Page 77 of Married with Mayhem

15

SABRINA

Today, I need to improvise. Mama keeps asking questions about what my plans are for married life.

Given that less than twenty-four hours have elapsed since I found out I’d be having any kind of married life at all, I haven’t given the answers much thought.

“Where will you two live?” she asks.

“Ah, in an apartment,” I say. Safe answer. There’s really no other option in the city. As long as she doesn’t ask whose apartment then there’s no need to elaborate. “Mama, you’re missing the scenery. Isn’t Colorado beautiful?”

She looks out the window and shrugs. “It’s all right.”

Monte catches my eye in the rearview mirror. We both started breathing a lot easier after the departure of Vittorio and his horde of mafia soldiers this morning. I’ve been sitting in the backseat with my mother since we left Kansas. Despite all the turmoil, I’m happy for the chance to spend time with her. I’ve missed her.

With every passing hour, my mother grows more fond of Monte. He’s been on his best behavior, polite and deferential to her. She thinks he’s wonderful. She’s right.

I don’t regret telling him about Jeffrey. It felt good to finally get it all out in the open. And after everything that’s happened between us, I owed him that level of honesty.

My sisters have assured me time and again that I never need to speak a word about that toxic relationship. I could just pretend it never even happened.

For a long time that’s what I tried to do.

Daisy and Anni meant well and my sisters only want the best for me. Unfortunately, pretending has never helped me heal.

But last night, in the wake of a painful confession in a dark room, a degrading burden that has kept me stagnant and fearful for far too long finally began to melt.

After hours of driving, we stop for lunch at a rustic diner and Mama smiles at the way Monte casually rests his arm across the back of my chair. The nervous fizz deep in my belly is far from unpleasant as I scoot a few inches closer to him.

This is how I felt last night as he removed my dress. In that moment, I wanted him so badly and I was so close to consenting. But with one look in the mirror as my dress fell apart, a familiar wave of ice cold dread extinguished everything that felt good and right. And then I ran away from him.

“Your fries look good,” Monte says. His fingers toy with a few strands of my hair, arousing a delightful shiver.

I push my plate in his direction. “Take them. I’m full.”

He picks up all the fries in one handful and stuffs them into his mouth. Then he steals my soda.

“Nice manners, caveman,” I say.

He finishes my soda and grins. He’s so gorgeous and he knows it.

My heartbeat quickens and I purposely bump my knee into his under the table. His fingers sift through my thick hair and his thumb strokes the back of my neck. I crush a napkin in my hand and suppress a groan.

“Mama, did I tell you that Monte is a singer?” I say with fake innocence. “He’s so talented.”

To make me pay for this revelation, he massages my neck with more pressure. Heat explodes between my legs. My thighs clench.

My mother lights up at the news of Monte’s hidden talent. “No, I didn’t know this.”

“Yes, he just loves to perform. He sings for me all the time, don’t you, Monte?”

“Not all the time.” Beneath the table, his leg hooks mine and forces my knees apart. “But I like to hear Sabrina beg me for it.”

I try to shoot him a glare but he’s ready with a smirk that says, ‘You started this’.

True. I did. Flirting with him is too much fun and after last night, I feel as if an important hurdle has been cleared. And I’ll take any excuse to be close to him.

“That’s so sweet,” my mother says, with no clue that a small battle has broken out at the table.

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