Anger flared inside me and I did my best to not throw my steaming mug of coffee at Sam’s head. “Sam, when was the last time that you spent any time with us?”
“I saw you last Christmas.”
“Yeah, and Matteo worked late and then when he did show up, he ignored us the whole night.”
“He was just trying to relax. The man had been working all day.”
“He had been fucking his mistress all day,” I snapped. “You have a very twisted idea of who Matteo is. Let’s face it, Sam. You haven’t come home to see any of us in years. It wasn’t until Vanessa came into your life that you even showed any interest in us again. I love you, but you have no right to judge my decisions.”
“Look, I’m just saying-”
“I know exactly what you’re saying,” I snapped. “It’s written all over your face. You think I gave up on my marriage. You think I should have forgiven Matteo and kept my family together.”
“Matteo was always a good man. I just- people make mistakes, Isa. I’ve made them. No one is perfect. I just would hate to see you tear your family apart over a mistake.”
“You can’t come back from some mistakes,” I said quietly. “I know what you think, but you have to understand that this wasn’t some easy decision. I did what was best for myself and my kids.”
“Taking them away from their father isn’t good for them.”
“He didn’t want them anyway.”
“How could you say that?” Sam asked. “He loves those kids so much.”
“He uses those kids to get what he wants. He’s great at putting on a front for the family, to make everyone think that he’s this great father. At home, all he ever did was yell at the kids. He had no patience for them and didn’t know how to deal with them. Having him in the house always made things harder.”
Sam and I just sat there in the quiet for a few minutes. I hoped that he would understand one day. I knew he was old fashioned and thought we should make things work. He just didn’t understand what it was really like to live with Matteo.
“I really wish you would reconsider. Matteo’s called me-”
I stood suddenly, furious that my husband would be jerk enough to call my brother to beg for support. “You’ve got to be kidding me. What did you say to him?”
“Nothing, I swear.” Sam looked at me sheepishly. “I just…” He scratched at the stubble on his chin and sighed. “I just told him that you were having a hard time getting the house set up before you had to go to work. He offered to come help out. He said that he wants to try to make things right with you.”
My teeth were grinding together so hard that I could feel the ache in my jaw. “You had no right to say anything to him about me or the kids. This is none of your business.”
“I didn’t mean to-”
“I know you didn’t mean to, but you have no idea how manipulative Matteo can be.”
“He sounded like he really wanted to help out. He said he could come watch the kids next weekend so that you could unpack.”
“And I suppose he was planning to stay around here with me, try to weasel his way back into my life.”
“It’s not weaseling,” Sam said furiously. “He’s your husband. You took vows.”
“Yeah, well he took vows too. Guess what? He broke those vows. I don’t owe him a damn thing!”
“What about those kids? Don’t they deserve to have a home with two parents?”
“He wasn’t around before. What difference does it make now?” I snapped.
“Mommy, why are you fighting with Uncle Sam?” Vittoria asked from the doorway. Enzo was standing next to her with a curious look on his face.
“We’re not fighting. We were just talking loudly.”
“It sounded like when you used to fight with Daddy,” Vittoria added. I sighed, knowing that would only fuel the fire for Sam. He just didn’t get it.
“Why don’t you both say goodbye to Uncle Sam? He has to get going.”
Sam looked almost hurt that I was kicking him out, but I wasn’t going to sit here and listen to any more crap from him about holding my family together. He should be on my side. I wasn’t the one that cheated repeatedly or was constantly leaving my family.
“We’re having a barbecue at Sebastian’s house this afternoon. It’d be a good chance for you to meet all my friends and their wives,” Sam said as I walked him to the door.
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t feel right just showing up at someone else’s house.”
“Isa, if you’re going to be living here, you might as well meet everyone. They’re my family and if I’m out of town, they’ll all help out with anything you need.”
“Alright, text me the address and what time we should be there.”
He leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek and a tight squeeze. “I really do just want the best for you, Isa.”
“I know,” I said softly.
✯✯✯✯✯
“Remember, this is not our house, so I want both of you on your best behavior,” I said to the kids as we walked toward the house. I was carrying gnocchi and my homemade sauce that I had spent the morning making. I didn’t really have the time or energy, but there was no way I was showing up to someone else’s house without food. Ever since I married Matteo, it had been ingrained in me to always be the perfect hostess and have the best home cooked meals. He was always wanting to show off his wife’s cooking, but he rarely actually appreciated it. Still, it was second nature to me now to perform a certain way when there was any kind of party.
I barely had time to take a shower and throw on a sundress on my way out the door. I blow dried my hair straight, but it always did its own thing, curling whichever way it wanted. I didn’t have time for makeup, so this was about as good as it was going to get with such short notice. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door, pasting a smile on my face.
The door swung open and a handsome man that was about the same height as Sam answered the door. His smile was disarming and his perusal of my body didn’t go unnoticed.
“Hot damn, I think it’s my lucky day.”
“Why’s that?” I asked curiously.
“It’s not every day that a smoking hot woman knocks on the door looking like something out of my fantasies.”
I blushed furiously, hoping that Vittoria hadn’t heard that. She repeated everything.
“Move out of the way, asshole. That’s my sister.”
Sam shoved the man out of the way and took the dish from me.
“This is your sister?” the man said in surprise. “I’m Chance.”
“Isabella,” I said, extending my hand to shake his. He had a firm grip, but before I could really study the man any further, I felt someone step up behind me.
“Gabe!” Enzo shouted from behind me. My eyes slipped closed. I had hoped that I wouldn’t run into him today, or at the very least, wouldn’t have to really see him.
“Hey, buddy. I didn’t know you were coming today.”
“Unca Fam fay I come.”
“Oh yeah?” I turned around to see Gabe kneeling down beside my son. Enzo reached forward and grabbed his face in his hands.
“You have bawoons?”
“No, I didn’t bring any balloons.”
“Bawoons all gone?”
“Yep, they’re all gone.”
“You no have bawoons.”
“Nope, I have no balloons.”
“Bawoons all gone.”
Gabe had the patience of a saint when dealing with my son. He had to repeat everything at least ten times just to make sure that he had everything right. Vittoria shoved me aside and followed Sam back to the kitchen. When Gabe stood, he looked past me to Chance, who was still standing in the doorway. I looked awkwardly between the two and then cleared my throat.
“Come on, Enzo. Let’s go see where Uncle Sam is.”
Enzo grabbed my hand and we walked into the house, but I was aware of two sets of eyes following me further into the house. This was goi
ng to be a long day.
CHAPTER FIVE
Gabe
“THAT’S SAM’S SISTER?” Chance said in shock. “She’s hot.”
I slugged him in the arm and he flinched like I actually hurt him.
“Keep your eyes to yourself.”
“I can see why you hit that.”
“Don’t be an asshole,” I growled. “She’s not a piece of meat.”
“Yeah,” he snorted. “I’m sure that’s what you were thinking when you took her home for a one night stand and didn’t bother to get her name.”
“Just keep your hands off her,” I said angrily, my eyes following her as she went further into the house. I remembered what it felt like to grip that ass in my hands and almost had to walk away so I didn’t get a chubby.
“Don’t worry. I know she’s all yours,” he laughed.
“She’s not mine.”
“Right and that kid isn’t attached to you either.”
I ran my hand across my tired eyes and gave in to his bullshit. “Okay, I went over there yesterday after running into them at the store. I offered to watch the kids so that she could get some unpacking done.”
Chance grinned at me, trying to hold back his laughter. “You are so screwed.”
“I am not. I heard her on the phone with her husband, laughing and chatting him up. I got the fuck out of there.”
“Did you think she would never talk to him again? They have kids together.”
“Yeah, but they’re supposed to be getting divorced. It didn’t sound like she was really hating him too much at the moment.”
Although, he was right. I couldn’t really expect her to cut off all contact with her husband. And getting along with him was probably easier on the kids. Maybe I had misread the whole fucking thing.
“You definitely need to find out before you dip your wick in her again,” Chance shook his head. “Believe me, if I had known my marriage would end up how it did, I wouldn’t have wasted my fucking time. Turns out, she wasn’t worth it.”
“I never said that Isabella wasn’t worth it. Hell, I don’t know enough about her. I just don’t want to be her plaything while she tries to get back at her husband.”
“A plaything, huh?” Chance smirked. “You really think you’re plaything material?”
“I could be plaything material,” I scoffed. “I’m handsome, I’ve got a good job, I take care of my body-”
“Yeah, okay. You’re plaything material, but are you marriage material?”
“Whoa, who said anything about marriage?” I asked, taking a step back. Sinner walked up, beer in hand and slapped me on the back.
“Who’s getting married?”
“We’re trying to decide if Gabe’s more plaything material or marriage material,” Chance said.
Sinner looked me up and down. “Well, you definitely have the plaything image, I mean, knowing about your sexual preferences. That just fucking screams play with me.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Just because there’s one thing I like in the sack doesn’t mean that I’m some sick fuck that gets my rocks off dominating women.”
“Ah,” Chance grinned. “So, you like to be the one dominated. That’s okay. I’m sure after being ignored for the better part of her marriage, she wants to take out her frustrations with a whip and handcuffs.”
“Whoa,” Sinner laughed as he backed up. “Don’t tell me you’re still chasing after Isabella. Man, Cazzo beat your ass the last time you touched her. Don’t push him on this.”
“I didn’t say I was,” I snarled.
“He just can’t keep his eyes off her,” Chance grinned.
“She just walked in. I couldn’t help but look at her. She was in front of me,” I said in exasperation.
“And now she’s across the house,” Sinner pointed out.
“Yeah,” I scoffed. “Standing right in my line of sight. It’s not like I’m some perv that’s got a telescope out, watching her every move.”
“Of course not,” Chance laughed. “Hey, who’s that over there talking to her?”
Sinner craned his neck and chuckled. “That’s Eric, Derek’s brother. He’s visiting for a few days.”
My eyes narrowed in on her and took in the way her hand landed gently on his arm and her hair swished over her shoulder as she shook with laughter. What the fuck was she doing? Just any guy would do? I growled under my breath and Sinner stepped in front of me, placing his hand on my chest.
“Whoa, down boy. You can’t kill every guy that comes within ten feet of her.”
“Why the fuck not?” I snapped.
“Well, first of all, that would be a dead giveaway to Cazzo that you have a thing for his sister,” Sinner pointed out.
“And second, she’s going to be around us all a lot. You can’t kill every single one of us,” Chance said smugly.
“Just try me.”
“Hey,” Cap gave a chin lift. “Why are you guys hanging out in the doorway?”
“I was just asking them to help me bring in my dishes,” I lied, turning and heading out the door. Sinner and Chance followed me to my truck and each grabbed dishes out of the backseat, hauling them into the kitchen. Chance snagged a beer and headed outside.
“What’s all this?” Cap asked.
“You asked me to bring dishes.”
“No,” he said slowly. “I asked you to bring a dish.”
“Yeah, and when I asked what kind, you wouldn’t fucking answer me. You just said enough for everyone. So, I dug through my cabinets and brought every fucking dish I could find.”
I pointed to all the dishes scattered on the counter. Sinner was laughing at me and Cap was groaning. I just stood there staring at them.
“I don’t get what’s so fucking funny.”
“A dish, asshole. You know, food?” Cap laughed.
“No, a dish is just that, a fucking dish. If you wanted me to bring food, you should have fucking asked.”
“I did!” Cap said loudly. “I said that everyone was being asked to bring a dish.”
“Since when does that equate to food? Food is food. A dish is something you put food in.”
“That’s what women call it,” Sinner laughed. “When you go to someone’s house and they ask you to bring a dish, they mean a dish of food.”
“Do I look like a fucking woman to you? Do I look like the type of guy that would know what the fuck ‘a dish’ is, besides the obvious?”
“Man, if you’re ever gonna get a woman to settle down with, you’re going to have to learn their lingo,” Sinner laughed. “A dish means food, unless it means a dish.”
“Thank you for that, asshole. Now it all makes sense.”
He squeezed my shoulder. “No problem. You’ll get the hang of it. It’s really not too hard once you have a few hundred fights.”
“Or you could do what I do and just keep a fucking list on the fridge,” Cap said.
“Yeah? How many lists are you up to now?” I questioned. “How do you even keep track of what list is for what?”
“It’s pretty simple. I have a list for things I’m supposed to say in certain situations. I have a list of things never to say. I have a list of chores that she expects me to do right away. I have a list of things I can put off without pissing her off too much. And last but not least, I have a list of different looks and phrases, and their meanings.”
“Now that sounds like it would be helpful. Isn’t there some kind of book that women write to let us dumb fucks know what the hell they’re thinking?”
Sinner shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. They think we should just ‘know’ this stuff or ‘figure it out’ on our own. Like I have time to sit there and decipher every look and tone in her voice,” he scoffed.
I looked past them to Isabella and remembered the other night when I was at her house and I had asked if she wanted me to help out. She had refused my help at first and then got this shy look on her face. I didn’t know if she really wanted help or if she was accepting
it so I would shut the fuck up.
“So, let’s say you offer help to a woman and she turns you down, acting like she really doesn’t want the help. How do you know if she really doesn’t want the help or if she just doesn’t want to seem needy?” I asked.
“That’s a tricky one,” Cap said. “I’ve dealt with this one a lot with Freckles. Okay, so if she looks uncertain about saying yes, it’s most likely because she doesn’t want to seem needy, but what she’s really thinking is I really need the help and I want you to keep asking me. That way, if you keep asking, it seems like she’s trying to be gracious and accept your help rather than rope you into helping out. And here’s the tricky part about all of it. If she’s getting you to keep asking, then it’s making you feel like you’re really doing all you can to help her out instead of being forced into doing it.”
“So, basically she’s manipulating you to get what she wants.”
“Exactly,” Cap said, pointing his beer at me. “Women are master manipulators. You don’t even realize that they’re reeling you in until you’re already fucked.”
“Okay, so how do you know when they actually don’t want your help?”
“It’s the look on her face,” Sinner cut in. “If she looks like she’s about to cut off your balls if you take one step closer to her, that’s the point that you turn and run. Don’t walk. Just get the fuck out of there before she grabs the butcher knife. There’s nothing worse than making a woman feel like she can’t handle something on her own.”
“Yeah,” Cap agreed. “And whatever you do, never ever say that things would be so much easier if she just let you handle it. That right there will get you kicked out of the house or sleeping on the couch.”
“Well, what’s the deal with single moms? How do you know when to step in and help and when to walk away?”
“No,” Sinner shook his head. “Don’t do it, man. I’m telling you. Cazzo will fucking kill you if you go after his sister.”
“I didn’t say-”
“You didn’t have to,” Cap interjected. “You keep looking over at her like you want to devour her.”
“Well, that’s because I do. She was fucking amazing in bed.”
Gabe Page 4