Page 64 of Pay the Piper

We sip our coffee in quiet camaraderie, interrupted occasionally by a snort from the den, where Ellie and Nonna show no signs of waking anytime soon.

“My Elia actually had a romance quite similar to mine,” Giulia says, taking both our empty coffee cups to the sink. After rummaging in the fridge, she returns with half a cheesecake and two forks.

“She’s told me a bit about how she met Teddy. It seemed like quite the whirlwind, as well.”

We clink our forks together in a toast before digging in, savoring the creamy, sweet cake after the bitter coffee.

“Whirlwind indeed. Elia’s always had so much love to give, but she had bad luck choosing boyfriends and friends who wanted to take advantage of her.”

Like me.

“She had girlfriends in elementary school, but by the time she hit puberty and middle school, the girls had too much ammunition to bully her. Her curves are inherited, as you can tell, and she was an early bloomer. That plus the fact that plenty of girls just wanted to get close to her brothers—”

Like me.

“Made it hard for her growing up. Things like the Sparkle Society were our way of trying to be cool enough for her to want to hang out with us, so she knew we were her friends and she wasn’t alone. It’s hard when you can’t believe anyone’s intentions.”

I know. Believe me, I know. Chloe, who seemed so sweet and interested in the book I was reading in the waiting room of Conor’s office one day, only wanted an introduction so she could sleep with him. Becka, a woman on the board of the same equine foster charity as me, commiserating over our matching finger-shaped bruises, then blackmailing me with photos showing my drugged-out face being fucked by a man I’d never met. Jenna, my PA, selling me out to Conor before I could mail a letter to my parents, which took every ounce of my remaining bravery to write.

“It is hard,” I agree quietly.

The cheesecake is gone, and Giulia stands again, putting the empty plate in the sink and pulling a bag of chips from the cabinet.

“I always need something salty after I eat something sweet,” she says with a wink.

We cheers our chips and crunch in silence before she speaks again.

“Teddy is everything Elia needed. We knew it would take someone strong to handle all of our family’s…intensity. I don’t think any of us expected a man who would handle it quite so well, but the way he loves her is all anyone could want for their child. A whirlwind, as you said earlier, but they’re just so right together. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do to keep her safe. And I don’t think there’s anything she could do to truly make him mad. Not that she doesn’t try.”

“Not that I don’t try what?”

Ellie’s sleepy question from the doorway to the kitchen startles me, and the chip bag I was holding goes flying, spraying crumbs across the kitchen.

Giulia laughs as she grabs a broom, answering honestly.

“To make your fiancé mad.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say mad. I do like to try to ruffle his feathers, though. He just stares at me and sighs. So cute.” Ellie does something. “Speaking of fiancés, Abby. You have yet to tell me how your date with my brother went the other night!”

Shit. I should’ve seen this coming. Why didn’t I realize that I wouldn’t be able to keep pushing off Ellie’s inquiries?

Now she and Giulia are looking at me hopefully, while Nonna saunters into the kitchen.

She grabs a cookie from a tin and joins the “stare at Abby” party.

“Well, actually, that’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you. Uh, it was a nice time, but I don’t think we can call it a date. Nikki and I have become wonderful friends, and I cherish him beyond words…But he’s not who I’m seeing.”

It’s Nonna who pushes further. “Well? Don’t make us wait. Who’s your beau?”

Here goes nothing. If anything, I’m excited to tell a single other living soul about the most meaningful relationship I’ve ever had. Hopefully they aren’t upset that it’s their family friend instead of Nikki.

“It’s, um…Misha.”

“Misha!”

“Oh, I can see that. That thick hair and intense energy.”

“Does he talk dirty in Russian?”