Page 7 of Innocent Union
I don’t. I let it hang in the air.
Antonio speaks, cutting the tension. “Killian will not be marrying Mia. Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll find her a good Italian man. Somehow,” he adds softly.
“I’m not Italian,” Viktor says, raising his hand. “I’m the worst Russian in the world.”
“You can’t argue with that,” Gemma says.
Viktor raises an eyebrow. “Even my own wife is against me.”
Gemma nudges him, rolling her eyes. “Everyone knows you’re the worst. But you’re also mine. Which makes you smart.” She pats his cheek.
Theo and Cecilia haven’t spoken since I showed up. I wonder why. “How has newlywed bliss been treating you two?”
They share a soft smile with each other, though I notice Mia scowling into her food.
“It’s been great,” Cecilia says. “Everything has been great.”
“For you,” Mia mutters.
Cecilia sighs. “Let’s not get into this again. I’m tired of you blaming me.”
“Mia is just upset,” Lucia says, “because no guys like her.”
I whistle. Damn, I never knew an eleven-year-old could be so savage. “And how can you be sure of that?” I ask Lucia.
Her face flushes. She wasn’t expecting to get called out. “Because look at her. Mia is as basic as you can get.”
“Lucia,” Giulia scolds in a tired voice.
I turn to Luca. “And what do you think, buddy?”
“I don’t care about stupid weddings or romance,” he says.
“Typical boy,” I say, nodding. “I was the same way.”
Luca’s eyes light up. “You were?”
“Oh, yeah. I hated the idea of love when I was kid. I found it gross. But when you’re older, you’ll get it.”
Luca slouches in his seat. “I doubt that.”
Giulia ruffles his hair, smiling softly. “He’s right. You’ll understand better when you’re older.”
“Mom,” Gemma says, “did you just agree with Killian?” She makes a show of looking around. “Is the end of the world coming?”
Viktor clinks his glass with hers. “Good joke.”
“Thanks.”
Giulia sits ups straighter, pushing her plate away. “No. I did not just agree with Killian. I …”
I flash her a smile. “You did. And that’s ok. Going back to what Lucia said about Mia, I have to say I disagree. I don’t think she’s plain in a basic way.”
Mia looks up at me, surprise all over her face. “You … don’t?”
“I don’t.”
She quickly ducks her head again. “I don’t believe you. You’re just Antonio’s friend and being nice.”
