Chapter 19 #2
"That's because I assign everyone fruit names in my head until I memorize their real ones," Max admits. "Statistics Guy is Strawberry in my phone."
Leo peeks out between his fingers. "Really?"
"Really. And you're not a disaster. You're just... selectively focused." Max grins. "Also, could you please stop putting beer on the dryer? It belongs in the fridge. The vibrations make it foam everywhere."
Leo pauses, then starts laughing. "Did you seriously just combo comfort me and scold me about beer placement?"
"I multitask," Max says primly. "It's called efficiency."
My phone rings. I decline it immediately, so a text pops up.
Mamma
Don't you decline my calls, Sebastiano
Oh, shit.
"So what's the plan?" Leo asks, seeming steadier. "With JP's whole integration thing?"
"Well," JP flips to a new chart page. "I've identified several campus groups that align with our interests but provide broader social exposure—"
"I want in."
Everyone turns to stare at Elliot, who immediately shrinks back.
"Did... did Elliot just volunteer for social interaction?" Max stage-whispers.
"I want in," Elliot repeats, quieter but firm. "On the operation thing.. I want to find a guy to date too"
"But you're..." Luca gestures vaguely. "You know. You."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask, realizing I actually know very little about Elliot beyond his uncanny ability to appear and disappear without sound.
Elliot looks profoundly uncomfortable. "I... I find people hard."
"Join the club," Leo mutters.
"No, I mean..." Elliot pulls his knees up to his chest. "Really hard. You guys are the closest friends I've ever had, and I've been living here for two years."
Max makes a wounded sound and launches himself at Elliot for a hug. To my surprise, Elliot doesn't pull away, just pats Max's back awkwardly.
"I didn't even know you were gay," I admit. "You never talk about... anything. Personal."
"I'm trying to be better," Elliot says into Max's shoulder. "But yeah. Gay. Anxious. Want to maybe try dating someone who isn't a character in my online D&D campaign."
"Oh, you play D&D?" Luca perks up. "What edition?"
"Not the point!" JP waves his arms. "Though we should definitely discuss that later. Elliot, I'm adding you to the operation."
My phone rings again.
"Just answer it," Haru says. "We all know she won't stop."
"We'll be quiet," Max promises, finally releasing Elliot. "None of us wants your mom showing up here again."
Everyone shudders. The Great Interrogation of sophomore year lives in infamy. She reorganized our spice cabinet and made Leo cry with her questions about his vegetable intake.
"Remember when she found Luca's laundry?" Max whispers, like she might hear us talking about her.
Luca goes pale. "She separated my underwear. In front of everyone. Held up the mesh pairs and said, 'These pretty things need a gentle cycle, tesoro.'"
"She asked me when I last had a proper bowel movement," JP adds, traumatized. "Then explained the importance of fiber. With charts she drew on our whiteboard."
"She threw out all our ramen," Haru mourns. "Called it 'sadness in a cup' and made us a week's worth of actual meals. Which were delicious, but..."
"Don't forget the individual vitamin schedules," Elliot mutters. "Color-coded by person."
"Your family really loves you," Max adds softly. "Even if they're intense as fuck."
"Yeah," I sigh, staring at my phone. "They do. Which makes this worse."
"Makes what worse?" JP asks.
The phone rings again.
Me
TRAITORS. Which one of you told her?
Sophia
Gabi
Gabi
Sophia
Sophia
It was definitely Gabi
"The fact that I'm lying to them," I admit. "They don't know about Gavin. They don't know I'm gay. They don't even know about medical school."
"What?” The collective shout makes me wince.
"Your dad doesn't know you're pre-med?" Luca looks scandalized. "How?"
"He doesn't exactly ask." My shoulders hunch defensively. "He talks AT me about joining the construction business. Doesn't matter what I say, he just keeps planning my life."
"That's screwed up," Leo says quietly. "You're brilliant. You're gonna be an amazing doctor."
"Try telling him that," I mutter. "He thinks Uni is a waste of time and money. Thinks I should be working with my hands like a real man."
"Toxic masculinity bullshit," Max grumbles, already moving toward me for another hug. I let him, because honestly, I need it.
"You know what else is toxic masculinity?" JP says, surprising everyone. "This idea that we can't want romance. That wanting to date and find a connection makes us weak."
We all look at him.
"I know I make everything about data," he continues, adjusting his glasses. "But the truth is... I want what Seb has. Someone who looks at me like I'm amazing. Someone who doesn't mind when I make spreadsheets about our relationship milestones."
"That's really specific," Elliot says.
"I may have thought about it. A lot." JP's cheeks go pink. "The point is, we all deserve that. Even if we're awkward or forget names or can't stop talking about code."
"Even if we're virgins who've never even kissed anyone?" Max asks quietly.
The room goes silent. Max never talks about this stuff directly.
"Especially then," Leo says firmly, and there's a strangeness in his voice that makes me look closer. The way he's carefully not looking at Max. The way his hand twitches like he wants to reach out.
Interesting.
My phone rings again. I can't avoid it anymore.
"Safety in numbers," I mutter, answering. "Hi, Mama."
"Sebastiano," her voice fills the room even though it's not on speaker. Everyone freezes, as if she might sense them through the phone. "Your sisters say you have news."
"No news, Mama. Just studying."
"Studying," she repeats. "Is that what we're calling it now?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Figlio mio, I gave birth to you. I know when you're hiding something."
I close my eyes. Around me, six genius geeks hold their breath.
"I'm just busy with school," I try.
"Too busy for a family dinner? Three weeks in a row?"
"I have exams—"
"Sebastiano." Her voice goes soft, which is somehow worse. "Are you happy?"
The question catches me off guard. "What?"
"Are you happy? This studying. This busy-ness. Does it make you happy?"
I think about Gavin's hands on my hips. About interview prep and shared coffee, and the way he says 'Doc' like I’m important to him.
"Yeah," I say softly. "I'm happy."
"Then why won't you tell me about it?"
Every eye in the room is on me. Max gives an encouraging nod. Leo mouths, 'You got this.' Even Elliot looks invested.
But the words stick in my throat.
"I have to go, Mama. I'll... I'll call you later."
"Sebastiano—"
"I love you. Give my love to Papa and the girls."
I hang up before she can respond.
The room stays quiet for a long moment.
"So," JP says finally, clearing his throat. "Operation Social Integration. Who's in?"
Six hands raise simultaneously.
"Good," JP nods, flipping to a new page. "Let's talk about phase one: Low-pressure social exposure in controlled environments."
"Could you sound more like a science experiment?" Luca groans.
"Would you prefer 'let's go flirt badly with strangers'?"
"...Continue with your phases."
My phone buzzes.
Mamma
When you're ready, Sebastiano. We love you no matter what.
I stare at the text until it goes blurry.
Maybe she knows. Maybe she's always known.
Maybe I'm the only one not ready to say it out loud.
"Seb?" Max's hand lands on my knee. "You okay?"
"Yeah," I lie. "Let's hear about these phases."
JP launches into his presentation with enthusiasm, the others chiming in with suggestions and arguments. It's everyday, geek house chaos.
But I can't stop staring at my mamma's text.
No matter what.
God, I hope that's true.