.”
