MIL

Is Mykaela in her room? Cloe will be back tomor

actually the main reason I, Kel, and my parents we

little thing your Mamma Eleana says." My cou

ing dinner, but my half-hour jog barely got rid of the muscle tension I was trying

ss hand combed his curly bangs back. Then he put out his cigarette with

scoffed at

g for you to step up, earn your spot in the business. Just give it a try." R

thout the unsolicited pep tal

red wine and regarded me with his rummy, pale gray

er die in

onse but reacted with a shit-eating grin. "You think i

ass. Then I shut my eyes, about to slap my palm ont

ow," Ricchar said next, clearly judging my apparent relationship

are, too," I mumbled be

e of several years. Ricchar traveled frequently due to the nature of his work, currently the COO of their shipping business

g the words while I held my wine glass. My muscl

she be saying her proper goodbyes in a matter o

h her studies─something I should be encouraging. But, right now, all I could think of was her untimely d

oyees. Or whenever he and Cloe would have some marital issues, I imagined. "Try to conside

always been the fun one in the family─the joker, the life of the party, the social

appa Stefano's right hand guys, Ricchar had always been the big brother figure I loo

to deal with. We were polar opposites─I was the introverted, freewheeling, come-what-may type, while Pappa was the perfectionist, control fre

eep away from my own family, to live my own life until the day I drew my last breath here on Earth. Not only had they alwa

liers and dealers to handle on a daily basis." Ricchar straightened his sitting posture and eye

e sound familiar? I frowne

rough like nobody's business. It's why you

growing their wealth and raising their status, so, naturally, they just didn't have the time to give a crap about my aspirations and non-busines

ount." Ricchar stared at the black and starless sky, his tone r

nks, real estate, affiliated

ry. Zio Stefano's workin

I'd met a certain Enzo Tomassini weeks ago during my art show. An inkling suggested it wasn't merely a chance en

r crossed his arms and looked me in the

I pulled

f curiosity and puzzlement narro

y. It made me want to shift the topic to avo

t? I mean...her family's

r point?" I

t of curiosity, why do you want to be with girls now?" Ricchar lowered his voice

too easy, but I knew my parents would also throw a stupendous

cchar grinned lopsidedl

glass down, almost choking

m joking. Relax." He poured himself anot

once in person; she flew to Italy some months ago to accompany Mykaela to a photo

er job? You said they

uit modeling and just

ar hiked up his shirt's sleeves. The wine must be affectin

re okay." They just didn't approve of the fact that Mykaela was livin

my phone and checked for new messages

w Me

: My

rst thing? Sorr

ved 1

ple "Ok" and smiled to myself. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep

o his girlfriend, a fashion designer," Ricchar mumbled a

se he bought my paint

cheating on your first real girlfriend." My cousin lit another cigarette an

med to be) in a relationship. Still, I knew how idiotic it was to pretend only to convince them I was capable of commitment, be

ykaela was only getting more confused; I knew. I hadn't even tried to explain

t just

d rather twaddle about Byzantine art than discuss my living situation w

casually suggested. "Way I see it, you're li

would I

t ridiculous. There was absolutely no way I would ask Mykaela to pretend

ack home? Fine. No bitter feelings. It's her life; I shouldn't be intruding. I should just be

ws and drank more wine. "So i

mpany?" I sat up straight, opting to change th

ck of cigarettes. "It would teach you

the place. Old and thick trees surrounded us. Tall, perfectly trimmed hedges

eautifully landscaped garden. It just made me feel like I could open up and confid