61. Aiyana

Chapter sixty-one

Aiyana

Saturday, January 6, 2024

" O kay, okay, so maybe I didn't actually finish reading the book!" I finally admit, dropping my head into my hands as I laugh, getting pelted with pillows as Alessandro's family shouts at me in outrage. I feel a pillow whack me over the head and register that it had to be Kat.

I turn to her, my eyes wide, mouth agape. "Oh my god! You too?!" I cackle at her, our heads falling backward onto the worn-out floral couch in Gloria De Laurentiis's living room.

Everyone settles down, lightly chuckling at me as I toss the pillows back at each of the women sitting in the living room for book club. Gloria had invited Kat and me to attend. I wasn't able to make it to their last one. They said they normally text each other throughout the month about the book and have an in-person book club at the end of the month. But with everyone having some time off around the holidays, they all finished the book before I even had a chance to get halfway. It was really good, though, if not a bit close to home. I kind of felt called out by the main tropes, considering it was a "best friend's brother, idiots in love, hockey romance" book. I'd say I'll finish it in my own time, but they've already got next month's book picked out!

"Alright, we'll let it slide this one time," Charlie tells me, rolling her eyes playfully as she lounges back against the chaise, Rose's legs draped over her lap as she rubs small circles up and down her calves.

"How far did you get into the book?" Rose asks, eyeing me curiously.

"About halfway. Honestly, I read the smutty scenes a few times." I grin, and Gloria smacks a hand down on my thigh, laughing a full-bellied chortle that wrings another smile out of me.

"That's my girl!" she says from my right. This older woman has the heart of a saint, but she's a damn tyrant. I adore her .

"Okay, well then, we can definitely talk about the smut, at least! And frankly, that's the most important part anyway, right?" Arielle asks, waggling her auburn eyebrows suggestively.

I lean over, reaching for my wine glass that's sitting on the coffee table before taking a sip and tucking my legs up in front of me, resting my elbows on my thighs, a lazy grin settled across my face.

"You start then since you didn't finish it and all," Rose says, smirking at me, her pink hair tossed up in a messy bun and mischief playing across her soft features.

"The first scene is obviously the best," I tell them, fully confident in my words. "That first scene was full of passion and longing, and the way he took control of her? Instant tingles."

"I agree wholeheartedly, though I'm a sucker for a mutual masturbation scene, and that one was pretty spicy. I mean, come on , toys, and it was over a video call?" Arielle giggles, fanning herself dramatically. Her eyes swing over to Kat.

Kat's cheeks flush with embarrassment, and her hand settles against her chest as she tugs on the gold pendant hanging from her neck, a telltale sign that she's uncomfortable. I don't exactly blame her. She's kind of shy until she gets comfortable enough to be herself entirely, but it doesn't help that her boyfriend's mom is sitting four feet away, expecting her to spill her guts about her erotic, bookish fantasies.

"I thought the book was really sweet," she starts. "It honestly reminded me a lot of Kas and Aiyana's relationship." She looks at me, a smirk growing as I choke on the sip of wine I just took. I'm sputtering, coughing up the stringent liquid as my eyes bug out of my head, but she continues. "And for that reason, I refuse to talk about the sexy scenes." She laughs and adds, "I have no desire to think about my brother's sex life, so I'm out." She shakes her head as she eyes me.

I finally recover from my near-death experience long enough to get a few words out. "This book is nothing like Kas and me." I roll my eyes, hoping to put extra emphasis on the words I'm speaking, and a weight settles in the pit of my stomach. Okay, it's exactly like us.

"Oh, come on. You mean to tell us you've never thought about shacking up with Kat's brother?" The question comes from Rose, almost startling me with her bluntness, but thankfully, Arielle and Charlie chime in and rescue me from the awkward situation. Somewhat anyway.

"If I were into dick, I'd be all over that," Charlie says, her voice alight with laughter as Rose smacks her shoulder.

Arielle interrupts. "Oh, I agree wholeheartedly. He's got this suave, achingly sweet but dangerous vibe about him." Her brows shoot up her forehead as she turns to Gloria. "Just like Dante, but obviously, your son is the absolute best," she rushes out, making Gloria laugh some more.

"Oh, shut it, Red. I know you only have eyes for Dante. Don't think I didn't hear the shit you were doing up there"—she motions toward the floor above us—"on Christmas Eve, ya nasties." She shakes her head, laughing at Arielle's discomfort.

At that, everyone bursts out laughing. "I knew that's what I heard!" I laugh, recalling the distinct sound of the headboard banging against the wall, though I almost feel bad knowing she's likely taking the blame for not only herself but for Kas and me too.

A flush travels through my body at the reminder of that weekend.

I hear the door unlock, and the guys all trail in; Angelo, their dad, leads the rest of them inside. Dante, Luca, and Gianni enter the living room, Angelo standing behind Gloria as he presses a kiss to the crown of her head, bending down to whisper something into her ear that makes her smile broadly.

"Well, well, well, dirty birds, what are we reading this month?" Luca asks, chuckling as he snatches the book from the table behind Kat, flipping through the pages.

"Can you even read?" Dante taunts, smacking him over the head and grabbing the book back from him, handing it over to Kat. She smiles up at Dante, and he gives her a wry grin before taking a seat on the floor beside Arielle. He wraps his tattooed arms around Arielle and hoists her into his lap, making her squeal as he plants kisses along her jaw, holding her tightly to his chest.

Luca heads into the kitchen, and Gianni pulls up a chair, takes a seat, and nods at me in acknowledgment. I swear he gives me a small smile, but I can't be too sure since he speaks very few words and smiles even less.

Kat leans into me. "We should head out soon. I told Ale I'd call him before bed."

I nod at her. "Sure, we can leave whenever you want." I'm honestly itching to text Kas, and I can't do that with his sister right next to me.

"What are we reading next month?" I ask Gloria. She leans down, grabs up a tote bag filled with books, and hauls it into her lap.

"Are we feeling another hockey romance?" She waggles her brows around the room, and the guys all groan in unison.

"Isn't it a little weird that you read so much hockey smut? You know, considering most of your kids play hockey?" Luca calls from the kitchen.

Dante chuckles at that, shaking his head, and Arielle hollers back at him, "No one's thinking of your ugly mug, Luca!"

That's a blatant lie, and she knows it. Luca is gorgeous—dark hair, a strong jaw, and heterochromia with one icy-blue eye and one sage-green one. No one corrects her, though, opting to chuckle awkwardly as several of us say the same thing.

"That's not what your best friends have all been saying," Luca says smugly as he reenters the living room, a mug in hand that he places in Gloria's palms, not releasing it until her grip is firmly wrapped around it. She smiles up at him, thanking him as he gives her a small, warm smile, then returns to his usual smug demeanor when he looks back at the group.

Arielle rolls her eyes, shaking her head at him, but a small smirk dances across her lips.

Rose speaks up. "For the record, I'm her best friend, and I have never once had an interest in you, Luca."

Arielle rolls her eyes. "We know, Rose," she chides softly.

Gloria takes a sip of the liquid before placing the mug on the table beside her and rummaging around in her bag of books. She takes a moment, sifting through them, and when she finds what she's looking for, she pulls it out and throws her hand up, clutching a book with a green cover and a red sports car on the front. There's also a couple leaning on the hood and what I'm pretty sure are a bunch of dogs, but I can't make it out from my seat on the couch.

"This one's a soccer romance!" she exclaims. Everyone turns silent for a moment, eyes darting to Gianni, the air thick and then bursting like an overfilled balloon as the room erupts in laughter, and Gianni groans loudly.

"Oh, I've been waiting for that one, actually!" Kat says excitedly. "The MMC has some seriously hot, sad-boy vibes, and I love soccer romances!" I can attest to that. She's read practically every soccer romance available.

Rose pulls her phone out from her back pocket, looking down at the screen as she types. "What's the name? I'll buy a few copies and overnight them," she says with finality.

" Quake, " Gloria says, and Rose nods, never looking up from her phone.

After a moment, she tells us with a grin, "Okay, ordered."

I extend my legs, stretching them out in front of me, making my way to a standing position. "This was really fun, but Kat's dick whipped," I say. "Sorry, Gloria." My eyes swing to hers, and she bubbles with laughter despite my crudeness. "So we've gotta head out so Kat doesn't miss her call with Alessandro."

I lean down to hug Gloria, pressing a kiss to each of her cheeks as she does the same to me, and thank her for her hospitality.

We spend several minutes saying our goodbyes and finally head home. I know I blamed Kat for us leaving, but I'm exhausted.

***

Kas

I hear book club with the De Laurentiis family got a little wild, huh?

Wild by whose standards? Your sister's?

I know he must be referencing Kat's take on how the night went, likely overhearing some of her conversation with Ale.

Kas

So there wasn't discussion of Dante and Arielle getting freaky on Christmas Eve?

Kas

I feel kind of bad honestly… Half the blame is ours.

I plead the fifth.

Kas

Ah, well, I hope you enjoyed your night.

Kas

I miss you.

My heart cracks open a little wider every time he says it. This time, I finally give in. I'll blame it on the wine.

I miss you too Kas.

Kas

I should get to bed…

I'm exhausted, so same here. I'll watch your game tomorrow so don't tell me what happened! I recorded it tonight.

Kas

I would never…

Kas

Goodnight my little viper 3

Goodnight Kas.