Page 34 of Just for Her
That was the hot topic at the family dinner as a matter of fact. My grandfather and my mother grilled me mercilessly about Allison, and Nonno kept repeating how he was certain that she was the woman for me.
Nick and Vinnie didn’t have my back either.Teste di cazzo, both of them. They sat back, smirking and enjoying watching me squirm under our mother’s narrow-eyed glare. I supposed it was payback for remaining quiet while they had been the ones in the hot seat.
Tomayto, tomahto.
My other siblings—Dom, Gina, and Sofia—wisely kept their heads down and their mouths full, unwilling to turn theCupidospotlight on their own lacking love lives.
“She’s already gone,” I told them irritably when my mother insisted I bring Allison to the restaurant so she could judge for herself, to which my grandfather clicked his tongue and shook his finger at me.
“’Cause you no give her a reason to stay. One kiss—that’s-a all it take,” he said confidently, “and she-a be yours forever.”
His words stuck with me.
Needless to say, I wasn’t in the best of moods by the time I left. I didn’t want to go back to my apartment and spend what was left of the day second-guessing myself, so I did what I always did. I went into the office and planned to bury myself in work.
You can imagine how surprised I was when I found the doors unlocked and Stella waiting for me. She looked like she had just come from my cousin Valentina’s salon and was dressed provocatively in skintight pants and a low-cut top that left little to the imagination.
I couldn’t help comparing Stella’s style to Allison’s jeans, modest sweaters, and Chucks. I certainly knew whichIpreferred.
I didn’t even bother with a greeting. I’d mentioned I was in a bad mood, right?
“How did you get in?”
Her smile faded somewhat. “I had some extra keys made, just in case I lost the one you gave me.”
“I’ll be needing those back.” I made a mental note to call my cousin and have all the locks changed ASAP. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Aw, don’t be like that, Paulie. Give me another chance. I know I let you down, but it won’t happen again, I promise.”
She was right. It wouldn’t happen again because I wouldn’t allow it. I liked giving people the benefit of the doubt, but I was no sucker, and Stella’s free pass had come to an end as far as I was concerned.
“How are the paralegal classes coming?” I asked, knowing full well she hadn’t been taking any. I had friends at the local university who had confirmed that.
She waved her hand. “Oh, well, you know how it is.”
Unfortunately, I did. I was just sorry it had taken me so long to do something about it. I’d mistakenly thought that keeping her around was helping both of us, but after spending the last couple of days trying to untangle the mess she’d made, I realized I was better offwithouther help.
“How did you know I’d be here anyway?”
She laughed and put her hand on my arm. “Because you’realwayshere. You’re so dedicated. But you work way too hard. That’s why you need me.”
I pulled my arm away. “Sorry, Stella. I meant what I said the other day. Your time here is done.”
Her smile faltered momentarily, and then she rallied and came even closer, reaching for my chest. “Maybe we just need to change the terms of our agreement.”
I caught her wrist before she made contact. “I don’t think so. You need to leave.”
I dropped her hand, ignoring her scowl, as my phone began to ring. “You can see yourself out.”
I picked up the phone, clearly signaling the end of the conversation. I felt nothing but relief when Stella turned around and stomped out of my office.
“Paul Cerasino.”
“Mr. Cerasino, thank God! It’s Miriam Kearney. I need your help.”
My irritation changed to concern when I heard Miriam’s panicked voice on the other end of the line.
“What’s wrong?”
