Page 110 of Knocked Up by My Dad's Mafia Boss

I nod slowly, and it makes the world tilt on its axis. I make my way inside, barely, managing to brace myself on the open front door. I look up and Elio’s sitting there in the dark like a disappointed dad.

It’s nearly daylight. He’s stayed up all night.

“Not answering your phone anymore?”

I chug out a laugh. “Am I in past curfew, Dad?”

“Don’t be an asshole.”

The look on his face sobers me slightly. “Fuck. I’m sorry. You can punish me however you see fit. I misunderstood the situation and?—”

“You thought he was hurting her.”

I don’t protest, even though that’s not exactly right. I can tell myself all day it’s because she was crying, because he wouldn’t tell me why. But I know it’s because of the comfortable way he touches her. How he’s better for her in every way.

Except he doesn’t love her like I do.

Nobody can.

“Look, Dante, you’ve got to get it together. Have to get over that girl of yours.”

“Don’t I know it.” I slowly shut the front door, plopping down across from him on the couch. He leans back in the recliner.

“It’s not like you, drinking like this. Fighting.”

“I know.”

“Why don’t you go on a double date with me and Olivia?”

I blink at him. “A double date? I thought she wasn’t answering you.”

He gives me a half-grin. “Got a little drunk at the party. Called her. We’re back on.”

“Good for you.” It comes out in a half-slurred mumble, but I mean it. I want Elio to be happy. Even if I can’t be.

“She has a friend named Cecilia. Curvy. Just your type.”

I swallow hard. Try to think it through, but my head’s still spinning. “Alright,” I say finally, drunk and defeated.

What does it matter, who I bed? They’ll never measure up to Samantha, to what I feel for her. So why not entertain this? Distract myself?

“You’re serious? You’ll do it?” he asks incredulously, excitement evident in his voice.

I nod slowly, my stomach rolling. “Just tell me when and where.”

“Tomorrow,” he says eagerly and I inwardly groan.

“Hope it’s late,” I rasp.

Elio laughs. “I’ll make sure it is. I’ll call her after I get a few hours of sleep. You’ll have a blast, I swear. We’ve scheduled this escape room.”

“Escape room?”

“Yeah, you have to work together and find clues so you can get out. Isn’t that cute?”

“Adorable,” I say flatly, heaving myself up and making my way up the stairs. I don’t care where we go for the double date. I glance at Samantha’s door as I walk by. It’s dark.

I fall into a blissfully dreamless sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.