Page 67 of Just a Friend for the Lion
They both give me the same identical look.
“Okay fine. I’m pancake-flipping. That’s different,” I mutter.
Carina smirks and hits dial.
Uncle Uzzi picks up on the first ring.
“Hello, liebling! How are you feeling today?”
Before I can grab the phone, Dina snatches it first, her eyes blazing.
“Not good, Uncle Uzzi. It seemsthe big pussy you hooked our sister up with is a two-timing, litter-box-using loser!”
“Dina!” I shriek, my cheeks burning hotter than our wood-fired pizza oven.
“Oh dear,” Uzzi says, his voice a mix of scandal and glee. “Tell me everything.”
And Goddess help me, I do.
I spill it all. From the balcony sexcapade to the bite, to him telling me he didn’t mean to claim me, to the whispers at his office that he might be rolling in the hay with every Lioness in Jersey.
Uzzi tsks so loudly I can practically hear the glitter shake off his sleeve.
“Oh, liebling. A Lion never bites without meaning it. And Carter Leone? He’s no tomcat. He’s just a fool. A stubborn, terrified fool.”
“Yeah, but I can’t justwaitaround for him to decide if he wants me.”
My voice comes out small, raw, like someone wrung me out and left me on the line to dry.
I hate it. I hate how much this hurts.
“Nor should you consider doing that, my dear,” Uncle Uzzi replies, his voice warm but edged with steel. “You are no one’s afterthought.”
Carina leans toward the phone, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
“So what do we do, Uncle Uzzi?”
“You leave it to me,” he says, and I swear I can hear the curl of his wicked smile even through the speaker. “If that boy wants to prove himself, and if it is okay with you, MJ, then we’ll give him the chance of a lifetime. But if you don’t want to give him a chance, then I will personally help remove his claim bite.”
The words hit me like a punch.
Remove his bite? Undo the bond?
It makes my chest ache just thinking about it.
Even though I know in the end, I might not have a choice.
“But if I do want to give him a chance, um, then what?” I croak, my throat tight, my fingers gripping a crumpled napkin so hard it nearly tears in half.
“Then we shall let the Lion prove himself, liebling,” Uzzi says, gentler now. “But let me ask you this.Are you sure?Do you feel strongly for Carter? Strongly enough for you to put your heart on the line?”
The room goes quiet except for Dina’s sniffle.
I look at my sisters, at their shining eyes and their soft encouragement, and I know there’s no point pretending.
“I know it’s fast,” I whisper, choking on the lump in my throat, “but the truth is I think I love him.”
Dina covers her mouth with her hand, eyes wet. Carina nods, rubbing her belly and smiling through her tears.
