Page 61 of Relentlessly Vengeful Ghost

His lips tighten with the ghost of a smile and he shakes his head. “You can relax, okay?”

“Okay.” I grin. “Are you saying all this because you’re hoping I’ll stop with the shitty jokes?”

“Mostly, yes,” he says blandly, but I catch a brief twinkle of amusement in his eye.

“No promises,” I tease, and he huffs a little.

“Come on. I’m sure Nonna is about to have a fit that we’re letting the food get cold.”

I follow him inside, the smell of garlic and tomatoes making my mouth water, and the sound of chatter and laughter making me feel at home like it always does. Since I was a kid, I think Nonna’s place has always been the closest thing to home I’ve had.

In the dining room everyone is already seated at the table, and I can hear Nonna still banging around in the kitchen. There’s an open seat for Lorenzo at the head of the table and one next to Spettro for me. I don’t know how Nonna keeps finding more chairs or space around the table, but somehow, she manages it every time one of us falls in love.

I glance at Lorenzo as he pulls out his chair and takes his seat, wondering if he really is okay. How does he feel being the only one at the table who’s going home to an empty apartment tonight?

Spettro nudges my chair out and I sit down.

“Spet was just telling me that he’s thinking about enrolling in a degree program to become a drug counselor,” Sparrow says, leaning across the table with a prideful smile.

“I think it’s a great idea.” I rest my arm across the back of Spettro’s chair, a wave of pride and affection surging through me too. He told me about the plan a few days ago and I let him know I’m ready to write a tuition check as soon as he says the word.

He looks over at me with a nervous smile.

“I haven’t even started applying or anything yet. I might not get in.”

“You will.” I brush my fingers lightly along his back, and he shivers, leaning into my touch.

I’ll make sure he gets in. I’ll make sure he has everything he wants and needs as long as he lets me be the one in charge of his happiness. I know he’s still grappling with a future he never expected to have and demons that weren’t slayed just because the people who hurt him are dead and buried. He can take all the time he needs to figure out who he is and what he wants his life to look like, and I’ll be right here, ready to battle any monsters he can’t handle on his own or to cheer him on while he slays them himself.

He puts his hand on my thigh under the table and smiles at me again, this one happier and warmer than the nervous one from a second ago. Whatever our future looks like, I’m here for it.

Nonna comes out of the kitchen and several of us jump up at once to help her with the baking dish she’s carrying.

“I can handle it.” She gives us a shake of her head. “I’ve done harder things than carry a lasagna to the table.”

“We know that, Nonna.” Elio gives her a kiss on the cheek before he sits down again. “You raised all of us.”

“Yeah, I can’t imagine a bigger challenge than that.” I laugh.

Everyone starts to serve themselves, and more warm, comfortable chatter fills the space. A contented look shines in Spettro’s eyes, and he smiles across the table at his brother again.

“This is nice,” he says quietly to me. “Family, tradition, comfort.”

“It can’t all be criminal activity and arson.” I spoon food onto his plate.

“Eighty percent arson, twenty percent normal people shit?” he bargains, and I bark out a laugh.

“Deal,” I agree without hesitation. Honestly, as long as I have Spettro by my side, I’m down for just about anything.

THE END