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“Mostly.”
“Do you want to eat?”
I can’t help but smile. She’s so Italian, and I’m here for that.
“No, thank you. I—”
I don’t know what I should want or what I’m going to do here. I don’t have any of my work with me, and I don’t have my laptop. Shit. Shit. Shit. How could I forget that I’m supposed to be back in the office right now? Anderson is going to lose his shit. The one thing he doesn’t waver on is punctuality. He’ll let me work remotely if I ask, but if you don’t give him a heads up, heads will roll. I pull out my phone just as it starts to ring. Speak of the devil.
“It’s my boss.” I swipe the screen. “Hi, Anderson. Something unexpected came up while I was at lunch. I was just about to call you.”
“Where are you?”
“Queens.”
I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that. I look at Massimo, and he nods. But his expression is so reserved that I don’t know if he’s nodding because it’s too late to take it back or if he really believes it’s okay.
“Why are you there and not in the office? What unexpected thing came up?”
Fuck. I don’t know what to say. I look at Massimo then Luca. I feel like a deer in the headlights.
“Michelle?”
“Yes, sorry. A family matter came up that I need to tend to.”
“Your family is in Jersey.”
Massimo keeps his voice low when he speaks.
“Tell him you’re with us. Anderson will understand.”
When he arches an eyebrow, it makes me wonder if he knows Anderson or if he’s banking on their last name ending this conversation.
“I’m with my boyfriend’s family. I’m with Massimo and Luca Mancinelli.”
There’s a long pause, during which I can’t even imagine what my boss must be thinking. He’s practically whispering when he speaks.
“Are you safe? Do you need me to send a car or someone?”
“Thanks, but no. I don’t need anything. I’m where I should be.”
That sounds rather presumptuous to my ears, but Nicoletta’s smile makes me feel like I just offered her the sun and the moon and all the stars. I feel accepted by my boyfriend’s parents. I didn’t expect it to mean so much to me, but it does. It was a worry that I must have buried, but now that it’s gone, I feel lighter.
“Are you taking the afternoon off?”
“I don’t have my laptop, so I guess I am.”
Nicoletta shakes her head, and I frown.
“Matteo went into Manhattan to meet Maria after her shift. They can swing by and get it. I can call them now.”
I nod.
“Anderson, Lorenzo’s sister and her husband will stop by to get my computer. It’ll probably take about an hour and a half, but I’ll be back online soon.”
“And there’s somewhere you can work?”
“I’m sure there is. Massimo’s an attorney too. He understands.”
