Page 214 of Love Me Stalk Me
Luca narrows his eyes, clearly disappointed that Cal isn't squirming. "So, you got a solid job?" he asks, leaning back in his chair.
"Yes," Cal answers.
"Good benefits?"
"Yes."
"Debt?"
"Nope."
"Criminal record?"
"Clean."
Nico raises an eyebrow. "Not even a little?"
Cal takes a sip of his wine. "Not that anyone can prove."
Matteo nearly drowns in his drink. Dad is just sitting back, watching with pure amusement. I dig my nails into my thigh, wondering when exactly my life became a reality show.
"So," Nico continues, spearing a meatball. "You were military, yeah?"
Cal nods.
"Did you kill anyone?"
I slam my fork down. "Are you kidding me?"
"What?" Nico shrugs. "It's a valid question."
"No, it's not! That's a completely insane thing to ask someone you just met at the dinner table!"
Cal just chuckles, setting his glass down. "Yes."
Silence.
Luca’s mouth drops open. Matteo mutters something under his breath. Nico looks way too impressed. Mama's eyetwitches. Nonna, unfazed, simply pats Cal's bicep and tells him that it’s “good to have strong men in the family.”
I bury my face in my hands.
"Izzy," Mama hisses, like I somehow caused all of this.
"Don't look at me!" I exclaim. "They're the ones interrogating him!"
"Oh, sweetheart." Cal's voice is pure amusement as he leans over, pressing a quick, teasing kiss to my temple. "They're not interrogating me."
"They're trying."
Nico eyes Cal's plate. "So what's your family like? You eat gravy every Sunday growing up like us?"
Cal shrugs casually. "Not exactly."
"What'd you eat?"
"Ragu."
The entire table goes dead silent. Even the dogs stop their incessant yapping.
