20. Dante
CHAPTER TWENTY
dante
I decide to go ask Gio if I can use his bathroom, and hopefully, I can start a conversation. I heard his guest leave, so I know he’s alone. I knock on his door.
“Ay, G. Can I hop in the shower? Sorry to ask again, long night.” I wait for his reply.
“Come in.” Sounds from the other side.
I open the door and Gio is sitting shirtless, in sweats on his bed. He’s got Sports Center on and rolling through highlights on the other side of the room.
“How was your visitor?” He asks, sounding snarky and making me less excited to have this conversation with him.
“It was nice. We just talked, ya know.” It wasn’t a lie.
“Well, that’s the about the sweetest thing I ever did hear.” His voice twangy.
“Okay, enough mocking. I’m going to shower now if that’s alright with you.”
“Proceed.” He motions for me to shew away.
I head in and start to shower. I take my time, to avoid confrontation a bit longer but also because it feels nice to shower alone. I start to think about my awkward shower with Gio. We’ve seen each other naked so much it doesn’t feel weird but he was really trying to not look at me last time I was in here. What was that about, even? Who knows. I roll my eyes as I continue to rinse.
After I come out, I realize I forgot to bring a change of clothes. I wrap my towel around my waist and head back out to Gio’s room.
“Thanks for letting me rinse off, man. I appreciate you so much. I forgot my clothes but do you mind if I sit here for a second. I want to talk to you.” I sit on the edge of his bed.
“Uh. Yeah sure thing. Everything okay?” He asks, sitting up against his headboard and wrapping his arms around his bent knees.
“Yeah, it’s fine. I just. You’re my best friend and my brother and I don’t want to keep anything from you, ever. It’s you and me against the world right?” I try to ease into the conversation.
“Of course, Té. Always.”
Okay this is a good start.
“The girl I had here. I want you to know her. I want you to know us together. I…I’m in love man. Like really fucking head over heels.”
I watch his face drop like I killed his puppy. I’m a little thrown by his reaction already and I haven’t even told him the worst part.
I clear my throat. “So the girl I had here. I met her recently and I didn’t plan for this to happen, but it’s like our souls were meant to be together. I’ve never felt like this before, man. It’s… cosmic or something, I don’t know what to call it.”
He continues to just stare at me and then he fakes a smile. “That’s…great man. I’m happy for you. It’s about time you get some.”
“Well I have to tell you, that’s not everything. It’s who she is… I just. Can you promise me that you will keep an open mind here? For me? Please?” I plead.
“Okay, so what’s her deal?” He asks.
“She’s… well it’s just that… Fuck, I don’t know how to tell you this and it sucks and I’m sorry but you need to know.”
I stop and look down, taking a big breath in and out.
“She’s… It’s Bianca Petrov, G. I didn’t ask for this but it happened and I love her man.”
“The fucking Russian bitch?! The sister to the fucker that torched our bar? The bitch that…”
“Okay, woah. Enough with the ‘bitch’ stuff. She knows her brother is a waste of space, but she’s not like him, man. She’s not like anyone I have ever known.”
“Dante, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me. You just met her! Her!? Fuck.” He stands up and starts pacing.
“How could you do this to m… us? Do you know what my dad will do to you if he finds out? Or what he will do to me if he knows that I let this happen?”
“Gio… Is he going to find out? Do I need to worry about that?” I ask, questioning how much he loves me over his father. They’ve never been close but he is spiraling out of control. For the first time I am feeling very unsure if I can trust Gio.
He stays silent. No doubt debating what to do with me.
“I wont tell him, but if he finds out I’m not covering for your stupid ass.” He finally answers.
“That’s fine. I’m sorry, G. I really didn’t intend for any of this but I can’t not do this. I’ve done nothing but everything I have been told my whole life. I let your family take me in on guilt alone and I fully accepted that I would never have a normal life or a wife and kids but damn dude. This is the closest I’ve ever felt to being truly happy. I can’t just do nothing.” I plead further.
He groans and rubs his hands down his face in frustration.
“Why? What is it about her? Why her ?” He asks again.
“Does it matter?” I snip.
“It matters to me. It matters to… I think it’s the least you could…”
“What’s your problem? I didn’t do anything to you. I’m telling you in good faith that you’re my brother and my best friend, and I’ve wanted to tell you from moment one. This isn’t something I did to hurt you, Gio.”
“Fuck, I wish you knew how infuriating it is to be your brother. I would literally die for you. I can’t believe how fucking dumb you…”
“But, what does this change?” I ask, still genuinely unsure why he is so hurt by all of this.
“IT CHANGES EVERYTHING!” He screams, his eyes filling with tears.
I don’t even know how to respond to him at this point. I keep telling myself that he just worried I’ll get hurt but this is becoming bizarre.
“Look, G. I told you because I love you, and I wanted you to know. I’m sorry you’re taking this so… hard or whatever, but it’s happening with or without your support. But your support would mean the world to me. Just sleep on it. Please.” I give my final statement before walking out of his room.
None of that felt like I thought it would. I thought he would be mad and annoyed that I was doing something that was definitely dumb and dangerous, but that is what our whole life is like. I go back to my room and fall back on my bed. I take my phone out and stare at Bianca’s texts, trying to figure out how to tell her what just happened. I only hope her brother took it better than mine.