7. Inappropriate
SEVEN
Inappropriate
ZANO
I t’s the middle of the night when I finally cave and take a pain pill. My arm is aching, and I’ve been tossing and turning for hours. The rest of the house is dead quiet. I finally give up on sleep and decide to go sit downstairs for a while. Watching mindless television always puts me to sleep.
I put a pair of pajama bottoms on, just in case anyone wakes up and finds me on the couch. Mom would have a hissy fit for sure. I move as quietly as I can. Only the creak of the door might give me away. Luckily, no one’s around.
As I’m about to walk by Allegra’s room, I notice her light is on, shining underneath her door. I wonder if she’s just forgotten to turn it off. I give the door a gentle knock.
“Come in,” Allegra says quietly. I turn the knob and look inside. She’s in the middle of the bed, her eyes puffy from crying, and the pile of tissues on the nightstand says this has been going on for a while.
“Can’t sleep,” I say, stating the obvious.
“Not really.” She pulls her lower lip between her teeth. “I’m sorry if I woke you.”
“I was up too. Do you want to come downstairs and watch TV with me?”
She nods and shimmies out of bed. She’s wearing powder-blue pajama bottoms that have lips all over them, and a plain matching blue tank top. “Grab the blanket,” I say, pointing to the one on the armchair. Allegra scoops it up and comes to me. I take her hand and lead her down the stairs into the living room. I settle us on the couch, then turn on the television. “What do you want to watch?”
“Whatever you like,” she replies. She snuggles under the blanket, but stretches it out so it’s covering me as well.
I flip through the channels. “ Mission Impossible ?” I ask. I figure we’re safe with an action flick that we could both enjoy.
“Sure. Tom Cruise is good,” she says with a smile. Suddenly, I’m wondering if that’s what Allegra’s idea of a hot guy is. I bury the thought as we sit through the opening credits.
We’re not twenty minutes in when I see Allegra’s eyes drooping shut. I pull her closer to me and put my arm around her as she settles into sleep. I put my feet on the coffee table and get comfortable. I’m not sure when, but I fall asleep too.
* * *
Allegra
M y eyes flutter open. I feel a heavy arm around my waist and find that I’m partially lying on a sleeping Zano. What’s more, I can hear Gina talking rapidly in Italian, and loud noises coming from the kitchen. A man’s low voice is saying something back to her, probably Zano’s dad, Dario.
I try to move away, but Zano hangs on even tighter. Oh crap! I’m pinned to him. I have no choice but to wake him up.
I brush my fingers over his cheek. “Zano, wake up.” He mutters, but his eyes remain closed. “Please, Zano, you need to wake up. Your parents are downstairs,” I whisper.
He forces his eyes open, clearly not having slept long enough. I know how he feels because I could use a few more hours myself. He lets me go and gets up into a sitting position, taking me with him.
“Stay here,” he orders. “I’m going to go do damage control.” He stands, and I see his abs and muscles on display. His pajama bottoms are hanging low on his waist, and I can say with total honesty that he’s the hottest man I’ve ever laid eyes on. I know I shouldn’t be staring at him, and even worse, Zano catches me, which brings a smile to his lips. That only makes him more handsome. “Cuoricina, if you keep looking at me like that, my mother is going to have another shock when she finds me kissing you.”
I tear my gaze away. I feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment. I listen to his chuckle as he leaves the room to find his parents. I gather up the blanket, folding it neatly, gathering it to my chest, and wonder if I should go back upstairs and stay out of sight for a while, at least until Elena arrives with a change of clothes.
One thing leads to another, and ideas begin to swirl through my head. Victorio and I both need clothes and essentials. I need to get a job. I don’t even have a car. All this sets my mind reeling. I’ve always had a plan. Mom told me I was the one she could count on.
“Mom, you’re being ridiculous.” I hear Zano say. His voice is getting louder as his footsteps come closer. He swings open the living room door. “See?” he says, “Allegra’s fully dressed. I’m fully dressed. There’s no inappropriate behavior going on.”
“You’re half-dressed!” his mother exclaims. She’s got a point there. “What will people say if they find out?” Gina’s a tiny woman with curves, and she carries it well. Her dark brown hair is thick, and even though her hazel eyes are glaring at her son, they’re super pretty.
“What people?” Zano asks. “The only ones around are us.” Then Zano gets cheeky and tells her, “I promise not to tell if you don’t.”
This earns him a frown. “Don’t get smart with me. I have a wooden spoon and know how to use it,” Gina threatens.
Zano looks over at his father, who has joined us with an expression that clearly asks if Zano’s mother is being serious. Dario approaches his wife and slides his arm around her waist. “Gina, amore mio, we were young once too. Surely, you remember how I would steal a few kisses now and again?” he reminds her. “They’ll be married soon, and all this energy spent will be for nothing.”
“It’s inappropriate,” she returns. “It’s not fair to Allegra. She is the one who will have to live it down if someone finds out. It’s not enough, all that she’s been through? We need to take care of her,” Gina insists.
Gina’s worried for me! My heart melts.
“You’re right, Ma. We need to take care of her.” Zano tugs his mother into his arms and kisses her cheek. “You and Allegra need to plan a quick wedding. I don’t trust her with anyone but us, so Allegra stays here. You understand that, don’t you?”
“Of course Allegra stays here. Where else would she go? She’s part of our family,” Gina replies. “I have to go get breakfast ready. Dante and Elena are coming this morning. Get those other two boys up.”
“Ma, we’re going to Reno’s afterward. You know Anna is going to cook up a storm,” Zano says with a grin.
“We still need to eat.” Then she pulls back and touches her hair. “I’m a mess. I’ll never be ready on time.”
“I can help.” I jump in. Three sets of eyes all turn to me. “I can do your hair. And help with breakfast. I’m a fair cook. Not as good as you, but I can make great scrambled eggs.”
Gina holds out her hand for me to come to her. I go to her, taking it. “Thank you, cara. I’d like that.” She leads me away.
We’re not quite out of earshot when I hear Dario comment, “So much for inappropriate.” And the two men laugh out loud.