Page 104 of Deadly Wrath

“Alessio.” Her voice is all sass and no patience.

“Liv.” I mimic her tone, which earns me an eyeroll.

I lean in, bracing a hand on the back of the couch. “We’re going to dinner at my parents’ tonight.”

Her brows lift. “We?”

“Yes,we.As in, you and me. Together. At their house. Eating food. It’s a whole thing.”

She snorts. “Hard pass.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Not optional.”

“Everything is optional, actually.”

“Not this.”

She tilts her head, studying me. “You realize forcing a woman to meet your parents is not a great selling point for a relationship, right?”

I grin. “I’m glad you’re finally admitting we’re in a relationship.”

She rolls her eyes again.

“You’re going.” I stand up, stretching. “And I’d advise against making a scene, because my mom already likes you and she hasn’t even met you yet.”

She sits up straighter. “Yourmomlikes me? She doesn’t even know me.”

“She likes the idea of you. Which means you’re already on her good side.” I shrug. “I’d hate for you to screw that up.”

Liv scoffs. “Oh yeah, I’d be devastated.”

I shake my head. “Wear something decent.”

“Definedecent.”

“Not pajamas.”

“Damn. There goes my plan.”

I shoot her a look. “Liv.”

She sighs, stretching out on the couch again. “Fine. But if this dinner sucks, I’m making you suffer for it.”

I smirk. “Wouldn’t expect anything less.”

47

Liv

I can’t believe I agreed to dinner with his parents. I don’t even know why I’m so pissed about it, but my emotions have been all over the place since I left the hospital.

I don’t know why I take my anger out on Alessio. Maybe because he’s being nice, and I’m still hurt. I can’t get this whole messed-up situation out of my head. And every time I want to lean on Alessio, his words from that day come back in full force, and it feels like a weighted blanket is wrapped around my heart, and I can’t breathe. Then I freak out. Get mad and push him away. And take it out on him like it’s his fault I’m drowning in my own head.

Now, on top of all of that, I have to sit through dinner with his parents, pretending like I’m not one bad memory away from losing my shit.

It’s a while later, and I’m trying to get ready for dinner. I’m sitting on the edge of the tub, attempting to shave my legs for the first time in… I don’t even know how long. But if I’m meeting the parents, I’d rather not roll up looking like Chewbacca from the waist down.

Most of the pain is gone or at least tolerable, but bending forward like this is killing me. I let out a frustrated groan and chuck the stupid razor across the bathroom, not even caring that the cartridge went one way and the handle flew the other.

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