Page 82 of Tristano

“I’m not much of a drinker,” I blurt out.

Danica reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. “And that’s perfectly fine. If you would prefer something nonalcoholic, we have options too. We’re just used to everyone drinking when we get together.”

“Wine is fine.” I nod, smiling awkwardly.

“How about you ladies go sit, and I’ll bring you the drinks in a minute,” Enzo offers.

Danica waves for me to follow her, and I fall into step behind her.

“Hey, look who I found outside,” Danica says brightly.

Greer looks up from her spot on the couch, looking completely at home. “Hey, Serena. Good to see you again.”

“Hi, how have you been?” I ask as I take a seat in a chair across from her.

“Aside from lack of sleep, I’m fantastic.” She smiles softly.

“You look like you could fall asleep right there?” Danica teases.

She’s not wrong. Greer is curled up with her legs tucked under her, a glass of wine in one hand, and her head resting on the arm of the couch.

“Don’t tease me with a good time,” Greer quips.

Seeing Greer like this is completely different than the other times I’ve been around her. I’ve seen her in boss mode, but right now she’s just another woman with her walls down.

“Hi, I’m Rosa,” a woman says, who’s sitting in another chair.

“Serena, nice to meet you.” I smile.

Enzo walks into the room carrying a tray with empty wine glasses on it, along with some finger foods. “I’ll be right back,” he says as he sets it down on the coffee table.

“I should really help him, but I know if I tried, he would just shoo me away.” Danica sighs with awe in her voice.

“I trained him well.” Greer smirks at her before turning toward me. “I don’t know if you picked up on it or not, but Enzo is like a brother to me. For a long time, it was just us against the world.”

“The sister I never knew I wanted,” he says as he walks into the living room carrying four bottles of wine.

“That’s awesome. I always wanted a sibling,” I admit.

“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.” Greer winks.

The doorbell rings, and Danica pops up from the couch. “I’ll get it.”

Enzo shoots her a pointed look, and she sits back down with a smile on her face. “Or not,” she says as he walks out of the room.

As soon as you hear the door open, you can hear women talking a mile a minute. I tense as they make their way into the room. I hate meeting new people because I know I’m awkward. When you know you are, it’s like you become hyper aware of it, and you’re constantly on edge.

“We meet again,” Izzy says as she walks in ahead of Sofia, followed by three other women.

Sofia’s eyes light up when she sees me. “Serena, how are you settling in?”

“Fine, thank you,” I tell her before turning back to Izzy. “Hi.”

Sofia touches the shoulder of a woman with blonde hair who is tiny. “I don’t think you two have met yet. This is Mia. She’s married to Lorenzo and is the family’s doctor.”

“Nice to meet you.” I wave awkwardly.

Looking at the woman, I would have never pegged her for a doctor.

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