Page 31 of Faking With The Frenemy

Alessia looked at me wide-eyed. “You’re joking. How?”

I shrugged casually. “My folks are pretty chill. So is my brother. I told you as much when we met. My closest friendships are with my family members. And then Enzo.” She looked away at the mention of her brother’s name. “Yeah… this is the first time I am keeping anything from him.”

Alessia took a deep breath, then focused on her food. We ate the rest of our meal in silence until the awkwardness passed. She gathered the plates and mugs and took them to the sink. “You need to allow me to cook for you soon. You’re spoiling me, you know?”

I laughed. “As I should.” I kissed her softly. “So, what do you say? Would you like to meet my parents?”

She hesitated a few moments. “Sure, I’d love to.” She reached up to kiss me, then turned around to finish the dishes. My arms encircled her while my hand gently stroked her belly. I called Thale to inform our parents that Alessia and I were coming to the house for dinner.

“Attaboy,” he replied excitedly. “See you soon, Mike.”

We showered together and left The Gates an hour later. We headed downtown first. Alessia had not traveled with enough luggage for an extended stay, but my platinum card was going to solve that problem.

We spent the better part of the day shopping for clothes and basics. Lunch followed at a fancy restaurant near Broadway. I took her to the docks, where we sailed out into the bay on my boat.

“How rich are you, Michael?” she asked, wide-eyed, as she looked up at the cruiser yacht.

I laughed and led her up into the boat. “Rich enough.”

She eyed me sarcastically, but I could tell she was pleased. I smiled behind her. There was something very special about boats. Alessia had been by the hotel, and she’d seen my cars. The boat, however, always hit people differently.

We sailed out from New York Harbor toward Liberty Island. There was a ferry service that commuted tourists to see the beautiful green statue, but I preferred the view from my own deck. Alessia ran to the rail and looked out excitedly as the statue drew closer.

“You ever visited before?” I asked as I put an arm around her beautiful hips.

“Never this close,” she said, the wonder audible in her voice. “I always planned to climb the top of the statue. My trips to New York are always filled with work, though, and I could never find the time."

“Well, you’re welcome.” I put both arms around her as the boat slowed down and began a circuit of the small island.

We had glasses of iced tea and pastries for refreshments and spent the day getting to know each other better. It was evening before we returned to the harbor. I took the long way back to The Gates, wanting to give Alessia a view of New York I was sure she had not seen before.

We stopped by Central Park, where we took a leisurely stroll to an ice cream stand I had not visited in years. Aurelio looked older than I remembered, his hair nothing but white wisps on his head.

“Aren’t you too old to be selling ice cream in a park?” I shouted as we approached from the side, Alessia on my arm.

Aurelio turned to us and lifted his hand to his mouth. “Mikey! My boy!” he said, walking over. We hugged, and I couldn’t help but notice how frail he had gotten. “I thought you traded in the troublesome life of New York for the glamorous one of Hollywood? What brings you all the way out here?”

I smiled. “Duty calls, Aurelio. How’s your boy?”

He beamed. “He graduates this summer, thanks to you.”

“Oh, stop,” I said, patting his shoulder. “Can I get two cones of my regular, please?”

Aurelio noticed Alessia for the first time. She had remained quiet the whole time, smiling pleasantly at the interaction between Aurelio and me.

“And who is the angel, Mikey?” He held out a hand to Alessia, who looked at me questioningly. I nodded, and she stretched out her hand, which Aurelio took in both of his, kissing it charmingly. “The Lord sent an angel for my boy. Take care of him, will ya? Better men than him do not exist in this world.”

He offered a genuine smile, and I saw Alessia’s discomfort melt away as she returned it. He quickly prepared the orders behind his truck, handing them to us. I hugged him again as we said goodbye. “It was nice to see you again, Aurelio.” I slapped his shoulder pleasantly. “You take care of yourself, old man.”

I placed a check in his pocket as I always did when I planned to visit and saw the gratitude on his face.

“You be good, Mikey,” he said as Alessia and I left. Alessia and I walked back to the car arm-in-arm, eating ice cream.

“Charming guy,” Alessia said. “What’s the story there?”

I looked down at her. “Nothing serious. I got into a sticky situation in the wrong part of town, and Aurelio stuck around and helped me out. I had never met him before in my life. Helping him send his grandson to college is what I'm doing now. I send him a sum monthly to take care of himself.

“He refuses, however. He insists on driving his truck out here and earning an honest living.” I chuckled. “I’ve given him enough money to buy several hundred trucks over the years. I think he’s piling it up for his grandson. His son and daughter-in-law died in a horrible car accident, and his grandson is the only person he has left in the world. That’s why I try to see him when I can.”

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