Page 114 of 7+Us Makes Nine

“Am I being tactless?”

“Yes,” I said, setting the glass back down.

“I’m sorry.”

“So, what are you getting?” I asked, flipping through the menu and wanting to change the subject.

“Oh, I don’t know.” Gio looked back to his menu as well. “Chicken parmesan sounds nice. At least it’s something I can pronounce.”

A grin flashed across my face, and I held back a laugh. My nerves, at least, started to subside again. “Next time, take me somewhere that you can pronounce everything on the menu then, wise guy.”

Gio nodded. “Will do,” he said. “I promise. So, what are you getting then?”

My eyes scanned over the dinner entrees, in search of something familiar that I could comfortably eat. “Maybe I’ll try to the grilled salmon and mixed vegetables.”

“Sounds like a winner.” With that, Gio raised a hand in the air and waved over our waiter.

“Are you ready to order?” the waiter asked politely.

“Yes,” Gio said. “Grilled salmon and mixed vegetables for the missus, and chicken parmesan for me.”

“Coming right up. May I offer you a bottle of wine and appetizers while you wait?”

“Sure. Thanks.”

The waiter returned with a bottle of red wine and a loaf of buttered bread and assorted cheeses.

I pinched off a piece of bread. “The missus?” I said. The sound of the phrase leaving Gio’s mouth rang in my ears. It was disorienting to know that it had referred to me.

Giovanni shrugged his shoulders and then took a sip of wine. “Well, you are, aren’t you? Or are you going to call things off with me?”

I pursed my lips and swallowed the piece of bread with some difficulty. “No…”

“You sure?”

“My parents would kill me.”

“But what do you want? How do you feel about it, Arianna?”

When I refrained from answering right away, Gio lowered his head and gave a little whistle. Somehow, his figure seemed to deflate right in front of me, and I felt a certain pang in my chest, not at all liking the expression on his face.

“I’m that bad, huh?” he said.

I shook my head. “No, it’s not that. It’s just…It’s all so…strange. I mean, I knew this time was coming but…”

“It’s not something you can easily prepare for.”

I nodded. “Yeah. All my life, I figured I’d be ready when the time came, but now, I’m not so sure anymore.”

“Well, let me ask you this—do you think it would be easier for you if you had been matched with someone else?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I honestly don’t know anymore. Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“With you, it just feels…”

“Wrong?”

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