Page 14 of Married to the Mafia

I get to the diner and find my friends in the corner booth, making gooey eyes at each other. “Morning,” Eddie says when he spots me. “Pancakes are on the way if you want to get in on that.”

“Suits me,” I say, waving to Clive. “Make us a milkshake, would you?”

“Would it kill you to say please?” he shouts back.

“Now,” I say with a grin.

He wags a finger at me. “I will spit in yours.”

I turn back to my friends and groan. “How are you two not hungover?”

Eddie answers. “We are.”

“Well then, how come you both look fine. I feel like death warmed up and then served on a pop tart.”

“You mean like Katy Perry? Get it? Pop tart. Because she sings pop.”

“Very good. A modern reference there for Mr. Glenn Miller fan.”

My milkshake is put in front of me, and Clive grimaces my way. “Hope you choke on it.”

“Love you, Clive.”

“Eurgh.” He walks away.

“Hey, funny story,” I say, pulling out my phone. “Guess who called me this morning?”

“Who?” Caroline asks.

“Dino Gianni.”

“No way. As in the hot guy off the TV last night?”

“As in the guy who’s knocking down the animal shelter, yes.”

“So, what did he want?”

“You will not believe this but he asked me to marry him.”

They both look at me like they’re waiting for the punchline.

“I’m serious,” I say.

“You sure you weren’t dreaming?”

I show her the call list. “That’s him right there.”

“Why’d he call you twice?”

“Because I hung up on him.”

Eddie slides the phone back across the table. “Did he seriously ask you to marry him?”

I nod.

“And what did you say?”

“Told him to go fuck himself, of course.”

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