Page 113 of The Carnage We Keep

“So, how’s the wife?”

I pause mid-sip.

“I was wondering how long you were going to wait to roll that out.”

He chuckles. “Kid, you got married. I’m your grandfather. I’m allowed to ask normal questions.”

“You mean like starting conversations by asking me to look at your dog’s balls?”

He throws his head back and laughs hugely. “Well, just look at ‘em!” he roars. “It’s like looking into the face of God.”

Frank’s tail thumps against the patio as my grandfather pads over to a lounge chair and lowers himself into it. He pats the one next to him, but Frank gets there first, and I honestly don’t think there’s lounge chair enough for the two of us and his magnificent nutsack. So instead, I drag over one of the chairs from the patio set and plop down into that.

“Bella and I are figuring it out,” I sigh.

Vito cocks a brow curiously. “What’s to figure out?”

“Well,” I grumble. “Turns out there’s a slight difference between being forced to marry someone and actually wanting to.”

My grandfather rolls his eyes. “Is it really different from all of those deep, meaningful, emotionally connected relationships you’ve had in the past?” He snickers. “Boy, that’s gotta be…wow, let me count 'em up…”

“Okay, you’ve made your⁠—”

“Gotta be at least none, right?” he says with a snarky glint in his eye. “Like, zero past relationships that you can’t help but compare your new wife to?”

“This is really helpful, thanks, Nonno,” I say dryly.

“Yeah, I think that’s the problem,” he says, puffing away. “You’re comparing this marriage to some imaginary relationship you’ve never actually had.”

“Well, this was really worth the trip to the Hamptons,” I grumble.

Vito laughs and reaches over to pat my knee. “I get it. It’s new, and it’s nothing you were prepared for.” He shrugs. “But you two will figure things out. Even if it’s figuring out how to keep your distance from each other when you need to.” He smirks. “And hey, at least you’ve got a sure thing, right?”

I frown. “A what?”

“A sure thing.” He looks at me with confusion. “Jesus, what are you kids calling it these days? A layup? A done deal? Fish in a barrel?”

“Nonno,” I chuckle, “I literally have no clue what you're talking about.”

“For Christ’s sake, I’m talking getting laid, kid,” he sighs, giving me a look. “Yeah, figuring out the ins and outs of your relationship is one thing. But you’re married, you’re young…” he grins. “At least you’ve got the fun part figured out.”

My mouth purses. Vito’s chuckling and grinning, but as my silence drags on, his laughter suddenly stops.

He frowns. “Hold it. You are sleeping together, right?”

I clear my threat. “Uh…no.”

Vito looks at me like I've got two heads.

“No? Why the hell not?”

I sigh. “Nonno…”

“Come on! You’re a good-looking guy. She’s a beautiful girl. You’re both young…” He frowns. “What the fuck are you waiting for?”

I shoot him a look.

“What, because this isn’t some grand love story?” He sighs. “Here’s a hard truth they tend to leave out. Sex isn’t necessarily love. Sometimes it is. Sometimes people need one to have the other, and that’s beautiful, God bless them.” He makes a sign of the cross with the hand holding his cigar. “But sometimes, two attractive people are just horny.”