I didn’t deny it. I could see that Diego wanted to say more, but then he just shook his head. “You’ll be late.”
I got out. Toni was already waiting for me. I rushed toward her, eager to get away from Diego’s brand of crazy. We hugged, then she scanned my face. “What’s the matter?”
“My brother’s been intolerable all morning.”
“Isn’t he always?” She looked pointedly toward the Ford, which was still parked at the curb despite other cars honking behind it.
“We should go inside. He won’t leave until we do.”
Toni and I linked arms before we headed into the building.
“If you’re looking for the Amish commune, this is the wrong way,” Noemi said, her little posse of friends surrounding her. The idea that Diego was making out with her older sister made me want to gag.
I ignored her. If I didn’t, I’d punch her, and I’d promised Dad that wouldn’t happen again. If I wanted to be on time for class, I didn’t have time to change.
Later in recess, Toni and I sat at our usual table in the corner, and I was finally out of my dress and wearing jeans and a sweater. “Dad has started looking for a husband for me.”
Toni choked on her iced tea. “What?”
“I’m sixteen. Usually girls are already promised at that age.”
“What about Savio?” She’d lowered her voice another notch. Nobody knew of my crush on him and I preferred it to stay that way. I didn’t need more rumors about me.
I pushed my vegetables around on the plate. “He hasn’t asked yet.”
“You need to up your game, Gemma. Flirt with him. Savio’s brain is wired differently. He’s used to girls throwing themselves at him.”
“I don’t want to throw myself at him. The guy has to make the first move.”
Toni sighed. “Maybe he needs a tiny nudge to make the first move. Do you want to risk being promised to someone else?”
“Of course not,” I gasped. “But it’ll probably take many months for Dad to find a viable suitor. It’s not like I have a long list of admirers.”
Toni rolled her eyes. “Too many hits against your head during training, eh?” She pointed her fork at something behind me. I turned, finding a group of jocks staring at me. Flushing, I jerked back around. “Some of them aren’t Italian. And the others are too young. They need to be a couple of years older.”
“I didn’t say you were supposed to marry any of them. I was just making a point.”
I didn’t quite get her point. Even if these guys were checking me out, that didn’t help me with Savio.
I poured myself some orange juice when I heard male voices coming from the living room. One of them was Savio. Following them, I returned to my previous homework spot only to find Savio and Diego lounging on the sofa, bag of chips in their hand, and zapping through the TV programs. My books and notebook lay discarded on the floor as if someone had shoved them off without care.
If Diego had been alone, I would have thrown myself at him and tried to choke him with a throw pillow, but with Savio being present, I had to opt for a more ladylike option.
I stalked into the room, but both boys ignored me pointedly.
“Why did you throw my stuff down?”
Diego and Savio briefly glanced up before they returned their focus to a video on the screen of some shitty rapper who was surrounded by half-dressed girls. Nonna would lose it if she saw.
“They were in the way,” Diego said as if in an afterthought.
“I was doing homework.”
“Then do it somewhere else. Go into the kitchen, that’s a place where you have more business being anyway.”
I couldn’t believe him. He was trying to impress Savio by being an asshole. Savio’s mouth turned into that arrogant smile that always made my stupid heart speed up.
“I was here first,” I said, crossing my arms in front of my chest as I barred their view of the TV. Savio wasn’t as much as glancing my way. I might as well have been air. My outfit wasn’t really good for impressing anyone: sweatpants and a hoodie, but I hadn’t expected Savio to come visit. Diego mostly met somewhere else with him and Mick nowadays.
“Gemma, stop being a bitch, and move your ass away.”
Savio briefly looked up, and our eyes met. Butterflies danced in my stomach like they always did. His expression was unreadable. Not the familiar smirk or arrogant smile. Then he returned his attention to the TV.
“If you don’t go, then you’ll have to live with my presence,” I said. Before I had time to think about it, I sank down on Savio’s lap. Diego’s sharp intake of breath made me smile, but it died when Savio’s arm came around my waist. Shock shot through me. I hadn’t expected him to react that way. Shove me away? Yes. Shock? Yes. Pulling me closer as if I belonged on top of him? No.