The Woman from the Past (Grassi Framily)

“I…”

“It’s okay. I won’t say anything. I hate that whole crew, so if you two are conspiring to take them out, I am all for it. Won’t say shit. In fact, your coffee is on me. What are you having?”

“Something sweet,” I said, already salivating at the thought.

“Got you covered,” she said, grabbing a mug. “Hot or cold?”

“Hot.”

“Classic. What’s your name?”

“Cammie,” I said immediately before I could think better of it, not knowing if maybe I should have been using an alias or something.

“Cammie. Cute. I’m Traveler. I didn’t catch Hot Mafia Guy’s name, but I bet it something sexy that rolls off the tongue.”

She wasn’t wrong, but I thought it was maybe smartest not to comment on that sort of thing. Just in case.

“Nope. Like I said, on me,” she said when I went for the small bit of cash I had on me, leftover from my trip to see Massimo over a week ago. “You have to deal with that witch of a boss all day. Her last employee would spend all her breaks sitting here crying her eyes out. So… enjoy the coffee. Try to decompress a little. Share an eye-fuck with the hottie. Or, better yet, share an actual fuck in the bathroom,” she said, wiggling her brows at me.

On that crazy little comment, I turned around to the busy little shop, looking around like I might find a seat until Massimo gestured toward his.

“Hey,” I said, voice low as I lowered onto my seat.

“Hey, babe. Got yourself a job, huh?”

“It was a way out of the house,” I told him. “I don’t know if it will last, but it’s nice to get out.”

“I get it.”

“You came,” I said, inwardly wincing at the comment, at the neediness in my tone.

“I came a week ago, actually,” he told me, making my heart swell up a bit, for reasons I didn’t really understand.

“Really?”

“Yeah. Guess I didn’t realize just how locked down he had you. I figured I might be able to get a note to you or some shit.”

“No. I almost never get to leave. But I managed to convince Colin to let me work for his mom. It works out. Rizzo keeps an eye on me. And I have no choice but to take her abuse, since I can’t quit.”

“She’s a nightmare, huh?”

“Their dad isn’t so bad. He’s kind of just a beta in the relationship. But Rizzo is where Colin got his evil side from.”

“Well, you won’t need to work there long. That’s why I’m here. And why you need to take this,” he said, passing a phone to me. “It’s all on silent. Do you have somewhere to hide it?” he asked.

Taking a deep breath, trying to fight off any of the awkwardness I felt, I took the phone and quickly slid it into my bra.

“Yeah, that’ll work,” Massimo said, smirking at me. And, damn him, his smirk was kind of attractive.

“So, what now?” I asked, reaching for my coffee.

“So now my job gets easier,” he said.

“How so?” I asked, taking a sip of my caramel sugar sweet coffee, and not managing to hold in a moan at the taste. When Massimo’s brow rose, I rushed to explain, “Sorry. Weird, I know. I just… Colin limits my sugar.”

“He what?”

“He limits my sugar. To keep me the same size I was in high school.”