Page 12 of My Italian Roommate

“It’s so small,” I utter as I run my hand across the side.

“It has to be small to be fast. They say, if it has fenders, it isn’t a race car. Now, give her a kiss for me.”

“What? You want me to kiss the car?”

He grabs me by the waist and says, “For luck. Kiss my car, then kiss me, princess.”

I look around to see if anyone is watching then bend forward and press my lips against the side of the car. When I stand back up, Mario pulls me into an embrace and kisses me.

“Now, you’re going to sit over there so you can have a bird’s eye view,” he leads me over to a row of chairs set up behind a concrete barrier. “Wish me luck, little girl.”

“Good luck. You’re gonna win,” I smile.

Tony pats Mario on the shoulder as he climbs through the car window and revs the engine. He rolls out of the pit onto the track and lines up at the starting line. I hear the sound of a timer beeping and the cars are off in an instant. I’m a nervous wreck straining my neck to see Mario’s position at every turn.

He and a red car, which I assume must be Dylan McGee’s, are vying for the lead. I know nothing about racing and have no idea when or how this thing ends until Tony and the pit crew inch closer to the concrete barrier and begin shouting and cheering. I stand on my toes and try to see over their heads but my view is blocked. My heart races and I hold my breath, waiting to hear the outcome of the race.

Tony hugs another man and the two jump into the air as Mario’s car rolls back into the pit. He climbs out the window with his arm raised in the air and all the men cheer. He won. I’m so happy for him that my eyes fill with tears. Mario spots me and hops over the barrier, taking me in his arms. He lifts me into the air and spins me in circles.

“I told you that you were my good luck charm. We won, baby. We did it,” he beams. “I need to go to the winner’s circle for pictures. Come with me.”

“No, you don’t need me there. I’ll wait for you here,” I argue, mortified at the idea of being tossed into the public eye.

“I said come with me. Don’t argue. I need to show the whole world you’re my girl. Everyone should know that you’re mine and mine alone,” he commands, taking me by the arm and leading me to the finish line.

Tony stands on one side of Mario while he holds me tightly on his other side. A horde of photographers gathers in front of us, snapping picture after picture while the crowd cheers. It’s an unbelievable, surreal moment and I begin to wonder if any of this is even real. Maybe I hit my head and all of this, even Mario himself, is all just a dream.

7

THE DINNER

MARIO

Winning the semi-finals feels even better now that I have Mallory by my side to share my victory. Until now, I didn’t know that anything was missing from my life, but it’s getting hard to imagine going to these racing circuit events alone now that I can take her with me.

“I wish you would have told me about this dinner ahead of time. I would have bought something new to wear,” Mallory calls out from the bedroom where she’s frantically tossing outfits on the bed.

“It doesn’t matter what you wear. You’ll be the best-looking girl there regardless,” I shout back from the shower.

“Exactly how fancy are we talking? Formal, semi-formal, just dressy?”

“I don’t know what any of that means, but I’m not wearing a tie if that helps.”

“Yes, that does help, actually. Thanks.”

By the time I come out of the bathroom, Mallory is standing in front of her full-length mirror wearing a deep blue, knee-length dress with a rhinestone-lace strapless top. God, she’s so fucking beautiful. And she’s coming with me. My heart always kicks hard at the sight of this angel.

“Wow. Just wow,” I exclaim as she spins around to greet me.

“Do you like this one? I’ve only worn it once. It was a dress social at school.”

“If you’re wearing that, maybe I do need a tie,” I answer, still unable to take my eyes off her.

“No, you need to keep your top two buttons open and push back your collar. That’s how I imagine you, anyway.”

I grin as I move close to her and place my hand on the small of her back. I lean into her and whisper, biting her earlobe lightly, “Will that make you all warm inside?”

Her cheeks redden as she nods and tries to hide her growing smile.

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