Chapter 13

Ilearned two things today. My truck could go a lot faster than I thought it could, and my skills in the time keeping department were seriously lacking. While I'd like to blame the latter on my cheap plastic banded watch, I'd have to actually know where the thing was for that.

I took it off a few days ago and hadn't see it since. Much like my favorite rainbow toe socks, it was lost to the being that ate things in my room. I wished my phone would do the same.

I sighed at the text echoing an annoying buzz through the kitchen table.

The name Fuckface flashed across the screen along with a message that I couldn't be bothered to read. I didn't need to open it to know that Gio was pissed. This was the sixth time he'd texted in the past fifteen minutes, and the time between was getting consistently shorter.

He was persistent, I'd give him that. But not as persistent as I was stubborn or curious. And my curiosity wanted to see how long it would take him to call? At this rate, I was going to guess it would be about ten minutes.

Maw Maw dropped her purse on the table as another text came through.

She looked at the lit up screen on my phone, then up at me. "Are you going to answer that?"

"Nope." I had another nine and a half minutes.

"Who is it?"

"An asshole."

A hand wacked off the back of my head, jarring my stare down with my phone.

"Novalee Ford, you will watch your language."

I rubbed the back of my head and grumbled, "Knox isn't here Maw Maw."

Veda didn't get off work for another seventeen minutes.

"I don't care. Proper ladies do not use vulgar language."

Proper ladies? Did she forget who she was talking to? I was raised by my mechanic brother. Plus… "I hardly qualify as a lady."

Pretty sure that possibility went out the window with my first oil change lesson.

"And who's fault is that?" Maw Maw said as she snapped a Tupperware lid on a box of lemon squares.

"Um… God's?" According to Maw Maw and Father John, he had a plan for everyone.

Judging by the tight way Maw Maw's lips twisted, that was the wrong answer. "The lord is not responsible for your inadequacies."

Who said anything about inadequacies?

"How you chose to present yourself to the world is completely up to you. And I will not have your lack of manners make people judge me."

"But you just said–"

"I know what I said."

Did she? Because that whole statement seemed like a contradiction to me.

Another buzz vibrated the table, drawing my attention back to my phone. Gio had now resorted to using emoji's. Mainly a string of the angry face ones.

"Good lord child, why do you have a phone if you're not going to answer it?"

I could answer it, but… "This is more fun."

She shook her head and sighed. "I pity the man who you end up with."

"He deserves it." Trust me.

Maw Maw's arched brow made me realize my mistake. "He?"

Damnit.

"Novalee, is someone courting you?"

Courting? What was this, the eighteenth century?

"No, Maw Maw. I can assure you, no one is courting me." Though one could argue that an arranged marriage did fit in the courting era.

She peeked over my shoulder, probably hoping to catch a glimpse of who the mystery texter was. "Is it Simon?"

"Eww, no."

My phone lit up again and the curiosity on Maw Maw's face morphed into disproval. "Novalee!"

"What?" I said. "He is a fuckface."

I thought I was going to get another smack on the head, I even flinched in preparation. But Maw Maw just huffed and walked over to the door to grab her sweater off the hook.

"Well, at least I don't have to worry about you getting pregnant."

Not for another four years anyway. Just thinking about that part of our agreement made my stomach twist. Gio was large, my mouth still ached from his girth. There was no way my tiny little body could take something that size. The turkey baster method was always an option, but something told me that I wasn't that lucky.

Hence why I was sitting in the kitchen, staring at my phone. Friday Me's problem was today Me's problem, and I had no idea what was going to happen. But I did know anger was not an aphrodisiac. At least I hoped it wasn't.

Maw Maw looped her arm in her purse handles then paused to eye me. "It's 8:23. What time is Memphis expecting you?"

I was well aware of what time it was.

"Whenever I get there."

Gio didn't give me a time frame – that I knew of anyway – and technically it was Friday night until 11:59. Memphis was the excuse I gave Maw Maw for why I'd be gone all weekend. It wasn't the best excuse, but it was the only one I could think of at the last minute. My time keeping skills weren't on par, but I sure knew how to drag my feet.

"What's this project you two have to work on."

Huh? I probably should've thought of that.

Whatever I said, it had to be good. Judging by the look I was currently getting, Maw Maw was already suspicious.

"Um…" I looked at her and racked my brain. "It's about the repercussions of arranged marriages in the modern age."

Sounded real enough to me.

Maw Maw on the other hand was not convinced. "Why would that take you all weekend?"

That was a good question.

"We have to do research and stuff. That all takes time."

For half a second I thought she was going to call my bluff. Especially when her eyes narrowed.

"Did you wait until the last minute again?"

Sure, we could go with that.

"Yeah." It sounded like something I would do.

"Novalee, you need to take your education seriously…"

Ugh, not this lecture again.

"You're a smart girl…"

Given recent circumstances, that was debatable.

"I will not let you waste your potential." Maw Maw stormed over and scooped up the box of squares. "School is the only thing you need to worry about..."

She had no idea how wrong that statement was. Gotta say I was a little disappointed. I finally had valid arguments for the ‘school is important' lecture–the deal I made. Plus, the possible consequences of double crossing the Mancini family to the FBI, or what might happen to me tonight–none of which I could tell her about. So, I opted to go with my regular argument.

"I get good grades."

"But you don't try."

How was that a bad thing? I was in the high nineties in all of my classes, except for PE, but that didn't count. Then again, I may have underestimated the importance of adequate skills in running?

"You can't coast through life, Little Girl."

I disagreed. "I'm on the honor role, Maw Maw."

"It's not about your grades, Novalee, it about the effort you put in."

Did she know what her point was anymore? Because I was confused?

Maw Maw cradled my face and looked me in the eye. "Imagine what you could do if you just tried."

Were we still talking about school?

"Do you want me to clean my room or something?" I did that last week.

She dropped her hands and let out a heavy sigh. "I give up."

About time.

"Don't worry, Maw Maw, you'll find life much easier this way."

Her finger snapped up in sharp point. "Don't test me, child."

What happened to her giving up?

"Aren't you late?"

Like Gio, Maw Maw's bridge club had a thing about punctuality.

"Don't sass me."

How was that sassing?

She walked over to the screen door muttering something about the good lord testing her, then spun around and pointed at me again.

"I want to see that report when you get it back."

Great. So not only did I have to spend a weekend at Mancini hell house, but I also had to write a report on arranged marriages in the modern age. Oh well, at least I'd get some extra credit out of it.

I rolled my eyes back down to my phone and waved over my shoulder. "Okay, Maw Maw."

"I'm watching you Little Girl."

Again, what happened to her giving up?

I heard the screen door squeak open, then clack shut as a smirk curled the corner of my mouth. My phone wasn't buzzing this time. It was ringing. While the call was two minutes before my estimated timeline, I still considered it a win.

My finger hovered over the end call button. It was so tempting to hit that little red icon, but I'd already dug myself in a deep enough hole. I didn't want him showing up here after all – which I assumed would be the next step after ignored calls.

"Damnit," I muttered and clicked to answer. "Hello."

Gio's deep tone was extra gravely. "Why the fuck didn't you answer my texts."

"Because I didn't want to."

"So you were purposefully ignoring me?"

"Yeah."

I couldn't decide if the moment of silence that followed was brought on by anger or shock. Because who would ignore the great Gio Mancini.

"When I text you FUCKING ANSWER!"

Ah, okay, it was anger.

"Where the fuck are you?"

I dropped my eyes down to the yellow laminate flooring, then looked over at the wooden counter tops. The easy answer would be my house or the kitchen, but why be easy when one could be a vague as possible.

"I'm sitting in a chair. Where are you?" I made sure to add a little sweetness in my voice at the end, just to pull on his nerves a little more. And it seemed to work.

"I'm at my house where you should fucking be!"

Damn someone was extra snappy today.

"It's Friday night, Nova."

"I'm aware."

"Then you should also be aware of where you should be. Or did you forget what you agreed to?"

But did I agree to it, or was I just told how things were going to be?

"Oh I remember. I also remember that I wasn't given a timeframe and technically…" I paused to look at the clock on the wall. "It's Friday night for another three hours and twenty-eight minutes."

"Technicalities aren't going to get you out of this one."

Showed what he knew. Life was all about technicalities.

"I'm following the parameters that were set out for me, and… I'm comfortable."

Not really. The padding in the chair was worn down, and if I shifted too fast to the left, the plastic covering would bite my ass.

"How's this for parameters, if you're not standing at my door in ten minutes, I'll come and get you."

What kind of vague ass threat was that? "I'll lock the door."

"I'll kick it on." He growled. "And drag you out by your fucking hair."

Okay, that was a little more clear.

All I could see when I looked at our flimsy wooden door was the look on Veda's face when she came home to her sister being drug out of the house by a Mancini.

"Fine," I sighed. "I'll leave now."

"You have eight minutes and forty-seven seconds." Gio said and hung up.

Of course he was timing me. So much for lounging around for another minute or two.

Grumbling under my breath, I got up, marched into my room to grab the bag I packed, and headed out to my truck. I may have to go to Gio's house, but I'd be going with the satisfaction of knowing he was thoroughly pissed off.

That probably wouldn't make my weekend very enjoyable, but it was still a win in my books. And that was all I needed to smile. Until I stuck the key in the ignition, and nothing happened.

I twisted my keys again, and I got nothing but a few soft clicks.

I tried everything. Beating the engine with my trusty wrench, kicking the tires, and talking sweetly to my truck before turning it on. Nothing worked.

Groaning, I dropped my forehead on the steering wheel.

This was all Atlee's fault. If he hadn't messed with my truck, then I wouldn't have had the false delusion of it working properly. At least before I knew what to do. This truck was a fickle beast. It took me months to figure her out. God knew what she wanted now.

"Okay," I sat up and sucked in a deep breath. "We can do this."

I held my breath, closed my eyes, and prayed to the truck gods as I turned the key.

The engine roared to life, renewing my faith in my beloved vehicle.

With a smile, I placed a firm kiss on the steering wheel. "I knew we could do it."

Unfortunately, my ten minutes had run out.

As I was preparing to pull away, a Range Rover pulled up beside me.

The scowl causing deep lines in Gio's forehead was thing of beauty. His finger lifted, giving me a signal to roll my window down.

Pride fille my chest as I cranked on the window handle. I didn't think I'd ever seen him that mad, and I pissed him off a lot.

"Hey," I sang with a grin. "Fancy meeting you here."

Gio's finger pointed at the passenger seat next to him. "Get in."

Yeah, that wasn't going to work for me. I defiantly needed my own vehicle this weekend.

"Sorry, I got somewhere to be."

Before he could say another word, I stuck my hand out the open window, gave him a wave, and peeled away.

The benefit to living in Sault Saint Marie Estates for two years, was knowing where the pothole in the road were. I'd driven down this road so many times that I didn't even have to think about my curves and turns.

I easily wove my way down the pavement while Gio's Range Rover skipped and ground. But the real icing on the cake were the yelled out curses that followed each sharp scrape.

I'd gained some decent distance by the time I drove out of the trailer park. That of course didn't last long. It was only about three minutes before I saw the dark hood of his vehicle in my rear-view mirror.

Less than a minute after that, Gio was pulling up beside me. My guess was to cut me off. There was no way my truck would beat his in a speed competition. However, there was a drive in on the right hand side of the road. And I was in the mood for something sweet.

Gio followed as I cranked my steering wheel to the right and ordered a chocolate chip muffin and iced cap. The best part was the gate that would cut people off at the window until they paid. I made sure to let the cashier know that my ‘boyfriend' in the car behind me would be taking care of the bill. I assumed that's what the endless stream of calls I got after driving away were about.

Let me just say, that was the best muffin I'd ever had. I enjoyed every single bite, all the way up until I parked next to Gio's house.

He wasn't far behind, and was driving kind of crazy. His tires squealed against the asphalt as he revved up and sharply pulled to a stop.

I swallowed down the last of my coffee then stepped out onto the driveway.

The bang that came from Gio's door slamming was so loud that I could feel the vibrations in my bones. That should've been my warning.

"Hey," I sang as he stormed my way. "What took you so long?"

Ever see someone's brain explode? Like just pop in their skull. It was truly a sight to behold. Gio stopped midstride and stared at me with a blank expression. His lips parted as if he was going to say something, but nothing came out. I broke him. It was fantastic.

Then his eyes darkened.