“It’s a pleasure, my dear,” Donatella said, walking over.
Tiziana shut the door before following.
“Put me down,” Rae hissed under her breath.
I bounced her and held tight. My relatives shook hands with Rae before scooting around the island to perch on stools.
“Want a drink?” I offered.
“That’d be great!” my sister chirped. “But it looks like your hands are full.”
Rae kicked me in the shin. The thwack was audible. I smirked, kissed her forehead, and reluctantly lowered her to the ground. Rae smoothed her makeshift dress and fluffed her hair back behind her shoulders as I poured.
She was…nervous.
How fucking adorable.
I wanted to wrap her up and kiss her senseless. But I was pushing my luck already with the unorthodox greeting. After putting the bubbling cheese dip in a dish and grabbing the fresh guacamole from the fridge, I resumed my place beside Rae. My hand slid across her back.
My mother caught the possessive action and smiled. It was genuine, full of warmth. She approved.
I knew she would.
“Rae made the drinks,” I said, letting a note of pride come out in my voice.
“They’re delicious.” My sister beamed and took another sip.
Mother turned to her. “Steady there. You didn’t eat breakfast.”
Tiziana rolled her eyes. “We’re celebrating! Nico’s been gone forages.”
A cloud fell over the energy in the room. We chatted about safer topics, the drive over, how the art exhibit had been, what bands were playing at the clubs, but I felt Rae watching us the whole time. The food was ready, and I opted to serve it buffet style from the counter. When we moved from the kitchen to the table, all four of us with loaded plates, Rae stepped close to me.
“I can’t believe you let me meet your mom in your shirt!” she hissed.
I chuckled. “You’re the one who came out wearing my clothes.”
She pinched my arm. “I thought you were having some random women come over. They’re dressed to the nines, Nico! Designer clothes.”
“And you’re still the most beautiful woman in the room,” I countered. “But if you want those types of clothes, we’ll go shopping this afternoon.”
Rae bit her lip. The temptation was strong. It was a battle in her face. I wanted to give her anything her little heart desired, and if it was fancy clothes, then that was easy.
She didn’t answer, merely sat down beside me. “So riddle me this: Nico’s been back for weeks, and yet it sounded like y’all haven’t seen him yet.”
It was an honest question. But it brought back the cloud over the happy gathering. Mama and I exchanged a long look. She was asking me how much to tell.
Tiziana beat us to it. “We snuck into the city. We’re technically not allowed here.”
My mother sighed. It seemed that in the years I’d been abroad, my sister had changed from a pimply teen to a full-blown handful.
“I met with Nico a few days ago, and we thought it was worth the risk to meet you,” my mother explained. “I’m glad we came.”
Rae dropped her fajita. “You came…to meet me?”
Tiziana nodded eagerly and took a healthy sip of her cocktail. “Yeah, it’s fun to see Nico twitterpated.”
I gaped at her. “What?”
