Page 49 of Finn

“The hell I am.” She lets out a huff of annoyance and turns back to the bag, muttering, “Fuck you and your right shoulder bullshit,” while she puts even more force behind each punch.

She wasn’t, but messing with Alessia is one of the highlights of my day. I love the line she gets between her brows when she’s annoyed by me, then takes out her frustrations in other ways. Those fucking green smoothies she makes Enzo and I drink have gotten progressively fouler. I swear, I’m practically sweating garlic from my pores at this point.

My phone lights up on the bench and I see my brother’s name on the screen. I set down the weights I was working with and grab the phone before walking out of the gym.

“Hey,” I greet.

“Hey yourself. How’s the little wife?”

“Kicking ass in the gym. You should come spar with her. She might teach you a thing or two.”

“Maybe she’d want to sign up for a fight night? I’ve been toying with the idea of opening it up to female boxers.”

“Not on your life.” There’s no way my woman is going back to that ring.

“Fine, fine,” my brother replies on a chuckle. “Have you thought about taking her on a honeymoon? Mom thinks you’ve turned into some kind of brute or some shit because you two barely leave the house.”

“We haven’t had time. Until a week ago, she didn’t tolerate my presence, let alone did I think she’d have been inclined to take a trip with me.”

I didn’t have to tell my brother things with Alessia took a wild turn. He was at the casino a few days ago and saw the difference in us immediately. He didn’t comment, just smirked and patted me on the back before telling me our mother would be happy I’d decided to settle down with my wife. Apparently, marrying her wasn’t enough or some shit.

“You should take her to an island or something. Don’t most women dream of a tropical honeymoon?”

I laugh quietly into the phone. “My wife is hardly most women.”

“I don’t know, brother. She might surprise you.”

Not that I’d be opposed to seeing Alessia in a little bikini for a week straight, but I’m not sure tropical vacation is her speed. Hell, now that I think about it, I’m not entirely sure what is.

“I’ll give it some thought. Did you just call me to talk about my vacation plans, or is there another reason you interrupted my workout?”

“I thought with you being laid regularly, you wouldn’t be so grumpy all the time.”

“Watch it, little brother,” I grumble.

Eoghan laughs at my tone, never taking me too seriously. If he wasn’t my brother, I swear I would have put him six feet under a hundred times by now for his insolence alone. He updates me on the fights he has lined up and a few changes he wants to make with a distributor.

“It all sounds good, brother.” He may be a cocky little shit most of the time, but he’s a smart businessman who treats saving a few dollars to make more money like a challenge. My little brother never met a good deal he could pass up.

“Are we going to be graced with your presence for Sunday mass?”

I missed last week, and my mother was none too happy about it. I was too busy being buried inside my bride to care about attending a church service, but she made it clear it was only a forgivable offense if there wasn’t a repeat.

“Yes. Alessia will be with me as well.”

Since being married, she hasn’t attended mass or brunch with my family, instead driving out to her parents’ on Sundays. It’s time we started acting like a real couple and finally intertwining our lives like other married people do.

“Mom will be ecstatic. She hasn’t wanted to push—”

“No, she leaves that to you.”

“What can I say? It’s tough being her favorite.”

“Except you’re not.”

“I will be if you miss any more Sunday brunches. See you then, asshole.”

“Bye.” I hang up the phone and shake my head. My brother’s an idiot.

---