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I know she’s trying to take my mind off things, and baking usually helps me because I make a mess.
“I’ll stay with her,” Enzo says.
Angelo nods his approval. “I’ll call you if there’s any update.” His eyes are back on me. “I promise.”
I nod again as B keeps her arm around me and we turn to leave. She passes me a tissue, and I wipe my eyes and blow my nose. This is just too much.
“Your ma is an exceptionally strong woman, V,” Bianca whispers, giving me a squeeze. “You’re just like her, even when you think you’re not, I see her strength in you.”
I smile gently. “Thanks, Bianca. I just hope she’s going to pull through.”
“If anyone can, I know it will be her.”
Enzo drives us back home, and we spend the next hour baking shortbread for when Ma awakes. Bianca is right; it does take my mind of everything. When she’s ready to go home, she hugs me, and Enzo drives her.
He’s being very attentive and helpful, but so fucking quiet.
He disappeared for ages when we were baking.
When he comes back from dropping off Bianca, he comes straight into the kitchen and pulls me to him.
“You know you could have done that around Bianca. She’s cool,” I say.
He pushes my hair back off my face and clutches my head. “Typical fucking Medici, always a risk taker.” He kisses me softly and when I try to deepen the kiss, he pulls back.
“Enzo?”
“Are you okay?”
I shrug. “Not really.”
“What can I do to make it better?”
I look up at him. “We could make out?”
His lips twitch. “I didn’t mean that.”
“I’ve packed Ma a bag, baked her cookies, put in her favorite slippers and her hair curlers. Trust me, I’m good,” I say. “I need a distraction.”
“Valentina, I don’t think that is a good idea, especially when Angelo…”
I run a hand through his hair as his chest rumbles. “You worry too much about what my brother thinks.”
He gives me a pointed look. “This is the mob boss of Boston we’re talking about, Val. Best friend or not, you know what he’ll do to me. And now I’ve lied to him. He trusts me with you, and I’ve gone behind his back…”
“I know loyalty means a lot to you, E,” I say. “But you’re overthinking this a little too much. We don’t even know what we are yet. Fucking? Friends? Dating? How can we date, though, when we can’t even be seen together?”
“That’s why this is complicated.”
“It doesn’t have to be.”
He frowns, clearly not sharing my optimism.
Lifting me up, he places my butt down on the end of the counter and moves between my legs.
“Everything in this family is complicated. You’re no exception.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I say, groaning when his lips meet my neck. “That feels so good.”
