Page 12 of In Ruins
I have the good sense not to say a word of that out loud, though, but a groan does manage to escape me at the interruption, which she hears, of course.I swear this woman has supersonic hearing or some shit.
“Did you just grumble at your mother, dear?” she questions sassily, with a hand on her hip as she stares at me like I’m five and she’s about to punish me for causing some kind of mayhem in her household. Lucia Andretti is not a woman to be messed with, and she’d slap me across the head without provocation, no matter how old I am.
“Of course, not, Ma. Would your favorite son ever do something like that to you?”
“You’re my only son.”
“Way to make a guy feel special,” I grumble.
“Oh, grow up and stop pouting like a child.” She snickers.
“I don’t pout, ever. What are you doing here, Ma?” I question, exasperation clear in my voice, which she chooses to ignore.
“Really, Enzo Leonardo Andretti? Is that any way to speak to your mother?” she questions with an arched eyebrow.Shit! Fullnaming me usually means I’m in trouble for something or the other.
“Hi, beautiful. How’s my favorite girl in the world doing on this lovely day?” I ask in the politest voice I can muster, which makes her snort out a laugh.
“Flattery will not work on me today, son,” she states, rolling her eyes at me.
“Me? I would never try to use flattery to distract you. You know you’ll always be my favorite girl.”
“Uh-huh.”
“What are you up to, Mother? Just so you know, Dad came by here already to do your bidding.”
“Oh, hush, you. What bidding? I’m just here to get you out of this stuffy office early. Lord knows if I left you on your own, you’d show up at the party when it’s ending. Come on, let’s go so we have enough time to get you ready for tonight,” she tells me, her voice dripping with sugar.
I look at the time and see that it’s five p.m. It’s still pretty early. It’ll take me less than half an hour to throw on a tux and mask. Why on earth does she think I’ll need hours?
“Ma, it’s still early. We have plenty of time until the party begins.”
“Don’t care. Wrap up and let’s head out,” she says, folding her arms in front of her while staring me down.
“Do I have to attend this shit?” I grumble.
“Language! You know you’re not too old for me to ring your damn ears, right?” she gripes, acting like she doesn’t curse like a sailor when the mood strikes her.
“I know, Ma. I think you remind me of that every day. But just so you know, this crazy idea of yours isn’t going to work. I don’t want or need a wife yet. I have plenty of time left for that.”
“Whatever are you talking about, dear? All I’m doing is trying to get you ready for the party, nothing else,” she says, giving me a saccharine sweet smile filled with pretend innocence.
Nothing, my ass!
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’ve known you my whole life, so don’t think I’m not aware of all your tricks.” I huff as I log off and shut down my computer.
She’s quiet, and when I look back up at her, she’s looking at me with tears in her eyes. Shit! If Dad hears that I made her cry, he’d more than likely stab me for it.Yep, those two are fucking crazy on a good day.
“So, you don’t want to give me a daughter-in-law or grandbabies?” She sniffles with some fake-as-fuck tears. Letting out a groan, I walk over to her and pull her into my arms while giving her a kiss on top of her head.
“They’ll be here when the time is right, Ma. Stop being a pain in the ass! It’s going to happen when it’s supposed to and not a moment before. I love you. Now, quit it with the fake tears and stop trying to play matchmaker,” I tell her playfully, as she pouts. “Who’s pouting now?” I joke.
“Oh, okay. If you insist on waiting until I’m old and gray, who am I to stop you? It’s not like I’m your mother who just wants the best for you or anything.”
This fucking lady!
“Ma!”
“Okay. Okay. By the way, did you invite the girl you were with, in your office earlier to the party? I mean, why don't you at least take her out or something? I don’t know who the hell raised you to act like you lack any sort of proper upbringing,” she mutters, her fake tears forgotten already.How the hell does this lady move from one subject to the next so quickly?
