“Make it stop? Why would you want to make it stop? Being in love is one of life’s greatest joys, Frankie.”
“It doesn’t feel like a joy. It feels like a worry.”
“If you’re worried about him, call him. Or text him. Put your mind at ease.”
“I’m not doing that.” I scowl. “I’m not being that clingy.”
“I have a feeling he won’t care how much you call or text him, Frankie.”
“I care,” I say, taking a gulp of the cold, sweet wine. I put my glass down. “You bought Chick-fil-A?” I open the bags of food and peer inside.
“It’s your comfort food,” Mom says.
It is. I love the chicken and the waffle fries… and the sauce. I grab a fry and pop it into my mouth. “You also need to talk to your son and tell him to stay out of my business.”
“Which one?” Mom groans.
“Alfie, he came here this morning and found Emilio. They got into a fight, broke my damn vase, and bruised each other up good. There’s also a bullet hole in my wall that needs fixing.”
Mom looks over at where I’m pointing at the wall. Then she takes out her phone, putting it to her ear after punching at the screen. “Alfie Louie Giuliani, why am I currently staring at a bullet hole in your sister’s wall?”
I smile around my food at my mom’s tone, imagining my brother squirming in discomfort.
Even as adults, no one wants to have themomtone used on them. I don’t hear what Alfie says, but mom nods. “Fine, make sure you do. Love you too,” she tells him before cutting the call. She glances back over at me. “He’s going to come and fix it.”
“I don’t want him here.”
“He’s with Emilio right now. I could hear them in the background.”
“Why?” My eyes widen. Oh god, I swear if my brother is messing with Emilio after he promised me he’d leave it be, I’m going to kill him. Picking up my own phone, I do exactly what I’ve been avoiding and call Emilio.
He answers on the third ring. “Hey.”
“Where are you?” I rush out.
“Ah… you good?” he asks.
“Fine. Where are you, Emilio? Why are you with Alfie? Is he trying to kill you? Wait, if he’s trying to kill you, why are you answering the phone? Oh god, I should have called Elias.”
My mom is smiling wide, trying not to laugh at my obvious distress. Not helpful at all.
“I’m on a job, babe. I’m fine. Your brother is here for the same reason, not trying to kill me,” Emilio says.
“Oh… so… you’re good, then?”
“Yeah. Are you?”
“Fine,” I groan.
“Frankie?” Emilio questions.
“I have to go. My mom is here. Talk later. Forget I called,” I tell him before quickly cutting the call.
“So, that went well.” Mom laughs.
I squint my eyes at her. “Not helpful.” I shove a chicken nugget into my mouth.
I’ve spent the last few hours tossing and turning. Two nights. That’s how long it took for me to get used to sleeping next to Emilio. He didn’t come to my room last night. I was mortifiedafter the phone call I made to him, so I didn’t bother calling him again.