Page 56 of Vow

Gio, on the other hand, nodded. “Yes, that.”

“She does seem like …”

“What?” his mother asked.

“Nice, Ma. She seems nice.”

Which wasn’t a lie.

Ginevra had been sweet, and entirely pleasant during their breakfast. She hadn’t talked out of turn even once, and she was nothing less than respectful to him. Andino assumed—and probably rightfully so—that it was more because of her brothers than because she actually cared to be nice, but that was another issue for a different day.

He had to handle shit one thing at a time.

The ringing of a phone in another room sent Andino’s father off the stool at the island. He was gone from the kitchen without a look back, leaving Andino alone with his far too curious mother, and all her questions.

God, he loved his ma.

He did.

Andino also didn’t want to hurt her by refusing to answer her questions, or even telling her the sad truth. It seemed like his mother wasn’t really going to give him a choice, though.

“Well,” Kim said, “then what can you tell me about her, Andi? You wouldn’t even let me go to meet her, and who knows when I will? Give me something to go on here. I want to … like her.”

Of course, she did.

Because Kim was wonderful.

Andino scrubbed a hand down his jaw, and used the moment he had to decide what he needed to do. He decided to give his mother what she wanted, but not about who she thought he was describing.

“She’s independent in the ways she can be,” Andino said, smiling. “And strong, I think, all things considered.”

Kim’s familiar gaze lit up. “Oh?”

“I appreciate that in a woman. One that can probably give my shit back to me as much as I throw it at her.”

“She will certainly have to be able to handle you.”

“I think she can,” he returned. “She’s smart, and quick. Capable of handling her own business, it seems. And she’s beautiful. In the obvious ways, but in her own unique way, too.”

“Hmm.”

A small hint of a smile played at the edges of his mother’s mouth. She had no idea that the woman he just described was one he had been in love with for months—one he fell in love with simply because she was who she was—and yet, couldn’t have.

Kim didn’t know Andino meant Haven. He wished he could tell her the truth.

“Snaps loves her,” Andino added quieter.

His mother’s gaze jumped up to meet his. “Snaps was there?”

“Outside.”

Kim nodded. “That’s a start, Andino. I know that this wasn’t what you wanted … you had different plans for your life, but this could be good, too.”

Oh, he doubted that.

Andino only smiled.

Thankfully, the beep of his phone allowed him to take his attention away from his mother without seeming rude. Or like he was trying to find a way out of the conversation. He turned his back on Kim, and checked the message. He hoped it was Haven, but like the stubborn woman she was … well, she hadn’t once called or messaged him since he left her house a few mornings ago.