Page 7 of Mabilia

“Dante is holed up in the library with Josie, and the last I saw Orlando, he was in the music room,” she says. “Why?”

“Mom wants to host a dinner. I’m supposed to spread the word that we all have to be there.”

“When? And why weren’t you looking for me, then?” Aurora folds her arms over her chest and glares at me. Out of all my cousins, she is my favorite. We have the most fun together because we’re both carefree and living life to the fullest. But one thing about Aurora is that she’s nosey as fuck.

“I’m telling you now, aren’t I?” Without waiting for her answer, I head for the library.

If Dante is busy with his girlfriend, he’ll agree to anything I want him to do just to get rid of me quicker. Dante hates not having Josie to himself.

“Hey, I need you to take my car.” I throw my keys at him.

Dante’s hand snaps up in the air. “Do I look like your personal driver?” he grunts before dropping the keys to the table.

“Nope, you look like my cousin and I need a favor,” I tell him.

“What are you up to, Mabilia?” Dante untangles himself from Josie and stands.

“It’s nothing. I just… have a date,” I tell him.

His eyes widen. “Like fuck, you have a date. Who is the fucking asswipe who thinks he’s taking you anywhere?” Dante walks past me as he heads towards the door.

“I’ll take your car, Mabilia. Dante, stop,” Josie calls out as she starts picking up her bag.

“Stop? Nuh-uh. No way I’m letting some punk-ass kid creep up on my cousin,” Dante huffs.

“Oh my god, you’re supposed to be the level-headed one.” I throw my arms in the air.

Josie takes Dante’s hand in hers. “Leave her alone, Dante. Everyone should be able to have what we have,” she tells him.

I smile. If there’s anyone who can get through to my cousin, it’s his girl. “Let’s not go that far. It’s a date, not a marriage proposal.” I laugh.

“Do your parents know about this guy?” Dante asks with a smirk.

“Do I look stupid?”

“Nope, but you owe me. And I want hourly check-ins until you get home. Text me. On the hour, every hour. If I don’t hear from you, I’m calling your father,” he says.

“That’s ridiculous.” I scowl at my cousin.

“Take it or leave it.” Dante shrugs in that arrogant way all the males in my family seem to have mastered.

“Fine. But I don’t need you or anyone else to take care of me. I can handle myself. Just ask those three Ukrainian assholes from last night. Oh, wait, you can’t 'cause they’re dead.” I smirk.

“We’re talking about this later,” Dante tells me.

“Thanks. Love you.” I blow him a kiss and walk out of the library.

When I finally make it back outside, Tommy is still there waiting. “I was beginning to think you changed your mind,” he says.

“Nope, I just have annoying cousins. I needed to find one of them to take my car home. Which one is yours?” I ask, looking up and down the street.

“This way.” Tommy holds out a hand and I take it. I have to turn my head away from him so he doesn’t catch the smile that crept up on my face.

Tommy stops next to a bright-red Ferrari and opens the passenger-side door. I slide in and buckle up. When he’s sitting in the driver’s seat, I angle my body towards him. “You must be really good at playing cards.”

“The best.” He grins as he starts the engine. “Where do you want to go?”

“In-N-Out Burger,” I tell him.

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