Page 56 of Rating the Book Boyfriend

My blood reaches lava levels, but I temper my tone. “We don’t even love each other.”

Lucinda scoffs. “That doesn’t matter. We make sense. Our families are friends and have the business together.”

“That isnota reason to get married. We don’t even want the same things. I don’t want to marry you, Lucinda,” I tell her, softening my voice. “I’m not going to propose to you.”

Her teeth grind audibly as she tosses her ebony hair over one shoulder. “Fine, then I’m breaking up with you.”

I nod solemnly. “I think that would be best.”

Shock paints her cheeks red, and she sets her hands on her hips. “You don’t mean that.”

“I’m sorry, but I do. I tried to make things work, but I’m tired of forcing it. We have nothing in common, and we hardly spend time together. That’s not the type of relationship I want, and honestly, you shouldn’t want that either.”

Lucinda runs her tongue over her top teeth. “Okay, if that’s the way you want it, but when you come to your senses and beg me to take you back, don’t get your hopes up. I’ll probably have moved on by then.”

I nod. “Then I’ll wish you all the happiness.”

With anger clouding her brown eyes, she spins on her high heel and storms from the room, calling out, “Fuck you, Riggs,” on her retreat.

It doesn’t surprise me when my sister walks into the office approximately thirty seconds later. Her nosy ass was probably listening to the entire exchange from around the corner.

“You okay?” she asks, and I nod.

“I’m more than okay. Would I sound like a giant asshole if I said I feel about thirty pounds lighter?”

Silvia’s lips flatten into a sarcastic line. “Not at all. It’s probably because you got rid of Lucinda’s giant head.” I chuckle, and she whispers, “Warning, Nana is on her way to talk to you.”

We hear the unmistakable sound of Nana’s footsteps punctuated by the clomp of her cane, and she appears in the doorway a minute later.

“Hi, Nana. I apologize if I ruined Thanksgiving.”

“Are you kidding?” she asks, walking straight to her desk and settling into her chair like it’s her own personal throne. Silvia and I sit across from her. “That was the most holiday excitement we’ve had since Theresa’s water broke at Christmas.”

I laugh. “That was memorable. Poor Frank fainted, and I had to carry him to the car.”

My grandmother levels a look at me. “Please tell me you’ve finally broken up with that shrew.”

Silvia and I exchange a shocked look. My sister jerks a thumb in my direction. “This moron has stayed with her so long because he thought that’s what you wanted.”

Nana literally clutches at her pearl necklace. “Oh, heavens no. Whatever gave you that idea?”

I shake my head to clear the cobwebs. “You… you seemed so excited when we started dating.”

“I was at first. Mary and I always dreamed that our grandchildren would marry, but it was just that. A dream.Lucinda was a sweet little girl, but she’s grown up to be exactly like Bianca. I can’t stand that heifer.” Silvia snickers as our grandma continues. “As time went on, I knew Lucinda wasn’t the one for my Riggs. I was just waiting for you to figure it out for yourself.”

“Oh, um…”

“Took you long enough,” she mutters. “And why the hell do you think I have any say in who you date?”

To say I’m flabbergasted would be an understatement. “Your health has been so good this past year, and I didn’t want to rock the boat.”

Nana Viv waves a hand at me. “The doctor put me on some new medicine about a year ago. It’s helped.” Then her shrewd caramel eyes shift between me and Silvia. “Did I ever tell you why we moved to this country?”

“You said it was to have a better life,” Silvia says.

“It was, but I think I need to tell you the specifics.” She leans back in her chair and stares at the ceiling. “My parents owned a grocery store back in Italy. They arranged for me to marry the son of a local dairy farmer for business reasons.”

Silvia and I share a wide-eyed look.

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