Page 20 of Italian Professor

“When I take you home, I’m coming in with you. We’re doing this today.”

“Holy shit. You can’t be serious.”

“Yes, I can and I am. Now, drink up. When you’re finished, I’ll give you that tour and then we’re leaving,” he leans down behind me and kisses my neck.

11

MEETING THE SUPERMODEL

ANTHONY

Aria and I pull up to her house, and I watch as she squirms in her seat. It’s pretty clear she’s not looking forward to this encounter. She’s an absolute exercise in duality. One minute, she’s wise beyond her years. The next, she’s as innocent as a lamb. Then again, that’s why I’m here. To protect her. Make sure she’s safe and happy.

“Are you worried about how your mother is going to react to us?”

“What do you think?” she asks, wide-eyed and white as a sheet.

“I think it would be nice if she accepts us, but her acceptance isn’t necessary. I think we’re doing the right thing, and if it nets a negative result, it doesn’t change that fact.”

“Maybe not, but it could make my life a living hell in the meantime.”

“Then we’ll fix that, too. If she makes threats or gives you ultimatums, I’ll move you into an apartment in my building so the two of you can have some space. There are solutions to every problem. If we need to, we'll find one.”

“You would really do that?”

“To make you feel safe and secure, I’d do anything.”

She hugs me tightly and I plant a kiss on her forehead, breathing her scent in.

“Okay, let’s get this over with.” She smiles for the first time since I told her we’re doing this.

The house is empty but there’s music coming from the veranda where Aria and I played the first time I was here, so she leads me back through the kitchen to the back of the house. I look out the giant bay windows and see her mother lying on the lounger in a red string bikini and round white-framed sunglasses. She rouses when she hears Aria open the door behind her.

She looks first at Aria and then at me, scanning me like a robot checking my vitals. She sits up and drops her sunglasses to reveal her eyes. They’re Aria’s eyes.

“I was going to ask you how school was but I have a better question. Who is this handsome man?”

“Mom, this is Anthony Arrabella. Anthony, this is my mother, Jennifer Kane.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Kane,” I say. “Perhaps we can go inside. There are some things Aria and I would like to discuss with you.”

“Very formal and ominous. Are you with the police? Is Aria in some kind of trouble?”

“No, I’m not with the police. I’m the acting headmaster at Aria’s school.”

“And you make house calls? What is this about?”

“Please, let’s get out of the sun. We’ll explain everything.”

“What is this ‘we’ shit? Are you here to talk about my daughter or did she bring you here to talk about me?”

“Mom,” Aria breaks in, “come inside. This isn’t a situation that requires theatrics. Nobody is in trouble.”

“Theatrics. Ha. My daughter thinks I’m some kind of a drama queen.”

Aria turns and heads back through the door, clearly tired of her mother’s games. I smile at her mother and follow her inside. Her mother huffs and puffs as she puts on her robe then picks up her frozen daiquiri and stomps toward the kitchen.

Aria sits on the white leather sofa and motions for me to park myself beside her. It would seem that her fear has morphed into frustration and she’s now just ready to get this over with.

---