Page 102 of The Deal

Antonio looks at me and winks before saying, “Rude much!”

“My patience is running thin,” he retorts. “And my balls are as blue as cousin Vinny’s shirt.”

Antonio side-eyes me with a grin before replying, “Again?”

I’m not sure who cousin Vinny is, but I do elaborate by adding, “He’s been in timeout.”

“Oh, dear sweet Chloe,” Antonio replies, “I swear I could sit here and watch you bust his balls all day long. It makes my day every fucking time.”

“Is that so,” Alexander growls. “Looks like someone will be job hunting tomorrow.”

“Relax,” I chime in. “There is another cake in the fridge.”

“There is?” Alexander asks, walking over to the fridge to double-check that I’m not lying. “Thank you,amore mio.”

When he comes back to us, he slides his arm around my waist and tugs me to him, placing his lips on mine.

“I think that’s my cue to leave. See you tomorrow, boss man.”

“Tomorrow? I just fired you, remember?”

Antonio dismisses that comment with a flick of his wrist and a “Pfft. Thank you for the cake, Chloe.”

“You’re welcome, and I’m really sorry about #Cakegate,” I tell him.

“My mother-in-law is still going on about that, she’s such a crabby old hag.”

“I’ll make sure to tell her that’s what you think of her next time I see her,” Alexander threatens.

That has all the colour draining from Antonio’s face. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Alexander arches a brow. “Wouldn’t I?”

Alexander watches Giovanni finish his second piece ofcake. The moment the last bite enters his mouth, he swoops, scooping up the plate.

“Okay, buddy, it’s time for bed now. Go upstairs and brush your teeth.”

Giovanni furrows his brow, glancing out the window. “It’s still light out … it’s too early to go to bed.”

I press my hand to my mouth to hide the grin spreading across my face. This kid’s sharp; there’s no getting anything past him.

“It’s bedtime,” Alexander grumbles. “Maybe the sun just forgot it was time to sleep.”

“The sun doesn’t have eyes, Dad. How can it sleep if it can’t close its eyes?”

Alexander shoots him a look. “Have you ever met the sun?”

“No.”

“Well then, how can you be so sure it doesn’t have eyes?”

This conversation is spiralling into absurdity, so I decide to step in.

Crouching down in front of Giovanni, I gently take his hand. “Remember how I told you we’re going to church tomorrow to support your dad at his father’s funeral?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s going to be a hard day for him,” I continue, my voice softening. “So we need to make sure we get lots of rest tonight so we have the energy to help him get through it.”

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