Page 66 of Wild Ace

“Do you want to be a therapist?”

“Oh, no. Nothing like that. I went to college because it was a dream of my grandparents and parents. Growing up, all I ever wanted was to help my grandfather and work at the deli.” I shrug, feeling kind of stupid. “Which is why I’m minoring in business. I know it’s probably a waste of time to even go to college if I don’t have a plan to use the degree, but…” I shrug again.

“No, it’s not waste of time. If you were miserable and forcing yourself to get through all the classes and work because it was someone else’s dream when you had no plans to use that degree, then I’d say it might be a waste of time. But not if you love it. I never got to go to college, and sometimes I wonder what it would’ve been like.”

“I commute, so I just go to class and go home. I really don’t know anything about the traditional college experience either. I mean, I’ve been to a few frat parties and hung out at the library to do research, but I think college is a lot different when you live in the dorms. But the thought of sharing a small room with a stranger was never on my list of things I wanted to do.”

“You also wouldn’t want to explain why you leave on the weekends looking like you’re going to a party but come back with stacks of cash and smell of cigarettes. People would get the wrong idea.” I wink, and she laughs.

“True. But people always get the wrong idea, anyhow.”

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone assumes what they want about a person just by looking at them.”

“You want to know what I assumed when I first saw you?”

“I don’t know, do I?”

“I assumed you’d be the best thing that’d happen to me. And so far, my assumption has been correct.”

“Vinny.” She smiles. “That’s sweet.”

“I bet you didn’t think I would be sweet when you first saw me. And you certainly didn’t think I would be sweet when I told you who I am.”

“Perhaps,” she says, swirling her straw around her glass of water. “And perhaps I simply assumed you’d be amazing in bed.”

My smile is instant. “Well, that assumption is warranted, dolcezza. And true.”

She rolls her eyes. “Okay, don’t get a big head over it.”

“Can I get a big something else over it?”

“I’m hoping you do.”

“Plan on it, baby.”

Our food is dropped off and we eat and talk about the classes she’s taking this semester. She has a presentation and a big paper due this week, so I’ll have to remember not to be too needy with her time like I want to be.

“I’ll be right back,” she announces, pushing her chair back. “You can look at the dessert menu while I’m gone.”

“I’m already looking at it,” I say to myself, raking my eyes up and down her body.

“Are you finished, sir?” our waiter asks me when Lexi disappears inside.

“Yes, we are. Can I see your dessert menu?”

“Of course.” He clears our plates and brings me a menu.

I peruse it quickly. “We’ll have a chocolate mousse pie and two cannolis.”

He nods and walks away, and Lexi comes back a few minutes later, angry and practically shaking.

“What’s wrong?”

“He’s here,” she says in a rush.

“Who?”

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