AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay.” He nods, and I know he won’t tell anyone either.
ChapterFifteen
My heart breaks every time I’ve had to watch my brother have a panic attack. It hasn’t happened for years, not since we were eighteen. I knew, though. As soon as it started, my chest tightened, a feeling of dread came over me, and I knew it was Luca.
I ran to him, talked him through it, just like I used to do when we were kids. Now, I’m too fucking scared to leave his side. I know he doesn’t want anyone else to know. He hates that he has these attacks, and I can feel the worry radiating off him. He’s terrified of having another one in front of people. Well, people who aren’t me.
I messaged Livvy and told her we had to move rooms. She didn’t question it and had staff take our things to the empty room next to Luca’s. Not even my wife knows about Luca’s panic attacks, and she pretty much knows all there is to know about me and my twin. She had to live with us in college, because I couldn’t live without her or my brother. She was a champ, though, and never once complained about having to share her space with two college guys. She never made my twin feel like he was a burden. She understands that he is as much a part of me as any of my limbs.
We’re currently sitting at the dinner table. Everyone is here. All four of us brothers are hyperaware of our mother. Each of us listening to every word she speaks, looking for a sign, anything to give us any indication that she’s not okay.
“Ma, I was thinking I’d crash your breakfast date with Luc in the morning,” I tell her.
“Oh, okay, sure, honey.” She smiles at me.
“Why have one when you can have two, right?” I laugh.
“Exactly!” Ma says. Being a twin herself, she also understands the bond Luca and I share, better than anyone else.
“If they get breakfast with you, Ma, I want lunch,” Matteo chimes in.
“I’ll take dinner,” Theo adds.
“What’s going on? Why are you all wanting to eat with me?” Mom asks us, her eyes narrowing in on each of our faces.
The four of us share a glance. “Ma, I thought you brought us here to spend time with you. This is usspending time with you,” I tell her.
“Right,” she says. “Okay, fill up my calendar with food dates. But if I get fat, I’m blaming you boys.”
“You’re beautiful, Ma, and you could never be fat,” Matteo says.
“Smooth, kiss ass.” I throw a bean across the table at him.
Ma looks over to Pops. “Did we wake up in an alternate universe? Are you sure these are our children?” she asks him.
“No, but let’s not question it, dolcezza. I like these ones better than the old versions,” Pops tells her.
“Nonna, I thought we could go shopping, and maybe to that gallery Mom and I found. I think you’ll like it,” Liliana says.
“Oh, sure, sweetheart. That sounds like a plan.” Ma smiles at her.
“Nonna, you and I should go to that wine bar down the street. You know, since I can legally drink here and all.” Aurora grins while eyeing her father from across the table.
“No,” Luca and I say at the same time.
“Not a fucking chance, Aurora,” Matteo says over us.
“Not happening,” Theo adds.
“What? But Nonna wants to go, don’t you, Nonna?” Aurora looks over at her grandmother with those big fucking puppy-dog eyes she has. The ones that usually get her whatever she wants.
“Sure do. It’ll be fun. Besides, you four were all drinking at eighteen whenever we traveled overseas.” Mom points to me and then my three brothers.
“We weren’t her, Ma. She’ll find a way to get into trouble,” Matteo says, throwing a hand out towards his daughter.
“Oh, so I was right. Itwillbe fun then. Tilly and Liliana can come along.” Ma grins.
“This is going to end in disaster,” I say. “Maybe Livvy should go too. She’s the sensible one out of all of you.”
