Page 23 of Married with Mayhem

“I think you’ve been standing too close to the oven today,” I tell my father. “Your brain seems to be melting.”

My father reaches out to roughly mess up my hair. “Remember where you came from and have some freaking respect.”

Luckily, a pair of customers walk in so he doesn’t have time to harass me anymore. Nico is no help at all. He’s back to playing his game while Livy gazes at him with yearning doe eyes that imply she wouldn’t mind getting started on making those cute Castelli babies today.

“I’m on the final level,” Nico announces and hunches closer to the screen.

“Watch the waterfall,” Sabrina says. “You’re finished if you don’t dodge the vampire piranha.”

“Fuck it all.” Nico leans back in his chair with a sigh of disappointment. “I’m dead. Game over. When did you say this one will be released?”

“I’m still in testing mode and hoping to find a buyer by the end of the summer.”

Nico nods. “It’s a good game. Once I started playing I couldn’t stop.”

Sabrina is clearly thrilled with the praise. “That’s the idea.”

“That was one ofyourgames?” I ask.

“Yup. Nico’s a beta tester for me. Didn’t he tell you?”

I look at my brother, who is getting consoled by Livy after his game loss. She kisses his neck and then whispers in his ear. Nico looks quite captivated by whatever she’s saying.

While Nico is busy being propositioned by Livy, Sabrina stands up and moves to the next table to start poking around in the shopping bags. Before she gets very far, I swoop all the bags into my arms.

She props her hands on her hips. “Can I have my stuff please?”

“Your stuff? I paid for it.”

“I said I’d pay you back.”

“Don’t want your money. I want something else.”

“My tampons are in there. I need them rather urgently.”

“Answer a question first.”

She tries to grab one of the bags but I hold it out of her reach.

“What kind of a sicko holds tampons for ransom?” she complains.

“I do. Did you really call me instead of Nico because of the alphabet?”

The question gives her pause. She fidgets as she grapples with honesty versus her desire to curb my ego. “No.”

“No?”

“No. I called you first because Ichoseto call you first.”

I give her a grin. “So in a way I won, right?”

She grits her teeth, her eyes flashing. Even if we aren’t actually playing a game, she still can’t stand the thought of losing.

“Yes. You won, Monte Carlo. Now give me my tampons before I tattle to your father.”

I hand over the bags without further delay.

Sabrina shoots me a dirty look before heading to the restroom in the back. I’m not honorable enough to stop staring at her ass as she limps away.

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