Chapter 69
Arianna POV:
“Let me take you out today to show you the town.” he grinned as we went downstairs to breakfast.
I nodded happily at the thought of running around town with him, seeing everywhere he grew up. The places that he hung around as a child with Luca and his brother. I wanted to see the town that helped him grow into who he is, all the little memories dotted around shops and cafes.
“Gio?” his mother called. “You going out?” she pouted for a moment before walking into the kitchen and then handing him a list. “Get me this, please.” She kissed the top of his head and patting his shoulder
She patted the empty seat next to Giovanni for me to sit in, “Come on dear, I’ve got fresh fruit and pastries,” she gestured to the pile of breads on the table.
“Mama, who is going to eat all of this?” he asked, going over the list.
She scoffed and turned to him. “You and Luca have emptied my pantry before. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re capable of get me my food,” SHe scolded him, waving around her butter knife like a sword.
“Cazzo,” he muttered under his breath. “Mama, we had plans today,” he tried to argue with her, but she looked at him with bulging eyes, daring him to continue.
“We can still stop at the market on the way home.” I put my hand on his arm and took the list from him, slipping it into my jean pockets.
Agnese smiled softly and came over, kissing the top of my head. “See, the American has more respect than you, vergogonati!”
He shrank a little as she smacked the top of his head, walking past and sitting down to eat her breakfast. Soon after, Luca stomped down the stairs, looking as if he’d been dragged from a tree. He yawned loudly before mindlessly wandering into the kitchen and grabbing himself a coffee and dropping a cup in front of me as well.
“Thank you, Luca!” I cheered, digging into the cappuccino that tasted of heaven and hazelnuts.
“Eh?” Gio held out his hands as if to ask where his was.
Luca smirked, sitting down at the table and grabbing a pastry shoving it into his mouth before taking a paper from the center of the table and opening it.
“Luca!” his mother whined, pulling him to sit up straight, and he grumbled, swatting her hands out of his hair and away from his posture.
We finished breakfast with minimal fighting, Luca insisting on joining us as the horde of young children demanded he come and play soccer with them.
“The last time those mongrels held me down as they pelted me with balls, no way.” he seemed genuinely terrified as we scurried out the house and into the car, and just before we closed the door, Becca hopped in.
“You were going to leave me on baby duty?” she growled.
Gio clenched his jaw, putting the old Ferrari into gear. “I'm so glad you both could join us.”
I put my hand on his and gave him an enticing stare, encouraging him to be polite. He side-eyed me, kissing my hand with a smirk as we headed out of the villa and back into town. Now that we were in daylight, I could see it more clearly. A large marina down by a bustling board walk, with market and stands dotted a long the walk. Shops lined the street, and cafes, restaurants, and bistros filled the air with fine aromas.
“That was our school,” Luca pointed out the catholic school from the back seat. “Gio got suspended for fighting,” he told me.
I turned to Giovanni he held up a hand. “He deserved it,” was all he said.
“This kid was harassing a group of girls, and Gio took it upon himself to teach him a lesson. Of course, he got a concussion and black eye in the process,” Lucsa laughed.
“Didn’t he lose a tooth, too?” Becca tapped Lucas' shoulder reminding him more of Giovannis misfortune.
“Oh!” I held up a hand covering my smile it sounded like though his intentions were pure he got his ass handed to him.
“You two can feel free to get out and walk,” Gio reminded them.
They both leaned back in their seats, deciding to stay silent instead. “It’s not our fault you were such a scrawny little boy,” Luca mumbled.
I couldn’t imagine Giovanni to be scrawny, the shoulders he had were so wide, and he towered over me even though I wasn’t short. We stopped in front of a shop that had dresses and shoes in the display.
“I did promise you clothes for the trip, did I not?” he asked, parking the car and jumping out of it to take me inside.
Two very happy and polite shop assistants greeted us and started handing me clothes. Once I explained my situation, I’m sure they saw the dollar signs when they realized how much we were going to need.
I put on a beautiful long paisley dress with red and blue accents and a deper v neck I came out and giovanni nodded at me in approval. I noticed one of the sales girls standing next to him chatting but he didn’t seem to be paying her any attention.
I went back in and came out in a green dress that was lace and showed a bit too much cleavage for me. I poked my head out and then showed him the chest by moving the curtain down. He looked intrigued, but I rolled my eyes and went back in.
I came back out in a brown dress, free flowing, another v-neck, with a belt around the waist. I liked this one the most, and he nodded in agreement when I came back out.
“I’m not sure that’s your color,” The sales associate gave me a pinched smile.
“I didn’t ask,” I told her, grabbing a top and going back in. I heard some discourse out there in italian between two women when I came back out in a soft blue gown. Becca was arguing with the sales associate in heated italian.
She turned, looking at me in the dress as I looked between them, confused. “Perhaps Gio is tired of the same disloyal blondes, who can’t seem to keep their wallet in check.”
“At least I'm not some plain-” She began sneering, but Gio,who had been standing next to the squabbling women with a tired look on his face, grabbed her arm gently and gave her a very calm warning look.
“Stronzo,” she spat at him before stomping off, the other sales girl standing off behind her holding onto a pair of shoes.
“You want to try these?” She handed them over to me with a squeak.
“Grazi,” I smiled at her.
We took our many bags and loaded out of the shop onto the street and down. I grabbed Becca’s hand and whispered.
“Who was that?” I asked her.
“Gio’s ex,” she explained with a roll of her eyes.
My mind pictured the made-up, Hollywood hair blonde in her tight dress and high heels. I was surprised he had dated her, looking down at my loafers and plain white button-up. I felt like I was paint drying on the wall, I had never been one to dress for attention, I was very practical in my outfits. Now, I fidgeted at my blouse, but Becca swatted my hand.
“Don’t,” she ordered. “Trust me, you’re the better.”