Chapter 33 Giovanna
Giovanna
“Yes, Dad. Why do you keep asking me? Tommy and I will be there for dinner.”
But tonight feels important, like a pivot point.
Like Tommy might finally take the step I’ve been waiting for and ask for my father’s blessing to marry me.
Not that Lorenzo will give it—he’d rather swallow glass—but the tradition matters.
The fact that Tommy would even try matters.
That’s the gift I want.
It’s everything I’ve been holding out for.
I graduate from NYU next spring, so I’m thinking we get married in the summer before I start law school in the fall.
It will take a year at least to plan the wedding, so the engagement should happen now.
I rub my temples as my father drones on.
It hasn’t been easy with Tommy lately. He’s always gone, buried in school or work.
We orbit each other, meeting when we can.
But maybe tonight will change that. Maybe tonight is the beginning of a new era.
My dad is still fucking talking, and I cut him off.
“I said Tommy would be there; he’ll be there, okay?
What is your problem?”
“Giovanna, don’t take that tone with me.
He hasn’t been around you much lately, so I just want to know what to expect.
”
My grip on the phone tightens. “How would you know when he’s around me?
Are you keeping tabs on him?”
“Always.” His answer is so blunt it makes my stomach turn.
I clench my teeth. “Are you planning to do something to him? What changes other than the seating arrangement if he’s there or not?
”
“In the event that he wants to talk to me about anything, I need to steel my nerves. Your mother insists I play nice. That doesn’t come easy when I’m dealing with a thug.
”
“It’s never come easy for you in any situation,” I snap, pacing.
“We’ll be there.” I hang up before he can say anything else.
When I storm into our bedroom, Tommy’s at the mirror, towel slung low on his hips, water dripping down his chest. Fucking panty-melting.
His body is so expertly chiseled, and when he catches my reflection in the glass and gives me that smile, I want to throw him back in bed and cancel all our plans.
I slide my arms around his waist from behind, kissing his damp skin and tugging at his towel.
“Can I get my first birthday present, please?”
He chuckles, turning in my arms, all warm velvety skin over hard muscle.
“You didn’t like how I woke you up this morning?
”
I purr, thinking about him pushing inside me from behind while I was sleeping, fucking me until he came inside me.
“Loved it. But technically I didn’t turn 21 until 2 pm, so…
”
My kisses trail lower, my nails digging into his sides like he likes, but before I can sink to my knees, his hands clamp around my arms and lift me back up.
“Mmm, tempting,” he murmurs, dropping a kiss to my temple, “but I have to go. I’ve got a meeting in 30 minutes.
”
His words hit like ice water. “A meeting? Now? Tommy, we’re supposed to be at my parents’ house in an hour.
”
He doesn’t look at me. He’s already moving, pulling on slacks in the walk-in closet, scrolling through his phone with a scowl.
“Tommy, I swear to fucking God if you are not at my parents’ house for dinner, I’m going to lose my shit.
”
“I’ll be there,” he mutters, eyes still glued to his screen.
I cover his phone with my hand until he’s forced to look at me.
“This isn’t optional. It’s my 21st birthday.
The first time my parents have asked us over since we got together.
” My chest rises, hopeful. “Are you going to talk to my dad tonight?”
I give him a meaningful look, but he just stares back at me, not getting it.
“If I have to,” he says finally, voice flat.
“Tommy…” I search his eyes, desperate for any sign of recognition.
“Don’t you have something…specific you want to ask him?
”
Silence. His phone buzzes again, and he breaks our stare to answer it.
My heart drops. He doesn’t get it. Or worse, he doesn’t care.
I huff out a sigh and switch tracks. “Tommy, I’m graduating next year.
You’ve got the job you want. This is a time when—Tommy, are you listening?
”
He half glances up from his phone. “What? Gi, I said I’d be there.
”
Really trying not to panic here. “Tommy, listen to me. Please.” He looks at me finally.
“I know you’re not much for social graces, but it’s customary to ask for permission to propose to a man’s daughter.
”
“Okay? Gi, what are we talking about right now?”
I force the words out, my throat tight.
“Don’t you want to marry me?”
His head jerks up, anger flashing in his eyes.
“Jesus, Giovanna. You know I’m going to marry you.
But there’s no fucking way I’m asking that man for anything.
”
What the fuck! I yank the ring on a chain from around my neck and toss it at him.
“I don’t want to wear your ring like this anymore, Tommy.
It feels like a promise of something that is never going to happen.
”
The look on his face as he catches the ring—raw hurt, confusion—nearly breaks me.
“You said you wouldn’t take it off until—”
“Until the altar. But to get there, you have to do some things first.”
“I know, Gi. That’s what I’m trying to do.
School, Demonio business, Councilman Donovan.
Every fucking day I’m moving us closer.”
I feel like I’m going to cry.
I move to him, frame his face in my hands, make him look at me.
“Tommy Demonio, listen to me. FUCK all that. All I want is for you to spend time with me. Make breakfast on the weekends. Order takeout and watch movies. Spend my birthday with me.” I pause and look at him meaningfully.
“Come to dinner at my parents’ house, and talk to my dad about making me your wife—not because you need his permission but because it lets me know that you’re serious about us.
”
He looks down at the ring in his hands and shoves it back at me.
“I’m not asking him for shit.”
I steel myself, forcing myself not to cry.
“Fine. I want to talk about moving closer to NYU for grad school. Closer to my friends.”
He scoffs and looks at me like I’m crazy.
“You want to spend more time drinking with Lexi?”
“I don’t want to spend another year choosing between being miserable without you here or crashing at Lexi’s .
”
“Gi, I don’t have time to talk about this right now.
If you want to get married, I need to secure our position.
”
“Fuck our ‘position!’ I want you. It’s really fucking simple, Tommy!
”
His jaw flexes. He steps close, hands on my shoulders, voice dropping low.
“Everything I do is for you. For our babies.”
“Babies? Tommy, do you realize that you have been fucking me for more than two years with zero birth control and we’ve never gotten pregnant?
Though you have barely touched me for months other than to fuck me when you wake up in the morning, you’re still coming inside me and nothing is happening.
”
Finally, he looks rattled, like the thought never occurred to him.
“You think that’s my fault? Or yours?”
My stomach twists.
This isn’t how tonight was supposed to go.
“Tommy,” I whisper, “if we want babies, we need to go to a doctor and figure out why we aren’t getting pregnant.
If we want to get married, you need to talk to my father.
This is about showing up. For me. For us.
I need you to show up.”
His phone buzzes, and he sighs, then kisses my forehead.
“Get ready for dinner. I’ll meet you at your parents’ house.
”
I’m seething. “Do NOT be late, Tommy.” The front door clicks shut.
“I’m serious, Tommy!”
I already know he’s going to ghost me. Again.