Page 50 of Wild Card

Gio watches me with raised eyebrows.

“Nonna. I’m going to get some wine from the pantry.” He goes to stand up and she swats him.

“I’ve got it, honey.”

When she leaves, he grabs my plate and slides most of my food onto his and winks at me.

He grabs some glasses when she comes back, takes the bottle and pours the wine for us. It’s such an interesting dynamic to watch.

And they’re delightful together. Our conversation is light and fun, and it’s easy to forget how I got here. We finish dinner and clean up, and his grandmother even lets me help.

“Nonna,” Gio says, “I’m going to take Catriona up to my place and have her stay in the guest room. I don’t think Lorenzo will stop by, but if he does, I don’t want you having to deal with any problems.”

She looks like she’s going to protest.

“I know you can take care of yourself,” he says, kissing her cheek. “And I know Lorenzo’s probably more scared of you than he is of me. And rightfully so. But he’s not afraid of Catriona.”

She sighs.

“Okay, honey.” She takes me in thoughtfully. “But he probably should be afraid of her.”

“She gave him a verbal lashing he’ll never forget. And once she gets her strength back, he’s in serious trouble.”

I’m uncomfortable and shift my weight from one leg to the other.

“Goodnight then, you two. Be careful, huh? And she’ll stay with me if you leave?”

“Of course.”

We say goodnight, and I follow him up to his apartment. He locks the door behind him, and then goes into his bedroom to relock the slider.

“Anyone who underestimates you is an idiot,” he calls from his bedroom, referring to my daring escape, I suppose.

I sit on the couch, and he brings me a glass of wine before settling next to me.

Without the heavy threat of Lorenzo, my father, and the ambiguity of that future in the immediate forefront, we’re just two people with fucked up families telling stories, joking, and connecting in ways people with normal lives can’t.

“I always wanted to work with my hands,” Gio says. “Either the bakery or building things, which is why I went into contracting. I learned a ton from the guys I worked with, and then wanted to be my own boss.”

“Will you rebuild the bakery, do you think?”

“Maybe. Depends on a lot of variables.”

What happens next. Of course.

“Variables. I was never good at math. Got a D in trigonometry in high school, but luckily I was able to get into the computer system and change the grade.”

He laughs. “You little minx. How did you manage that?”

“It was insanely easy. There’s a centralized system the grades are loaded into. One of our administrators kept her password on a post-it note on her monitor. Not exactly high-level hacking.” I smile at him. “My father would’ve killed me if he saw a D.”

Gio’s smile flattens. “I can’t believe he hurt you, Catriona. I can’t believe he doesn’t see how incredible you are. You are so clever, and I’ve never met anyone with a sharper wit. But you’re warm, generous and kind, even after everything you’ve been through. You’re one in a million, Beauty. He’s stupid for not seeing that.”

My face flushes. Maybe it’s the wine. Maybe it’s the man. “We’re just very different people,” I say. “I’m not what he thinks a woman should be. I have too many opinions, and I’m too quick to share them.”

He gives me a smoldering look that sends sparks through me.

“You’re everything a woman should be.” His voice is low, graveled.

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