Page 42 of Pay the Piper

“Oh um, I don’t know if I should say…”

“Oop! Say no more.” Her eyes light up as she takes my hand and spins me around. “Oh, I know. How would you like to come to dinner with me tonight? You can wear the dress.”

I’d never turn down a chance to spend time with Ellie, but I’m not sure why I would need to wear this dress. And I doubt she would be trying to set me up with anybody when I’ve just told her I like someone else. ”Um, sure, I guess.”

“Fantastic!” She claps. “Now let’s keep shopping. You’re going to need several more dresses, I assume. And some casual options as well. Honestly, there’s no telling what you might get yourself into—”

“What do you mean by what I’ll get myself into? What do you think—”

“So let’s just cover all the bases. And shoes and of course lingerie!”

“Oh, I don’t need any lingerie—”

“I’ll have to get the reservation pushed back until nine tonight. They won’t love that—”

“They? Who are they?”

“But they’ll just have to get over it.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry…I have everything under control.”

Ellie gave me no choice but to wear the “Nonna dress” as she calls it, complete with the Nonna stamp of approval via video call. We shopped for hours, then went to a salon she rented out to get our hair and makeup touched up. I’ve done my makeup like I used to back in Canada, but with my natural skin tone, it feels different. I haven’t seen this made-up version of myself in so long.

“You look stunning. Truly.” Ellie takes my hand, making eye contact through the restaurant window I’ve been staring into.

“Thanks. You do too, you know.”

And she does. Ellie is the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen, and she’s even more beautiful inside than out. Even when she’s obviously up to something.

“Will you please tell me who we’re meeting?” I ask, for the hundredth time.

Ellie waits for the chauffeur to open the door and pulls me into the restaurant. “Just some family. There they are!”

I spot her fiancé right away as he waves frantically toward us with a dopey grin on his face. Next to him is Nikki, looking about as excited to be here as I am. With Teddy’s attention locked on Ellie, I look at her brother, who gives me a half grin and a nod.

Since our night at the lake, Nikki and I have texted back and forth a bit, but our relationship has remained platonic. He’s as pleasant to be around as his sister but offers a different kind of peace. Ellie brings immense joy wherever she goes, but her brother and I relate on a level of suffering that I hope with all my heart she’s never experienced before. A Mafia princess she might be, but the worst evils of this world seem to have been hidden from her. Misha, on the other hand, offers what both Santoris do, with the addition of a quiet strength that must have been forged in the fire of his childhood.

Nikki greets me with a side hug and a kiss on the cheek while Ellie and Teddy practically make out.

“Jesus Christ,” Nikki grumbles under his breath before shoving his soon-to-be brother-in-law. “Can you two go get a room or some shit?”

Ellie giggles as she greets her brother, then cuts her eyes to me, then back to Teddy.

“Actually…Oh hi, Abby.” Teddy gives me an awkward handshake. “I, uh…think a room is just what we should do. Um…gotta go!”

Teddy pulls Ellie away before either her brother or I can protest, and I’m left awkwardly standing. But not for long. Nikki, gentleman that he is, wastes no time pulling my chair out. I can tell this isn’t his first rodeo as he helps me into my seat and pushes me closer to the table with ease before taking his place across from me.

It’s quiet for too long, both of us realizing what’s happened here tonight. Our dearest Ellie set us up on a date. I know she had pure intentions. She just wants the best for her brother, and I should and do consider it a compliment that she would deem me worthy of him. Plus, we did go on a date a few nights ago, and to her knowledge, that’s who this dress was for in the first place.

“Um, hi…” I say, my voice barely a whisper.

Nikk runs his hand across his brow with a sigh, then looks at me. “Abby…I know that the other night was pretty intense, and I really do enjoy your company, but I just want to be completely transparent with you. I’m not interested in anything romantic—”

As if I wasn’t mortified enough, I squeak.

“It’s not you, cara amica.” He takes my hand, and the guilt in his eyes is too much. “I think you’re incredible, really, but I’m…I’m in love with someone else.”