Page 136 of Love Me Stalk Me
"And Lord, I pray for my other three children," Mama says, her tone dramatic.
Across the table, Luca looks at me. The candle's flame catches in his eyes, making them glint with mischief.
"That they may soon find their way."
Maria coughs into her napkin, the embroidered fabric barely concealing her smile.
Dad hides a chuckle behind his wine glass, the deep red liquid swirling as he raises it to his lips.
"And Lord, we ask that You guide them toward marriage and family," Mama finishes. "Before their poor mother dies waiting."
Nico snorts.
Luca grins.
I contemplate stabbing myself in the eye with an unholy breadstick.
"And if it be Your will," Mama adds, surprising everyone by continuing, "let the signs I've been seeing be true." She glances meaningfully at me.
"Mama!" I hiss, mortified, feeling heat rush to my cheeks.
"Amen," Nonna says, crossing herself, the gold bangles on her wrist jingling softly.
Mama claps her hands together, beaming. "Alright! Let's eat!"
Like she didn't just publicly shame half her children and declare divineintervention in my love life.
Plates start filling up, the scrape of serving spoons against ceramic mixing with conversation.
Wine pours freely, the glug-glug sound of bottles tipping.
And then, right on cue?—
“So,” Luca says, grinning like he’s about to start something. “Izzy.”
I pause, mid-bite, the fork halfway to my mouth. “What?”
He waggles his brows. “That guy you’ve been seeing?—”
Nico leans forward, eyes alight. “How’s Boat Shoes McProtein Powder?”
I narrow my eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Luca scoffs. “Please. Mama didn’t even pray for you by name. She just lumped you into the ‘dearly lost’ category.”
“I’m not the only single one here,” I snap. “Why don’t we talk about Nico’s love life?”
Nico shrugs, smug. “Because mine’s interesting.”
“Can we please just not talk about Evan,” I say.
They both grimace like I said "sewer rat."
“Ugh,” Luca says. “Sounds like a guy who owns multiple Patagonia vests and refers to women as ‘chicks.’”
Nico nods. “Or the kind of guy who puts ‘entrepreneur’ in his bio but lives off his parents’ AmEx.”
Matteo, ever the peacemaker, sighs. “You two don’t even know him.”
