Page 60 of Married with Mayhem

But today he just says, “As my treat,” and starts to walk away. “Call me if you need anything.”

“I’ll do that.”

I wonder if anyone has ever told him how great his ass looks in jeans. Probably.

Now that I’ve been deprived of my Monte eye candy, I take a deep dive into the wonderful world of zombie killing via computer code. My noise canceling headphones are perfect for tuning out the real world while I get lost in a world of my own making. I’m pleased with my progress but I’m looking forward to returning to game design school. The place is full of brilliant people who share my interests and I love the creative energy.

Every once in a while I approach the counter for a refreshment refill. The cashier’s name is Katie and she’s friendly enough to watch my stuff whenever the lattes hit my bladder and I need to run to the restroom.

“There’s your boyfriend again,” Katie points out upon my latest return from the restroom.

Sure enough, Monte stands just outside the glass doors, squinting to see inside. I wave at him to prove that I haven’t run off and left the state. He nods and walks away. I’m starting to wonder if he’s just hanging out around the corner so he can check up on me all day. How adorably obsessive.

“Overprotective, isn’t he?” Katie teases with a wink.

“All that and more,” I agree, once again enjoying the view of his backside. If Monte is going to stalk me then I can stare at his ass. That’s the way things work.

“Lucky girl,” Katie says and hands me an oatmeal raisin cookie, which I’m happy to accept. I haven’t corrected her assumption that Monte is my boyfriend. It’s too much trouble. Besides, I don’t have a word for whatever Monte and I are to each other.

The coffee shop closes at five and Monte is already waiting. Maybe he was afraid I’d get lost and wind up at the quilting convention.

“The car will be ready tomorrow by ten a.m.,” he says and automatically plucks my backpack out of my hand to carry it himself.

“Good. A change of scenery will be nice. By the way, I’m still paying for the car repairs.”

He snorts. “We’ll fight about it tomorrow.”

“Can’t wait. Let’s call a truce until then.”

“Done. Just lay off the liquor tonight.”

“ME?” I swear, I’d push him right off the curb if I wasn’t afraid he’d drop the backpack. My laptop is inside and I can’t risk breaking it.

He peers down at me with a wicked grin. I can imagine swooning, except nobody really does that and the sidewalk is dirty.

We avoid the Mexican restaurant that was our undoing last night and find a casual hamburger grill that’s full of cheerful elderly women who look like the quilt convention type of people.

They are all very happy and very animated, which makes the restaurant quite loud. This is for the best. The two of us are still in an uncomfortable place, although we’ll have to get over it because tomorrow we’ll be confined to a vehicle again.

And after that?

I really don’t know.

On my end, I can’t wait to see Anni and little Jane. I don’t plan to leave Colorado until I get my fill of hugging my sister and cuddling that precious baby girl.

As for Monte’s plans, he hasn’t said a word. Luca is his best friend so he has good reason to stick around for a visit. Then there’s the New York situation. I try not to think the worst but he changes the subject whenever I bring it up.

No matter what, I’m not ready to say goodbye to him. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready for that.

Dinner ends up feeling like an awkward first date but we’re not eager to see it end because then we’ll have to return to our motel room, which now feels like the scene of a crime.

We order way too much food and only eat half of it. We make small talk about trivial topics. Monte asks questions about Sicily. He’s never been there but the village where his great-grandparents are from is one I’ve passed before.

He seems surprised when I ask him eager questions about his early life. To his thinking, his upbringing was ordinary and unremarkable. But I never had a normal childhood. I grew up in a Long Island mafia castle under the thumb of a cruelly dictatorial father who resented my existence.

Monte, on the other hand, grew up in a raucous and often tough neighborhood where he was encouraged to be street smart and independent. He worked at Gino’s from the time he was in grade school. He speaks of his father and grandfather with loving reverence.

But his expression darkens when he mentions his Uncle Vinny. The way I understand it, Vinny was the one who brought Monte and Nico into the mafia fold. Vinny was gunned down a couple of years ago and Monte clearly doesn’t wish to discuss it.

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