Chapter 1 #2
Gio's at the kitchen table with Antonio, making vroooom sounds like he's two and a half years old too. I'm at the counter, deep in sugar and butter, trying to finish this damn dessert before our guest shows up and judges me for existing.
Jin.
The gremlin. The child of chaos himself. I still can't believe this little idiot studies criminology. Criminology. Like... how? I spent his entire childhood convinced he'd grow up to slice ham at a deli or shepherd goats on a mountain somewhere.
He used to dry-heave at the sight of homework.
And now he's a crime nerd. And he's also obsessed with the gym because, "girls need something to grab, Rava."
God help me.
Yeah, he had a girlfriend once.
Three years ago. She moved to the other side of the planet because of her parents and broke up with him over FaceTime.
He cried for days. She cried too.
But he got over it eventually.
They still talk sometimes. Chaos attracts chaos… I guess. I close the fridge with my hip and turn toward my two favorite humans at the table.
Gio's lifting Antonio's arms up to celebrate. "Antonio, tell Dada thank you for making us this amazing dessert," Gio says, very dramatically.
My face heats up instantly.
"Thank you, dada!" Antonio squeaks. I go straight over, grab his tiny cheeks, and press our noses together. "You're welcome, baby."
Then I lean over to Gio and wrap him in a quick hug, kissing his cheek. His skin's still damp from the shower. "Thank you too, baby," I mumble against his skin.
I lean down to Antonio, soften my voice. "You know who's coming now?" Gio mutters under his breath, "Your unhinged, empty-headed uncle."
"UNCLE JIN!"
Holy mother of God. The screaming.
Blu immediately launches into barking mode like the house is under attack. I slap a hand over my mouth because I'm laughing too hard. "Wow, I'll take that as excitement."
Antonio nods, giggling.
God, I miss Jin. That little idiot.
When I first moved back to Italy, he was basically glued to me every single damn day, literally acting like my shadow, if my shadow had ADHD. I got used to it again. I liked having him around. Now that he's away for school, everything feels... weirdly quiet.
Is this how he felt when I left for Canada? Poor idiot.
At least he's having fun.
He keeps bragging about his glow-up, like, every two days I get a photo of him flexing in a gym mirror, fully believing he's the sexiest thing alive.
And okay… I tease him nonstop because deep down he's kind of a hoe now. Ever since he realized people actually find him attractive… chaos.
But he'll grow out of it. He's only twenty-one.
Barely emotionally toilet-trained. Let him live.
"Vroooom!" Antonio screams.
And then a real bike outside matches his little vroom. But ten thousand times louder. Antonio freezes. The sound doesn't fade. It's parked right outside our house.
I look at Gio. "Was… Marco supposed to come?"
"No," Gio says. "Only Jin."
We stare at each other with our mouths open like two idiots. "No way," I whisper.
"Impossible," Gio says.
We sprint to the window. Gio snatches Antonio up. We jump onto the couch, looking like neighborhood aunties ready to gossip about whoever's ruining the peace.
And yeah. There's a guy outside. On a huge, very loud bike. He cuts the engine. Pulls off the helmet.
My hand flies to my mouth.
Gio slaps both hands over Antonio's ears.
"Holy fucking shit—THAT'S JIN!" I yell. I bolt to the door. My baby brother... My goblin achieved his dream. Gio's laughing behind me. "Damn, my boy really said main character arc."
I swing the door open. He's holding his helmet in hand, and his dark brown hair is falling in his face. "Surprise! Sup, dramatic bitch," he says, pulling me into a hug.
I'm still in shock.
Right. He's my height now. My actual height.
When I first came back to Italy and he was sixteen, I was a whole head taller. Now he's basically at eye-level. One more growth spurt and he's gonna treat me like a decorative lamp.
If the Weston family inherited anything good from our father, it's the height gene. Even Daisy looks like a damn cypress tree.
Jin turns to Gio. Silence. They stare at each other. "You son of a bitch," Gio mutters. Jin bursts out laughing. Then he turns to Antonio, who is shaking with excitement.
"AYYYY MY FAVORITE LITTLE TEDDY BEAR!" He sweeps Antonio up and spins him around like a helicopter.
"I'm your coolest uncle, I hope you know that."
"Lolezo."
"Lolezo? Pff. Ignore that one. He's a brain-damaged diva. I'm the cool one."
I smack Jin's arm.
"Okay, okay! I'm joking! We love Uncle Lorenzo because he's the light of our lives. I take it back before your Dada murders me."
Antonio giggles, absolutely pleased with his chaotic uncle. Jin goes to wash his hands, and the three of us just... stare at him. He cracks up immediately. "I can feel the Fontana family judging me. All three of you. Even the tiny spawn."
Gio crosses his arms. "Since when do you have a bike? Why didn't you tell me?"
Jin dries his hands on our towel, totally unbothered. Then he grabs our soap and sniffs it. "Where'd you get this?"
"I'm not telling you," I say.
"I'll tell Mom," he threatens.
"I'm a parent now! You can't snitch on me anymore."
"Watch me." He turns to Gio with a grin. "Come here, baby. I'll tell you everything."
He scoops Antonio up and they walk to the living room together. He plops onto our couch with Antonio on his lap, Lulu and Blu immediately gluing themselves to his legs.
"You like my bike?" Jin asks Gio, chest puffed up. "It's a Yamaha R7. She's sexy. Admit it."
Gio is still in shock. Actually speechless. Then his expression shifts, now he looks... sad? "So… does this mean you won't ask me to take you on rides anymore?"
"No," Jin says.
Gio sighs.
"NO BECAUSE WE'RE GOING ON RIDES TOGETHER, DUDE!" Jin yells, jumping off the couch and basically tackling Gio into a hug.
They spin around together, and it warms my cold, anxious little heart. Antonio watches them with this pure little smile, like he knows exactly what's happening even though he absolutely doesn't.
My husband and my brother, two grown men, acting like hyper ten-year-olds in front of Antonio. And I love them for it.
Gio suddenly grabs Jin by the shoulders and pushes him down onto the couch.
"Okay, okay—wait. Wait. What's the engine displacement?" Jin smiles. "689cc. Parallel twin. Smooth as hell. Next."
Gio narrows his eyes. "Horsepower?"
"Forty-seven, A2-restricted. I am legal. Calm your tits."
Gio freezes for a second. That number hits him right in the heart. He steps closer, crossing his arms. "Top speed?"
"Like... 180. Maybe 190 downhill if I'm stupid. But I'm not stupid. I promise. I'm heavy enough to stay glued to the road."
I choke on nothing because Gio is suddenly experiencing proud-but-traumatized dad energy.
He keeps going. "Suspension?"
"KYB. Forty-one millimeter forks. Adjustable preload." Jin shrugs. "What? I did my homework, old man."
"We're both in our twenties. Don't call me old man."
"I've been calling you old man since you were twenty-three. Hush."
Gio just stares at him.
Jin squints. "Bro, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Who taught you all this? Since when do you know things? Are you cheating on me with another man?"
Jin shrugs. "Actually... yeah. A friend in Milan taught me." Gio looks betrayed. So betrayed I'm actually hurt.
Like the dog he feeds every day suddenly bit him. "Dude... why would you do that?" His voice cracks. "It's like having the best chef in your house and still ordering cheap takeout."
Jin winces. "Okay—SORRY! I wanted it to be a surprise. I knew you'd be the most excited. You're the one who made me obsessed with bikes in the first place. Even though you STILL owe me a ride."
Gio laughs, but he's still sulking, the dramatic little man. I wrap my arms around him from behind, laughing.
"My poor tiny creature..."
"I'm not tiny," Gio grumbles. "Your brother is disloyal."
Jin throws his hands up. "OKAY STOP. You're gonna guilt-trip me into selling it!"
"Sit down," Gio orders. "You're not selling anything. But from now on, you ask ME for bike advice. Not your idiot friend."
Jin bites a laugh. "Fine."
They stare at each other for a long second.
"...Will you take me for a ride on it?" Gio finally asks.
Jin absolutely loses it, laughing hysterically. "I can't believe the roles flipped like this. I've waited YEARS for this moment." He scoops Antonio back into his arms and marches straight to the kitchen.
"Awwww, look what your Dada made," he says dramatically, leaning over the dessert in the fridge. "He made sweets. And I'm taking half of this with me to Milan. Maybe I'll take you too. Hm? Want to come with me?"
Antonio tilts his head. "What about my toys?"
Jin snorts. "Those aren't a problem. We'll take them all. What about your dads? You want them too, or should we leave them behind?"
"TOGETHER!!" Antonio screams.
Gio throws his hands up. "Perfect. Guess we're abandoning the house. Jin, you cooking for us or...?"
"No," Jin says. "I'll be studying."
"Great," Gio deadpans.
Jin turns to us. "So when are you expecting the second one?" I look at the ceiling. "August...? I think?"
Gio nods. "Early August."
Jin gasps. "A Leo girl?! With GIO as a father?!?! Change the dates. Please. I'm scared already. She's gonna beat me up."
Gio smirks. "Good. She should. Proud of her already.
" Jin taps Antonio's tiny nose. "You hear that?
Hm? You hear it?" Then he turns to us, baffled.
"I can't do this. This is so weird. It's like talking to a mini Gio.
How the hell does he already look that much like you?
He's two and a half. TWO AND A HALF. Your sperm really said, 'Relax, I got this,' and did the entire job alone. "
He bursts into laughter, and of course I start laughing too because Antonio is already a Gio copy-paste.
Then Jin suddenly freezes.