Page 48 of Remember When We
Nerves had filled me as I watched the kitchen door open, until I saw the look on Matthew’s little face when he saw Gio.
It was the same look he had at Christmas. I widened my eyes and wondered what had happened yesterday when they first met.
“Hey buddy.” Gio beamed.
“Oh my gosh, you came back.” Matthew said rushing up to us.
“I did. Is that a good thing?” Gio tilted his head to the side and a lock of hair fell over his eyes in that bad boy James Dean way.
“Yes. Oh please … please can I look at your motorcycle? It’s the most awesome thing ever.” Matthew was so excited his cheeks turned red. “Mom did you see it?”
“I did?” There was no way I would tell him I’d gotten here on the back of that said bike. I had worried that my ass was exposed in my little mini skirt while Gio tore through the night like a demon without a helmet. He’d given me it to wear. “It’s pretty cool.”
“Pretty cool?Come on Mom, it’s a Kawasaki Ninja H2R with four incline engines. Basically it’s the upgrade from the bike they used on Terminator.”
My mouth dropped and all I could do was look at Gio who looked thoroughly impressed.
“Kid, where’d you learn about bikes and engines?”
“My friend Cory. His dad does the Grand Prix. When he’s not doing that he does all these adrenaline junkie stunts.”
I couldn’t resist the smile. I hadn’t really heard Matthew talk about bikes like this, but then he wouldn’t have really spoken to me about them. He and Cory were good friends and his dad offered to take them to shows. It was good fun for him. Now I was so glad I agreed.
“That sounds like a guy I would like.” Gio smirked.
“He’s cool, doesn’t have a bike like yours though. And the way you took off yesterday … well I haven’t seen him do that either.” Matthew nodded.
“Thanks.” Gio glanced at me proudly then back to Matthew. “You and I have a date with my bike later.”
“Really! Can I ride it?”
Gio laughed. “How about we just see how it works first? Maybe later I could take you around the block if your mom agrees.”
“Can I Mom? Please.”
“If you guys are safe then yes.” I answered.
Matthew started jumping up and down. “Mom you are the best. Mr. Gio is definitely the coolest friend you have.”
Friend …
I felt so bad.
“Gio, call me Giokid. Mister, makes me sound like a teacher.”
Matthew giggled in that seriously cute way I loved.
It was weird having Gio here and knowing he cared about Matthew. Weird having someone else on the same level as me here in the same room. There was of course Dad, but it was different. Very different to the level of shared feelings that I was seeing for myself.
Gio did care. I could feel it and while it was nice, it also made guilt tug hard on my heart.
The door opened again and this time Dad came in holding the newspaper. He was looking down at it, so he didn’t see us until he lifted his head.
I shouldn’t have felt the pull of anger as I saw him, but I did. I’d tamped down the anger over the years, because he was sick. It came rushing back on me with Gio’s presence.
Dad’s face was the complete opposite of Matthew’s friendly one. He’d seen Gio yesterday, but what followed yesterday was a discussion of the truth. Add that to the fact Gio was standing in the kitchen with us and the picture was painted.
In my conflicted mind yesterday, I failed to see Gio’s point of knowing he had a son.
