Chapter 28
Lady Gaga Says So
Sebastian
I'm trying to study.
Key word, trying.
My phone buzzes for the fifteenth time in six minutes, and I make the mistake of glancing at the screen.
Sisters From Hell
Gabi
OMG did you hear about Cousin Marco's kid?
Sophia
The nose ring???
Gabi
Zia Teresa is LOSING HER MIND
Sophia
It's just a tiny stud! It's cute!
Gabi
Mom said Zia called her crying about "the youth today"
Sophia
Meanwhile Marco got a full sleeve tattoo at 19 and nobody said anything
Gabi
Rules for thee but not for me
I snort and type back a quick response.
Me
Some of us are trying to study
Gabi
Some of us are trying to keep you updated on family drama
Sophia
You're welcome btw
Gabi
Speaking of family drama
Dad asked about you again today
Sophia
Oh no
Gabi
"When is Sebastiano finishing school? When is he coming to work?"
I groan out loud. My roommates are used to it by now.
Me
What did you say?
Gabi
What I always say. "He's busy with school, Dad."
And then he went on for 20 minutes about everything he wants to teach you
While I was LITERALLY sitting there with the quarterly reports I just finished
Sophia
Wait what's happening? Baby brain, remind me
Gabi
Dad still thinks Seb is coming to work for the company
Even though I'VE been running things for almost a year
And Seb is going to MED SCHOOL
Sophia
Oh right right right
God he's so oblivious
Gabi
It's the Moretti & Son thing
He can't get past it
Me
I know. I'm sorry.
Gabi
Don't apologize! It's not your fault he's stuck in 1985
We just need you to TELL HIM already
So he can freak out and then get over it and then finally see that I'M RIGHT HERE
Sophia
She's right. Rip the bandaid Seb
Me
I know I know
I just don't want to disappoint him
Gabi
You're going to be a DOCTOR
That's not a disappointment, that's bragging rights for the next 40 years
Sophia
"My son the doctor" he's going to be insufferable
In a good way
Gabi
Also not to be mean but we don't really need you here
No offense
Me
None taken. I know.
Gabi
Like I love you but you'd be useless
Me
Thanks Gabi
Gabi
Sophia
She means it with love
Gabi
I do! I just mean
I've GOT this. I just need Dad to SEE it.
Me
I'll talk to him. Soon. I promise.
Gabi
You've been saying that for months
OH SHIT
Sophia
What
Gabi
Mamma just walked in
She saw me texting
She's asking who I'm talking to
Sophia
ABORT ABORT
Gabi
I said "the girls" and she said "is Sebastiano in that chat?"
I'm sorry Seb
She's coming for you
Sophia
RIP brother
Gabi
We'll say nice things at your funeral
My phone rings.
I stare at it. Mamma flashes across the screen with a photo of her making her disapproving face, which Gabi took as a joke but is now deeply appropriate.
I answer. "Hi, Mamma."
"Sebastiano." Her voice is warm but firm. The tone that means business. "Dinner. You are coming."
"I have a lot of studying to—"
"I will drive to that campus and drag you home myself if I have to."
"Mamma—"
"Your Papa misses you. Your sisters miss you. I miss you." A pause. "And I'm making lasagna."
Shit. She knows lasagna is my weakness.
"Fine," I sigh. "I'll be there."
"Wonderful! Six o'clock. Don't be late."
"I won't."
I'm about to hang up when my mouth betrays me. "Hey, Mamma? Can I bring a friend?"
The silence on the other end is deafening. Then, "A friend?"
"Yeah, just… someone from school."
"A girl?" Her voice has gone up an octave. "Sebastiano, are you seeing someone? Why didn't you tell me? What's her name? What does she study? Is she—"
"I have to go, Mamma. See you tonight!"
I hang up before she can ask more questions.
My phone immediately explodes.
Sisters From Hell
Gabi
A FRIEND????
Sophia
WHO IS SHE
Gabi
MOM IS FREAKING OUT
SHE'S ALREADY PLANNING THE WEDDING
Sophia
Is she pretty?? Is she nice??
Gabi
Why have you been hiding her???
Sophia
DETAILS SEB
Gabi
We demand answers
Seb
SEBASTIAN
Don't you dare leave us on read
I toss my phone face-down on my desk and thunk my forehead against the wood.
What the hell did I just do?
Gavin finds me twenty minutes later, still slumped over my desk, contemplating my life choices.
"Doc?" He knocks on my open door. "You okay?"
"I've made a terrible mistake."
He crosses the room and perches on the edge of my bed, which creaks ominously under his weight. "What kind of mistake?"
"I accidentally invited you to Sunday dinner tonight with my family."
His eyebrows shoot up. "Accidentally?"
"My mamma called, and I panicked and asked if I could bring a friend, and now she thinks I'm dating a girl, and my sisters won't stop texting me, and I don't know why I did that."
I'm spiraling. I can hear myself spiraling. I can't stop.
"And the thing is, I'm not even out to them, well, the girls might guess if I show up with a man, they're not stupid, and my mamma made this comment once about loving me no matter what, which, looking back, was definitely a hint.”
I don't even know if I’m breathing at this point in my insane ramble but I can't stop.
“I think it was a hint. Mamma knows everything else I try to hide so why not this… but I never actually said anything, and my papa, my papa doesn't even know about med school yet because every time I try to talk to him he just talks at me about the company and I can't get a word in and—"
Gavin stands up, crosses to me in two steps, and grabs my hips.
"Wha—"
He lifts me out of my chair like I weigh nothing and carries me to the bed, sitting down with me in his lap. His arms wrap around me, solid and warm.
"Breathe," he says.
I breathe.
"Okay." His chin rests on top of my head. "Let's start over. You want me to come to dinner with your family?"
"Yes. Maybe. I don't know." I slump against his chest. "I thought.
.. maybe you could be a buffer? Between me and my papa?
Because he's going to ask about me coming to work for the company, and I'm going to have to tell him I'm not, and it's going to be a whole thing, and I thought maybe if you were there—"
"I'd love to come."
I pull back to look at him. "Really?"
"Doc. A home-cooked Italian dinner? Of course I'm coming." He grins. "Plus, I get to meet your family. That's kind of a big deal."
"They're going to think you're my friend. Just my friend."
"That's fine."
"Is it?" I search his face. "After everything with your family, I don't want you to feel like I'm hiding you."
His expression softens. "I get it. More than anyone, I get it. Family stuff is complicated." He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "If you need me to just be your friend for one dinner, I can do that."
"Thank you."
"But." His eyes sparkle. "If you decide you want to tell them, I'll be right there. Whatever you need."
I kiss him. Can't help it. He's too perfect.
When I pull back, he's smiling. "So. Tell me about this family I'm about to meet."
I groan. "My papa wants me to come work for the family construction business. Moretti and Son. He's been planning it since I was born."
"But you're going to med school."
"Which he doesn't know about."
Gavin blinks. "He doesn't know?"
"Every time I try to tell him, he starts talking about all the things he's going to teach me, and I just..." I rub my face. "I don't want to disappoint him."
"Doc." Gavin squeezes me. "You're going to be a doctor. That's not a disappointment."
"That's what my sisters say."
"Smart sisters."
"The thing is, Gabi, my oldest sister, she's basically been running the company for almost a year now. She's amazing at it. She's the son he wanted. But he can't see it because he's so fixated on me."
"So you telling him about med school would actually help her."
I pause. I hadn't thought about it that way. "Yeah. I guess it would."
Gavin kisses my forehead. "Sounds like Sunday dinner is going to be interesting."
"That's one word for it."
"Hey." He tilts my chin up. "Whatever happens, I've got you. Okay?"
"Okay."
He grins. "Now. Tell me everything I need to know to charm the pants off your parents."
So I do. While I dig through my closet for something presentable, I give him the rundown: names, personalities, potential landmines. He listens attentively, asking questions and filing away details as if he's studying for an exam.
I settle on dark jeans and a soft gray sweater that my mamma bought me last Christmas. She'll notice. She always notices.
"Okay," Gavin stands, stretching in a way that makes his shirt ride up and momentarily derails my train of thought. "I need at most twenty to shower and change. Come with me?"
"Yeah. Sure. Twenty minutes."
He kisses me, quick and casual, like it's something we've done a thousand times.
Twenty-three minutes later, I'm not counting, I'm watching Gavin button up a dark green Henley that makes his shoulders look approximately eight miles wide. His hair is actually styled, and he's clean-shaven for once.
"You clean up nice," I manage.
"Gotta impress the future in-laws."
"They're not—we're not—" I sputter, and he laughs, pulling me in for a kiss.
"Relax, Doc. I'm teasing. It's going to be fine."
It's not going to be fine. I can feel it in my bones.
The drive to my parents' house takes twenty-five minutes, during which Gavin quizzes me on everything I told him earlier, making sure he's got it all straight. By the time we pull into the driveway, he's ready.
I'm not.
"Ready?" he asks.
"No."
"Great. Let's go."
My mamma opens the door before we even reach it, and her eyes go wide.
"Sebastiano! You didn't tell me your friend was so... tall!"
"Mamma, this is Gavin. Gavin, my mamma."
"Mrs. Moretti." Gavin turns on the charm with a warm smile and a firm handshake. "Thank you so much for having me. Seb talks about your cooking all the time."
She actually giggles. My mamma. Giggles. "Oh, please, call me Maria. Come in, come in!"
The house smells like garlic and tomatoes and home. My chest aches with it.