AllFreeNovel
Share Us
ChapterThirteen
Mattie
"Thanks, Nonna." I accept the pistachio gelato cone.
Nonna tousles my hair. "You’re welcome."
"Don’t eat it all in one bite," Nonno drawls.
I roll my eyes. "I’ll try not to. It’s difficult because it’s so good."
"You can say that again." Nonna nods sagely. "We’ve spent decades perfecting my grandmother’s recipe. She was the first to market and sell pistachio gelato to tourists in Sicily back in the day. This was before gelato shops existed on every corner—half of them stole their recipe from my grandmother."
"Really?" I crack my neck.
She nods. "My grandmother taught cooking workshops at the University of Sicily. Everyone picked up at least one recipe from her. When she passed away, I inherited her recipe book and brought her creations up to modern standards."
"Well," Nonno drawls in a grandfatherly voice, "then,they were modern. Now, they’re dated."
Nonna scorches him with the fiercest glare in her toolbox. "Quality food never dies."
Tell that to the Jell-O salad molds that prevailed in the 1960s.
"I agree, Nonna," I lie, wrapping her in a hug. "Thanks for allowing me to taste your grandma’s gelato."
"You should try her cookies," Nonno drawls. "You haven’t known pleasure until you’ve sampled them."
Ryder, Cyan, and Enzo step into the room in the nick of time. "We’re here to save you."
I untangle myself from Nonna’s arms. "That’s not necessary, but thanks."
"Wanna try one of Nonna’s grandma’s cookies?" Nonno drawls. "They’re ancient, but they still have flavor."
Cyan ticks an eyebrow up. "I’m watching my sugar intake—but thanks."
Enzo grabs my hand. "Let’s head out of here. I’mnotin the mood for…cookies."
Nonna smacks Nonno. "Shut your damn mouth before I run off and call my foot masseuse to work my stress out."
"I bet you’d share your grandma’s cookies with her," Nonno drawls.
"I already have," Nonna snaps. "Quit being jealous and immature."
Ryder, Cyan, Enzo, and I seek peace in my bedroom. "Glad we got out of there in time," Cyan says.
"You can say that again," Enzo groans. "Last week, Nonna confessed that she cheats on Nonno with her foot masseuse. It’s terrible."
Cyan cracks out a snort. "I remember you telling me that. Didn’t the masseuse offer to blow you?"
"Nah," Enzo grunts. "She suggested a massage with a happy ending."
Ryder chuckles. "Nonna is one freaky bitch."
"Don’t say bitch," I snap. "That’s sexist because she’s like ninety."
"She’s one freaky lady," Ryder corrects.Good boy."I envy her life, though. I mean, look at this place." He throws open my window and gestures to the gorgeous back garden. "It’s paradise."
"And her family is always around," Enzo adds. "You can’t beat that."
