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“Where are the rest of your friends, Maxi?” Leo puckers his lip out. “Or are all your friends girls? Is there something you want to share with the family?”
I expel all the air in my lungs. “Aren’t you tired of acting like a middle schooler?”
“I just adapt to the level of whoever I’m talking with.” He shrugs.
I can’t help but glance at the girl I’m supposed to be on a date with. I don’t find the patience I’m looking for in her expression. Instead, it’s full of anger.
Yeah, Leo tends to have that effect.
“Or…” He leans closer, elbows on the table. “Were you gonna have a fivesome for your birthday?”
I have to sit on my hands so they don’t find themselves wrapped around his neck.
“You’re absolutely disgusting, you know that?”
One half of his face smiles, but the other looks ready for murder. “Someone has to keep you in check, Maxi Pad.”
“Maxi Pad?” one of Tinker Bell’s friends asks.
Oh, great. Now all of St. Cloud’s going to start calling me after a sanitary supply for women. Even worse, the girl I like is hearing all of this, and I’m sitting here like a puppet, taking every punch.
Without a word, I push the chair back and stand. I wish I could cut Leo out of my life forever, but everyone else in the family adores him. He’s only an absolute ass to me, and no one’s ever believed me when I tell them he’s a bully.
“Where you going, birthday boy?”
I ignore his calls. Mom may get pissed at me for walking into the kitchen like this, but that’s better than dealing with my nephew. Problem is, right before I push the side door to the kitchen open, someone yanks me by the shoulder.
“How can you disrespect your elders like this, huh?”
I do a double take before pushing his hand off me. My brain isn’t computing Leo’s attitude right now. “What the hell is your problem, man? I just walked into this place, and you’re trying to get all up in my grill for no reason.”
“I don’t need a reason.” Leo pushes me. Hard. Then he pretends to fix up my jacket. “It’s just that I get a glimpse of your mug, and I get pissed.”
“Funny, I feel the same about you.” I roll my eyes in just the way I know keys him up and make for the door.
“Don’t think I’m the only one who feels that way.” His harsh laugh freezes me. “Wanna know why no one’s wished you a happy damn birthday?”
No, I don’t. I don’t care anymore. And nothing he can say will surprise me. Every theory possible has crossed my mind since I was a kid and everyone forgot my birthday the first time. Or the second time, a few years later.
“Just leave me alone. We’re both happier that way.”
He mustn’t have heard, or he still wants to talk. Because he grabs me by my jacket and gets real close. “It’s because you almost killed Nonna.”
My lungs stop working.
“That’s right.” Leo grins, but there’s no humor behind it. Only disgust. “A day like today, nineteen years ago, you almost killed your mother. You, who shouldn’t even have been born.”
If I was a volcano, I’d be erupting right about now.
I push him away with so much strength Leo can’t catch himself in time and crashes to the floor. On his ass.
“Don’t you ever mess with me again, shitface.”
Half of the restaurant turns to catch the action. We’re in a nook leading to a hallway of doors. The kitchen’s behind me, the bathrooms and Dad’s office beyond. The place is quiet now, but it wasn’t a few seconds ago. I just hope that Tinker Bell didn’t hear any of this.
Leo’s eyes are wide and unfocused. I should’ve known he’d do something unhinged next, but it still catches me off guard. He swings himself up to stand, and before my brain can process, he straight-up socks me in the face.
Someone shouts. I can’t tell who, because my bell is rung.
