“Um, yeah it did. How did you know? The pain spread everywhere, my vision blurred, and I just blacked out. I woke up on the couch in the breakroom, about fifteen minutes later. My boss tried to get me to go to a hospital, but I didn’t want to go.” I hoped she didn’t ask how I got home. Maybe the fainting would distract her enough.
“Interesting. You took your death trap to work though, so how did you get home?” Fucking bloodhound. I couldn’t get fuckall past this woman.
“This man, Desmond… I met him at the club.” I could see Angie’s face turning a violent shade of red as I spoke. “He was at the club, and when I passed out he waited for me. He was a perfect gentleman and drove me home on my bike.”
“You let a completestrangerdrive your bike to our home? You didn’t think,Hmmm why was this man waiting for me while I was passed out?You don’t think that sounds like something a predator would do?!Diana, he could have raped or killed you! You could have ended up on Dateline!”
I started chuckling to myself. I had thought that same thing last night. “He was very respectful. Everything is fine, nothing to–”
“—No, Diana, there’s a lot to worry about! You don’t know how dangerous this man could have been. He knows where you live now! He could stalk you! Grind you up into little pieces and bake you into pies.”Calm down Sweeney Todd.She was being hysterical over nothing. Her theatrics were wasted on me, because I couldn’t award her a Tony for her performance. “You’re staying home today. Nonna and I have to have a serious conversation with you that’s long overdue.”
“I already planned on staying home. Give me thirty minutes to get a quick shower, change, and take care of Oscar, then I’ll be down.” Now I was worried. Was I in trouble for something, or was something wrong with Nonna? She may seem like some glamorous, tough broad who cleavered meat for a living, but she wasn’t getting any younger.
Dragging myself out of bed was hard, but I needed a shower after that spicy, X-rated dream about my Mystery Man, Sebastian.What a strange name for a dream man.I stripped down and walked into my ensuite, hoping some cold water could wash his memory from my mind. I did not need to be all hot and bothered while getting a tongue lashing from my grandmother. An incoming text made my phone vibrate against the vanity counter.
Desmond: Dollface, how’s your head? I asked you to contact me, but I haven’t heard from you yet…
Oh my gawd. Now an in-real-life man was texting me? I was so scared to text him like he’d asked. What if he changed his mind and didn’t text back? But he texted me first and came in hot, so he must be somewhat interested in me. I didn’t want to come off too desperate, so I waited until I was done with my shower to reply.
Diana: No complaints ;) I feel better than I did last night. Thank you for being such a gentleman and making sure I got home okay.
Desmond: Next time you see me, I won’t be such a gentleman. I won’t take you to your home either.
Diana: Flirt. We’ll see about that. Just because I let you ride my bike doesn’t mean I’d let you ride me. Maybe we could meet for coffee first and get to know one another better.
Desmond: I was thinking of taking you out for a candlelit dinner. Then maybe play some Uno back at mine. Can’t help it if your mind is in the gutter. But I’ll settle for coffee until I can win you over. Lemme know when you’re free today.
He wanted to meet today? Maybe after getting Rossi roasted I could see him.His texts… I needed a fan or an ice bath. I was on fire.
“Oscar! Here boy,” I called.
Usually when he was home, he hung out in my room or in the bay window downstairs. I checked the hallway, but couldn’t find him. Cracking the window enough that he could sneak out if he needed to, I made sure to leave my bedroom door open when I left to meet the Italian Inquisition Squad.
When I got to the kitchen, they were sitting at the table with stern expressions on their faces.Oh my God, did someone die?Nonna looked like her usual, well self, the picture of health. She reminded me of an 80s era Cher, with her big black wavy hair and high cheekbones. She could easily pass for a woman in her late forties. Her hair was down today, highlighting the gray streak she had in the front around her side part. Her green eyes were bright and healthy. The only difference was that she looked worried.
She gestured to the chair across from them. This must be bad if they both wanted to stare me down. I sat, trying my hardest not to seem rattled. Angie was a drama queen. She was a typical Leo who always popped off, stirred the pot, then cooled down and acted like nothing happened. Nonna, on the other hand, never forgot anything. She was so down to earth, and if she was this upset, it was aserioustransgression.
“Bellissima, I could hear you two arguing loud and clear up there. How are you feeling?” Her face softened a bit, but she was on edge. What could possibly make her act this way?
It must be Desmond. Angie probably tattled on me. I decided to cut right to the chase, because I respected Nonna enough not to bullshit her. “Better. I’m sorry if I worried you. I wouldn’t have let him take me home if I thought he was dangerous. I’m sure everything is fine.” She sighed and shifted in her chair.
After exchanging a loaded glance with my aunt, she turned her bright green eyes to me again. “I’m not letting you off the hook for that–we’ll come back to it. Can I read your cards?”
“Sure?” Tickle me curious. She hadn’t read my cards in a while.
Nonna pulled out an old, worn deck from her cardigan pocket that she’d had for decades. I remember sitting at this very table with my mom and Angela while we watched her read cards for each of us. She was a force to be reckoned with. Even without the cards, she always had a sixth sense. Her advice was never wrong, and good luck hiding anything from her. If Angie was a bloodhound, Nonna was a JFK Airport bomb-sniffer canine.
She took a deep breath. “Take your time shuffling the cards and centering yourself. Then spread them and pick five cards that call to you.” I followed her directions to a T and my hands shook as I handled the old cards. Something was different about this reading. I swore I could actually hear them calling to me, and some were warmer than others. Unease slithered through me as I placed the cards on the table before her.
I didn’t know much about tarot reading, despite Mom being so well versed, but I got the general gist. What I didn’t understand was why Nonna needed to do a reading for me. I had the feeling there were things she wasn’t telling me, and my nerves roiled as a feeling of heavy dread cloaked me. She placed the cards face up on the table in front of me in a horseshoe shape. After they assessed the cards, Angie gasped. Her face paled.
“What is going on with you two? Can you please tell me what the cards say instead of sitting there in shock?” I was losing my patience.
Nonna opened her mouth, then closed it before speaking again. “Your first card, The Fool, shows where you are now. You’re at the beginning of a new journey full of promise and potential. Something life changing is on the horizon.”
“Keep an open, inquiring mind, but also use your common sense,” Angie added in.
“Belissima, you have The Lovers card for your second card. It means your next step is a significant change in relationships–romantic, friendships, or familial. Your heart may need to make a choice.” Nonna’s voice weighed on me like a dumbbell. It was absent of the usual glee it had when she talked about my love life.