Page 23 of Say I Do

Would it be frowned upon if I leaped across the table and slammed his face into it? Hard? I imagined the stunned look on his face and grinned. Harlow’s eyes widened. He shuddered.

“Whatever you’re thinking about, knock it off. It’s creepy.”

“I wasn’t thinking about anything,” I said as I picked up my menu and browsed it briefly.

The silence between us felt heavy. I didn’t have to look up to know he was staring at me, but I ignored it. Classical music filled the restaurant, along with quiet chatter. I sank into it, letting my instincts take over as I lowered my menu in time to see the equivalent of a human hurricane walk into the room.

“Benny!” my mother yelled, a dozen bracelets on her wrist jangling as she smiled at me. “That’s my son. Seat me with them.”

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath.

“Who is that woman?” Harlow asked.

“Right, you don’t know anything.” I stood up. His sister had been prepped on my family, on everything. Apparently, Harlow hadn’t been. “Stand up,” I whispered. “That’s my mother. Gabriela Perez-Vitale.”

“Perez?” Harlow questioned. “I thought you were all Italian. Can’t only full-blood Italians be boss?”

I glared at him. “What are you, Google? No, that’s bullshit. It’s outdated old crap no one follows anymore, especially my family. If the rule was full Italian, there would be no more leaders. None of the men can keep their dicks in their pants.”

Harlow waved to my mother. “Wow, she’s hot.”

“Hey,” I growled.

“Well, she is! Shit. Even I feel a little insecure now. I think I want tobeher.”

I watched my mother as she rocked her hips with every step. She was wrapped in a white dress that was at least a size too small to show off her curves with a plunging neckline. A diamond necklace rested on her chest, and more diamonds dangled from her ears. From the outside looking in, yes, my mother was an impressive woman. However, I knew her. She wasn’t all glitz and glamor underneath the surface. More like cigarettes, too much booze, and empty cabinets when she spent all her money on the next beauty treatment or surgery instead of feeding her hungry son.

Let it go. Right now is not the time.

“Oh, Benny!” She wrapped me up in a hug before we kissed each other’s cheeks. “How are you, darling?”

“I’m fine, Mom,” I said as I forced the smile to stay on my lips.

“And who is this?” she asked as she held out a hand. “Gabriela.”

“I’m Harlow. Benito’s boyfriend.”

I stared at him.Boyfriend? I thought we were announcing our engagement.Confused, I frowned at him. Harlow simply smiled as he held onto my mother’s hand a little too long. I pulled him away.

“Sit down,” I said, a growl on the edge of my tongue. “Mom, what do you want to drink?”

“A martini, of course.” She frowned. “Boyfriend? I haven’t heard anything about this!”

Harlow frowned at me. “What? You haven’t even told your mom?”

“Things have been busy, Mom,” I said as I held up a hand to wave down the waiter. “And you’ve been out of the country. Again.”

The frown disappeared from her lips at the chance to talk about herself. “Oh, yes! I got my lips done. Aren’t they wonderful?” she asked as she turned her head back and forth. “Doctor Gomes did amazing work, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, it looks great,” I said.

She beamed. “Thanks.” She laid a hand on Harlow’s arm. “You’ll never grow old if you have a good surgeon. Remember that.”

“I love her,” Harlow sighed as he made doe eyes at my mother. “You’re wonderful.”

“Don’t I know it.” She winked.

I wanted to slide under the table, disappear into the earth, and let it swallow me whole. My mother was far from wonderful. She was a petty, shallow, selfish woman who gave a damn about nothing but herself. Instead of saying that, I ordered her a martini and drank my water.

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