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CHAPTER 22
The next morning Nico was in the kitchen, drinking a cappuccino, when Sofia came in. Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun and she was smiling at him. “Morning, Zio.”
He loved seeing her up early and appearing happy. Her therapist had encouraged her to get on a regular schedule, similar to being in school, as well as to do things she loved. Which was why he’d found her in the kitchen last night, making homemade cookies.
Going over, he kissed her cheeks. “Buongiorno, principessa. Did you sleep well?”
“Better, actually. I took a melatonin gummy.”
“I do not know what this means. Is this candy?”
Now at the espresso machine, Sofia chuckled and shook her head. “Never change, Zio Nico.”
He grunted and went back to scrolling on his phone. “Do you have plans today?”
“Hoping I’ll make more cookies for your special friend?”
Nico nearly dropped his mobile. “Che cazzo?”
“Don’t play coy. I know that you wrapped up a plate of cookies and delivered them to someone last night.”
“Dai, Sofia. Are you spying on me?”
Sofia used some of Nico’s leftover steamed milk in her espresso, then added sugar. Sipping from her cup, she leaned against the counter. “Pretty hard to miss what goes on around here, especially when you are involved. The men never let you go anywhere alone and your entourage is noisy.” She took another sip and watched him over the rim. “So, who is she?”
Nico could only stare at her. This conversation had caught him off-guard and, for once, he didn’t know what to say. He tried to think of a lie that would sound believable.
“Or he,” Sofia amended with a lift of one shoulder. “We don’t assume these days.”
His mind blanked.
Almost instantly, panic set in and his chest squeezed painfully, with his insides strangling all the air in his lungs. Had she seen something? Noticed something about him that had her suspecting he was bisexual? Nico had been so careful, how could she possibly—
“Zio, it was a joke. And don’t look so horrified. It’s not cool to be homophobic.”
“I’m not.” It was all he could manage, only because she was staring at him expectantly.
“Good. Because we don’t judge people for who they are.”
“We don’t?”
“No, we definitely don’t. Most of the girls at school date both girls and guys. Or experiment, anyway. It’s not a big deal anymore.”
“It’s not?”
“God, you’re so cute, zio. So, is it serious, you and this person?”
“Of course not,” he blurted automatically.
“Wow, you had that answer prepared. Like, no hesitation whatsoever.”
“Because it’s true.”
“Hmm.” She took another drink, her expression thoughtful. “So, you drop off cookies to all your sneaky links in the middle of the night. Got it.”
Was his English getting worse or was she speaking a different language? “Sneaky, what?”
“Sneaky links. Secret hookups.”
