Page 87 of The Great Dating Fake Off
And then the kissing starts.
The entire hall erupts in shouts and Italian expletives, gold digger this and traitor that, and way too many people yell about sheep thieves.
“Since we’re all confessing shit, yes, Nora and I were faking it the whole time,” Benji yells, too little too late. At the look on my face, he adds, “I tried to do it sooner but these people never shut the fuck up, even for a second.”
Ro lifts her fork as if to javelin-toss it at Benji. “Why would you lie to me about this, let alone the week of my wedding? You don’t trust me with your secrets?”
Exasperated, Benji yanks at his hair. “I lied to everyone, not just you!”
Vinny whistles in a failed attempt to quiet the room. “Take a seat, children. The adults are talking. You have got to be kidding me, Mother. You’re with Santino Ferraro? Are you turning senile? Wait, is he blackmailing—”
“We aren’t kids, Dad,” Alessia says. “And Nonna’s relationship is none of your business. For once in your life, recognize that you don’t know everything.”
“I know what’s best for my family.” Vinny stands up and cracks his neck as if he intends to throw his mother over his shoulder and cart her out of there. “My mother has clearly lost her mind. It’s bad enough my son is shackling himself to that family. One marriage is all we can stand.”
“How dare you speak about them that way?” Alessia says, pure venom in her tone. “Rosalina is your future daughter-in-law. That’s her family. Show some respect.”
“I’m not talking about her, specifically,” he blusters, incapable or unwilling to say Rosalina’s name. “It’s just the rest of them.”
Mortification flashes in Ro’s eyes.
Alessia nods in furious dispute. “I think you should get the hell out before you make the bride cry.”
“You will not speak to me that way, young lady,” Vinny growls. “I raised you to respect your elders.”
“You’re not an elder, Dad,” Alessia says, suddenly sounding exhausted. “You’re just an asshole.”
Shock flashes in Vinny’s eyes.
Enzo presses his temples. “Dad, watch your tone when you’re talking about Rosalina, okay? And Alessia, please, save your energy. Let them all kill one another. This isn’t our problem.”
Alessia’s brows raise to her hairline. “It is our problem, Enzo. Yours, specifically, because these bickering people are about to be your family for the rest of your life. This fighting is about to follow you into your marriage.”
The tap-tap-tap of a knife against glass fails to calm anyone down.
The sound grows louder until the glass shatters in Rosalina’s hand, sending shards flying all over the table.
“Enough! Enough. I’m done. This is officially a circus, and I’m tired of playing ringleader. This isn’t right. This isn’t how getting married is supposed to feel.” Her voice breaks on the last word, her pain echoing through the room.
Gia grabs for her hand and Ro shakes her head, stepping away from the table. “I can’t. It’s off. The wedding is off. This was a mistake.”
Veronica’s hand moves to her heart. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do.” She throws a pleading look at Enzo, who is staring back at her with utter betrayal in his eyes. “We can’t start the rest of our lives this way, Enzo. Our relationship was perfect in secret, but now the secret is out and look around! It’s falling apart at the seams. You’ll never love my family as your own. Your family will never love me.”
“You’re just having a bridal moment!” Veronica argues. “That’s natural. But you can’t just call it off. Think of your family, all of us who have sacrificed so much to get you to this moment.”
“All she’s done is think of you,” Benji growls. He looks at Ro across the table with the fierce protectiveness of a brother before turning back to his mother. “All any of us have done is think of you. And it’s because of you that she’s losing her shit. Don’t you get it?”
“I can’t do it.” Ro’s voice is a whimper. “Not like this.”
She rushes for the exit with Gia trailing.
“This is a disaster,” Veronica mutters. “The week is absolutely ruined. Hope you kids are happy.”
I’ve never been less happy a day in my life.
I chance a look at Sebastian, but he and Alessia are already halfway to the exit.
