Page 81 of My Daddy Is An Ex-Con

Enzo high-fives her. "Glad someone else is as fit as me."

Another woman zooms by us and joins Isabella. "You’re right, Bella. This viewisgorgeous."

I take a good look at the second woman. She wears stylish jogging shoes with athletic leggings that scream style over comfort. Gold bangles bounce on her left wrist. Her hair is tucked into a ponytail that swoops down her back. Her nose is pointy and aristocratic and her lips pop with elegant gloss—no doubt Chanel.

I know who this is at once.It’s Isabella’s girl toy from the country club who she abandoned Romeo for.

Isabella waggles her brows. "You’d better be talking about the view of the sea and not my ex-husband."

The woman puts her hands on her hips. "You have the dirtiest mind out of all my friends."

"Relax." Isabella smirks. "You know you like it."

I turn to Medici. "That’s Isabella’s new girlfriend, isn’t it?" I hiss.

Medici nods. "Technically, they’reonly friends—whatever that means. But yes, everyone knows they get up to more."

Something clatters out of Isabella’s pocket. "Oh crap. I dropped my scissors."

Her girlfriend picks them up. "Here you go."

Ryder stifles a laugh. "For Christ’s sake."

Isabella accepts the scissors. "Thank you."

The two women stare into each other’s eyes for a beat too long.

On a whim, I glance at Romeo—his forehead is creased and smoke billows out of his ears.

"I’m heading back to Nonna’s," Romeo snaps.

Vincenzo cuffs his father’s shoulder. "Fraaaaagile."

Isabella issues her friend a stern look. "I can’t believe I almost forgot my scissors at home. I need them in case of an emergency."

Her friend nods. "Carrying a spare pair of scissors around is always a smart move."

Isabella slides them into her fanny pack. "It’s so funny. I keep my needle and thread on me, too, but I don’t have much use for them anymore. However, I always find myself whipping out my scissors. They come in handy—if a thread comes loose, if a weed gets stuck on your shoe."

Her friend massages her arm. "I appreciate you and your scissors."

They stare into each other’s eyes yet again.

Ryder moves his palm over Romeo’s eyes. "As your Employee of the Month, it’s my duty to prevent you from watching this."

Vincenzo howls with laughter. "I can’t believe Mom wound up invitingheron the trip after all."

"Yeah," Romeo growls. "Ispecificallyinstructed her not to."

"Men," Isabella drawls, threading her fingers through her friend’s. "Always thinking they can tell us what to do. News flash, dear—you gave up your 'right' to control my life when you waxed poetic about your love of Dino’s man juices."

"Boy juices," Enzo drawls, "that’s what Dino was when Romeo fell in love with him."

Romeo balls his fists. "He was eighteen."

"Keep telling yourself that," Faro drawls.

"He was." Giosuè’s voice is firm. "I know his birthday."

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