Chapter 15
After a lot of yelling, some screaming, and a few tears… Antonio and I finally left my parents’ house. He tried to talk me into staying behind, but I didn’t want to spend another night away from him. I wanted to sleep in his bed with his arms around me.
What I didn’t expect was for two of my cousins to turn up five minutes after we got here. Alessandro and Enzo told Antonio they were his new “semipermanent” houseguests.
Thankfully, Antonio took it all in stride, showing them each to a guest room and telling them to help themselves to whatever they needed. I was mortified. I still am. I cannot believe my father and Zio Theo sent their minions to babysit me.
“I can hear you thinking,” Antonio says, his voice husky from sleep.
“Sorry.” I roll over and face him.
“Don’t be sorry for thinking. It’s one of the things I love about you. Your beautiful brain is like the eighth wonder of the world, ragazza.”
“That’s a bit overboard.” I laugh.
When Antonio rolls himself on top of me, I moan, enjoying the feel of him for a few seconds. And then freak out.
“Shit. I’m late!” I push at his chest.
“Late for what?” he asks, letting me shove his body off mine. Because, let’s be honest, it wasn’t my strength that moved him.
“Class. I can’t be late to class.” I jump out of the bed and start rushing around the room.
“You’re not going out today, Matilda.” Antonio sighs.
I pause, look up from the floor, and glare at him. “Excuse me?”
“I said… you can’t leave the house today,” he repeats.
“That’s what I thought you said.” I nod while making no effort to listen to him. “I’m not missing school, Antonio. It’s important to me. And I can’t miss it,” I tell him as I walk into the bathroom. By the time I shower and dress, Antonio’s no longer in bed.
I find him, along with everyone else, seated at the table in the dining room.
“Morning.” I greet Rafe and Emillio, while glaring at my cousins.
“Morning, coz. Great to see you too,” Enzo says. It’s clear Alessandro is the smarter of the two. He wisely keeps his mouth shut.
I sit down, and Antonio places a plate full of food in front of me. I catch Enzo’s gaze across the table as he raises a single eyebrow in my direction. “Shut up,” I tell him.
“Whoa, Little Valentino cusses? How did I not know this?” Emillio asks as his face splits into a grin.
“That’s not cussing,” I’m quick to correct. “Shut and up are not curse words.”
“Oh, but the intent was there, which makes it a cuss,” he counters.
“Matilda, Emillio’s going to accompany you to class today,” Antonio tells me.
My head snaps to the side. “Why?”
“Because I need to know that someone is there,” he says.
“You have no idea how much attention he gets, Antonio. It’s embarrassing,” I whisper that last part. “Besides, I already have these two following their daddies’ orders to be my shadows for the foreseeable future.”
“Actually, it’s your daddy’s orders we’re following,” Enzo chimes in before gesturing a hand to Alessandro. “His daddy seconded it, though, while mine is innocent in all this.”
I roll my eyes. “You really are an idiot.”
“Oh, there she goes again. You two need to come around more often. Really brings out Little V’s fun side.” Emillio cackles at his own joke.
“Fifteen,” I tell Antonio.
“Fifteen what?”
“That’s how many girls stopped to give him their numbers during one lecture yesterday.” I shake my head. “He draws attention. I don’t like attention.”
“You know, I’m starting to regret skipping this whole higher education thing.” Emillio digs into his breakfast before gesturing a fork at his brother. “Think I missed out on having the real college experience.”
“I’m sorry. Want me to come with you instead? We could find another study hall to hole up in for the day?” Antonio lifts a suggestive brow, and I almost choke on my eggs.
“Nope, you’d get more than fifteen numbers,” I tell him, skipping over the last comment entirely. “Emillio is fine.”
“Great. But just so we’re clear, I’d get zero numbers. Because I wouldn’t give anyone the opportunity to even think I’m open to receiving them. The only number I need is yours, Matilda.” Antonio leans over the table and presses his lips against mine.
“That was good.” I grin when he pulls back again.
“Fucker,” Alessandro mumbles under his breath.
“So, who’s ready for school? It’s going to be a great day.” I smile as my eyes flick around the table.
If I thought Emillio drew a lot of attention yesterday, having all three of the guys follow me from class to class is even worse. I’ve never had so many girls try to stop and talk to me. I don’t think half of them even know my name. Not my first name anyway. But that doesn’t stop them from chatting up a storm with my chaperones.
I’ve always preferred to be in the shadows, out of the spotlight. It’s why I don’t make it a habit to hang out with my cousins while on campus. It’s easier that way.
Even now, as they follow me into the café where I’m meeting Kinsley and Rosa for lunch, heads are turning. Mouths are moving and people are staring.
I find the girls at our usual booth and smile. There isn’t enough room for the boys. Which means they’re going to have to sit elsewhere. I walk over and slide in next to Kinsley.
“Hey! Sorry I’m late,” I tell them.
“Two minutes, Tilly. Your time management skills really need working on,” Rosa says with a hint of amusement in her tone.
Emillio slips in next to her. “Hey, I’m Emillio. This one’s future brother-in-law,” he says while hiking a thumb in my direction. “And I’m guessing you two are the best friends?”
“Future brother-in-law?” Kinsley picks up my hand before dropping it with a dramatic sigh. “Damn it… I thought there was going to be a ring.”
“Um, no. Ignore him. Why don’t you go and sit waaaay over there?” I point to where Enzo and Alessandro are seated at a booth a few feet to our right. Within the line of sight, but far enough away I can at least pretend they don’t exist.
“I’m good. The company here is much prettier.” Emillio smirks at my friends.
“Emillio, no,” I tell him. “Please don’t give me a reason to hate you.”
He seems to consider it for a minute before he smiles again. “You’re far too good a girl to ever hold a grudge, Little Valentino. You’d forgive me eventually.” He shrugs.
“Maybe, but are you willing to take the risk? The rest of our lives is a very long time after all. Also, I’m calling in on that future sister-in-law loyalty. You can’t say no to family.”
“Damn it.” He shakes his head. “I’m gonna be just over there,” he huffs while gesturing a hand towards my cousins.
“Thank you,” I tell him.
“Anything for you, Little V.” Emilio winks, turns on his heel, and reluctantly slides in beside Alessandro.
“Oh my god, what is happening? Why are they following you around like a pack of lost puppies?” Kinsley asks.
Shit. What do I say?
“I… uh… I’m not sure how I can explain,” I admit.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to tell us anything,” Rosa says.
“Thank you.” I sigh in relief. These two girls are my best friends. The two people I trust the most in the world whose names don’t end with Valentino, but I can’t admit to them what’s happening. I can’t ever tell them the rumors are true. About me. My family. Antonio.
“So, tell us everything about this future fiancé of yours.” Kinsley nudges my shoulder.
“Boyfriend, not future fiancé. And what do you want to know?”
“Is he…?” She holds up her index fingers slowly moving them apart to create more and more space between them.
“You are not asking me how big my boyfriend’s you know what is, are you?” I gasp.
“I am. So how big we talking?” She grins.
“Nope. Not going there.” I shake my head at her.
We spend the rest of lunch talking about everything and anything else. I’ve needed this. I’ve been spending so much of my free time with Antonio that I’ve been slacking in the friend department. The girls and I promise to catch up again soon before parting ways outside the coffee shop.
And, of course, my three large chaperones follow me to my next class. I’m ready for this day to end. Like really, really ready. I’m starting to think I should have just stayed home.